94 celica ST Engine problems, Coolant, heat, stalled, idk.. its messed up lol Options

[Superaison]

Well, first off... I hate my celica...but at the same time, I love it =[



Well.... Yesterday morning I woke up at about 7 o'clock. I dicked around, got a shower, then left at like 8 or 9 to Ashland Ohio....which is maybe a 45 min drive? ...Kay, so I got there, no issues, car ran fine, NOTHING wrong.... Well, I picked up a friend, then left Ashland.... after about 20 minutes of driving back home, I started to smell coolant, and then I noticed my engine is running REALLY hot. Well, I should have played it smart and just pulled over, but I had NO idea where I was. So I decided to keep driving, then pull over when I see some sort of marker sign, say...exit, food, etc... So I then sall the Morrow county sign, that's where I live.... So I then switched lanes to then pull over, and as I was pulling over the car just shut off on me... On I-71. I was pissed =\... Coz I see this sort of thing all the time on the side of freeway/highway. My radiator cap blew off like halfway and smoke and coolant was all over my engine bay. So i'm like.. ****.. I call my mother, she sends my brother... He has some coolant, we dump it in there just because.. Then we try to start it... It smells like **** and won't start.. So I just have my brother take me home. 5 hours later my dad and I Decide to go back to my car and see what's up, as he knows better than me with this sort of thing. He fiddles with things, takes out the thermostat(wtf is that?), and it still won't start. So idk what gave me the idea, but when trying to start it (note, now it doesn't sound like ****, or smell like ****, it actually sounded normal, it just...didn't start? ) I kinda hit the gas, and it actually "combusts?" , So I keep hitting the gas and the car doesn't shut off, but it sounds like **** (not nocking though?), and i rev it, but something doesn't sound right, but its staying running, I just have to give it gas, when I let off the gas it goes to like 800 rpm and sounds like **** but still kinda runs? I asked my dad to drive it off I-71 for me, because 1.......i'm not in the mood to drive a car that could potentially scare the **** out of me, and 2... I'm mad at my celica....it pisses me off. Anyhoo, As he drives away I see sometihng squirting out on the bottom of my engine? Idk what it was, but my guess is it was coolant.. As he was driving away grey smoke was shooting out my exhaust (I was driving behind him) for about 2 minutes, then it stopped.) Now, the only thing that happened similar to this, was the other day, I park my car, then I hear like... a water fall of water or liquid commming from my car, and I look underneatth and coolant is EVERYWHERE... So i'm like wtf... and I put more coolant in. After that, I drove to Marion ohio, and then back.. so about an hour of driving.. Then I hadn't driven the car till this morning. Before I left this morning, I checked everything, clutch stuff, powersteering fluid, brake fluid, oil, etc.. All was O.K.


Now, can anyone tell me.. What the hell is wrong with my Celica? lol. Do I need a new engine? Head gasket? Block? Water pump? I have no idea...

If I need a new engine, I will put a different one in.. idk which one though.. but i'm broke so it's gotta be from a junkyard, I do have friends that will help me put it in, though.


Please help me... Thank you.

[95CelicaST]

He took out the thermostat to see if it was blocking coolant from circulating.


You might have blown your head gasket by driving on it like that, which might mean you have little or no compression and it would have a hard time starting. Ultimately, the head gasket is your fault for driving after you saw it overheating.


Looks like you need a new head gasket (the reason for the white smoke from your exhaust is coolant in the combustion chamber), you'll want to get your head checked for warpage, and have that fixed if it is warped. New water pump, as that is probably the reason coolant is dumping out under the car (do your timing belthe while you're there).

[Spider77]

Wow, sounds like its time to do some work on your celica. Im gonna guess by this "He fiddles with things, takes out the thermostat(wtf is that?)", that you probably shouldnt do the work yourself. You really do need to get in there and get familiar with everything, but if your head is warped, you need to get that done professionally. I agree with 95 thos, if you notice your car overheating, you shouldnt keep driving on it....pull over and let it cool down.
Either way, hope you get it back up and running.

[Superaison]

Thank you.


Doing all this myself, how much would it cost to repair?

[Spider77]

Thats really going to depend on a couple of factors. Water pump (and new timing belt, tensioner, idler pully) maybe close to 90-110 depending on what you get. I know there are "kits" on Ebay. Cant speak on how well they hold up though. As far as the head, there is a way to check for warpage. But its going to involve removing it and all its components. The max warpage for the cylinder block side is .05mm, and the manifold side is .10mm. The BGB recommends getting a new head if the limits are above that. Although you can get it machined. If its just the gasket thats blown, it'll be alot cheaper. Most of it you can do yourself, but the machining...I dont know (unless you can). Cant give you a price for anything I havent done (or looked at getting done), but call some shops and get some quotes. They might be able to tell you how long it'll take as well. Then subtract labor costs. That should give you a ball park estimate.
Like I was saying from the get go (and started to trail off). Your really going to need to find out what the cause is. Then proceed from there. Although it does sound like a gasket.

[Superaison]

Well, I don't see how this all just happened out of nowhere, I really really don't. However, I guess it could be my waterpump went bad or something. But if my head is warped, I could just replace it right?

so...




1.) Water Pump
2.) Timing Belt
3.) Head Gasket
All those need replaced.

Would that fix it?

or;

1.) Water Pump
2.) Timing Belt
3.) Tentioner
4.) Idler Pully
5.) Head Gasket
All those need replaced.

And if my head is warped;

1.) Water Pump
2.) Timing Belt
3.) Tentioner
4.) Idler Pully
5.) Head Gasket
6.) Head
All those need replaced.

Just trying to get my facts straight, so I know what to look for.

[Spider77]

Lets say it was your waterpump....when was the last time it was replaced? None of these parts are meant to last forever. Parts like your waterpump, timing belt (and acc), belts, powersteering pump, dizzy, spark plug wires, etc...will have to be replaced eventually. Belts, have a limit as far as to how long they last and when they should be replaced. Its typical when you get your timing belt done, the waterpump is replaced, its just smart maintenance.
You would need at least the water pump, and a gasket (from the sounds of it).
While your doing the waterpump, might as well do the timing belt and all the related components as well.
If your head is warped, then you might as well do all the above and either get a new head or (if its salvagable) get it machined.
If you really want to get into it, you might as well check your valves and replace those if needed.
There are alot of things you could do here. Myself, if I had to remove the head and had another car to get around in, id just rebuild the whole thing. That way I can be assured that all the internals were in good working order and I wouldnt have to break it down again down the road.
Bare minimum though, waterpump, timing belt, idler pulley, tension spring. (*But hey, Im not sure if the waterpump is inline with the timing belt on an ST. If its not, then water pump and whatever belt drives it.) And head gasket if its blown ( do a compression check).

But really, you need to check out your engine, as it may not be a bad gasket,or waterpump. Maybe it could be a sensor, or your radiator has a good leak in it somewhere....just saying.

This post has been edited by Spider77: Jul 25, 2009 - 12:38 PM

[Bitter]

after getting it that hot you should get the block decked as well by a machine shop which means the whole engine needs to be torn down. you're further ahead putting in an entire engine.

it overheated because there wasnt coolant flowing, probably was low on coolant.

[Spider77]

Wow, this thing just keeps getting more and more expensive as the thread goes on. By then end of it its gonna be time for a swap.
BTW again, max warpage for the block is .05mm.

This post has been edited by Spider77: Jul 25, 2009 - 12:54 PM

[Superaison]

lol true ^^^^


Well, how can I get it 10 miles home, without making it worse...or ****ing the block if it isn't ****ed?

[Spider77]

Tow it. Or strap up to another car and slap on those hazards.

[Superaison]

I got it on a trailer and braught it home.


Didn't start lol.



It wants to though..


Any ideas to diagnose the problem further?

[Bitter]

its not going to start, check compression....you'll have under 50 in every cylinder i bet.

[Superaison]

idk how to check compression lol.

[95CelicaST]

There is a gauge you screw in to your spark plug hole and you unhook the ignitor? cable on your distributor so it doesn't start. Then turn the car over.

[Superaison]

I don't have one of those gauges...

[Spider77]

Borrow 1 if u can. If n ot they cost about 25 or so. Its a good tool 2 have anyways

[Superaison]

One of my cylinders filled with coolant, I think..


car won't start, even still.


I'm gonna look for a 4a-ge or a 4agze.... which one is more hp?

This post has been edited by Superaison: Jul 26, 2009 - 12:10 AM

[95CelicaST]

GZE. It's supercharged. Look for one from an AE101. It's DLI (disributorless ignition)


Search search search search

[match220]

Napa sells this stuff called "blue devil engine sealant", and before I hear anyone saying anything like "That stuff doesn't work", or "a $60 bottle isn't going to fix a $1000 repair", then I'll tell you from experience, it DOES seal up the cooling system IF you follow the directions on the bottle. I used to wrench for a living, my friends dad just brought me into his company as an electrician since it's easy money and cleaner work..but anyway..I digress..every car I've put this stuff in has worked, with the exception of one that had the freakin surge tank setup and no radiator cap, so I couldn't follow the directions exactly how they were on the bottle, but it was a Taurus, and fords suck anyway (except for old ones ). I've fixed cars this way that were so bad that you could be looking underneath the car while it was running and full of water/coolant, it looked like someone had a garden hose on full blast on the top of the engine and water was POURING down everywhere, only using half of the bottle stopped the leak after 5 minutes. This stuff works, and please don't anyone try to clutter up this thread with posts saying that it doesn't. I know from experience on many cars that it does, but you have to follow the directions exactly. So go buy it, IF it doesn't work, then you only wasted $60. If it does then you saved $1000, but you'll still have to find out what was leaking water in the first place. It will not fix a warped head, it will only seal up the coolant passages between the head and block where it is leaking water. It could be running rough because you got water/coolant on your spark plugs and fouled a couple of them out, or it could be running rough because of low compression. If your car runs with your old plugs, then run the Blue Devil stuff in your engine with your old plugs still in, then change them after you've run the stuff through the engine. The ash that is created by the Blue Devil stuff builds up on your plugs until the leaks are sealed up, so it ruins the plugs to where they almost won't fire. So replace them after you run the bottle in your system. If you have to replace the plugs for it to run before the bottle is put in then replace them before and after the bottle is in. Spark plugs are cheap and easy to change, if you have to buy two sets then you spend $10 more. Trust me, this works, just don't buy any other brand of stuff that claims the same thing, I've heard good things about Blue Devil, used it and found out for myself that it does work. It's blue stuff in a clear bottle with a yellow sticker, I've bought a lot of them..lol.

This post has been edited by match220: Jul 26, 2009 - 1:09 AM