Anyone ever 'heard' this before?

[jtbeemer]

I called the place I want to take it to and they told me DO NOT DRIVE it again. He said it is most likely the alternator housing. I had an overheating problem yesterday and since then it has taken over a gallon of coolant. It drips out at a pretty good pace as soon as coolant is added. There was also a drip coming from around the radiator but that was much slower. So, guesses on what this is going to cost?

[M-technik-3]

Miles on car? Coolant flushes done on normal cycles? Any other maintance done recently?

Where is the leak?

[jtbeemer]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Miles on car? Coolant flushes done on normal cycles? Any other maintance done recently?

Where is the leak?

155k miles. I've only owned the car since April, so I can't say specifically about coolant flushes. I do know the past owner kept the car in excellent condition though. I just got the car back from having deer damage repaired, see http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22952 for pics.

I only had the first problem with this overheating a day or so after the deer hit me. Aceyx theorizes perhaps the engine shifted with the impact and cracked something, I think this is plausible. Should I try to get my insurance company to cover it? How on earth would I prove it though?

The leak is right under this assembly. I'm not sure if that means waterpump or just a crack in that thermostat housing.

[M-technik-3]

Quite possible for the impact to have caused damage, did your insurance cover it? They might have missed that. It honestly can't hurt to ask? It most likely is your thermostate housing is it a plastic one or metal?

If Plastic swap it for safety sake anyway cheaper than warping a head anyday.

[jtbeemer]

yeah, the damage was covered. I think after I get some idea exactly what it is tomorrow, I'll contact Progressive and ask. It can't hurt. It is a plastic one BTW.

[M4YTY]

probably your thermostat housing or the other plastic housing on the back of the head. Renowned for cracking on these motors. Worth a look.

[jtbeemer]

Originally Posted by M4YTY

probably your thermostat housing or the other plastic housing on the back of the head. Renowned for cracking on these motors. Worth a look.

Yep. You got it. All told my repairs ran $485.

New Battery
Thermostat and housing
Water pump (it was noisy, replaced with a used one he had in stock)
fixed an air pump for emissions

He told me that they had to epoxy around where the thermostat hooks into the block. Apparently something let go and forced the housing to push away from the engine which was the cause of the sound. All in all I'm pretty happy, although I wonder if the water pump was necessary. I had a pump w/ metal impellers but I know it was noisy so I probably avoided another trip to the shop before too long.

The guy was intense man, a real old-school motorhead. All he works on is European cars so I have some confidence that I wasn't getting screwed. He had a 911 in the shop, and I've seen Ferrari's, Lamborgini's, and Aston Martin's parked around the lot in the past. Gemini in State College, PA if anyone wants to know.

[KarenCaren]

Nice to know your car is fix. Hope you will not ran into trouble again because those parts are easily damage specially on this cars.



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