Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

So I was driving along merrily, going about 55 and all of a sudden I notice my temp gauge go from normal to above red :eek: I freaked and pulled right over, and steam started to rise from the left side of the hood. Opened the hood, my reserve tank was boiling from the radiator venting.......and it did so for about 10 minutes. After I squeezed the upper hose to make sure the pressure had gone, I removed my cap to find the radiator almost full. So im like wtf..... either my thermostat didnt open.... or my water pump took a bleep right? So now im worried about my head gaskets..... if theyre toast.... I have to pull the engine to do them right? How hard is that for the SVX's? Im borrowing a block tester kit tomorrow to get the final verdict..... this is my only car so tomorrow is judgement day.

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

that almost happened to my car driving home about 6 months ago but it was my heater core that blew then i pulled over before it hit red and saw my pas side floor soaking wet with a slight green tinge not fun had to drive around with no carpet for a week while it dried so now im heaterless but thats not so bad australia doesnt get that cold

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

blermostat

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Update: Couldnt wait, so I walked the 2 miles to autozone and rented their block tester kit. Looks like the head gaskets are OK, but when I tried to start it again the car wanted to stall and it started smoking behind the timing cover :rolleyes: So im going to be doing the water-pump yayyyy, and also the timing belt now...... This is fair warning to those who will ever in the future consider using Bars-Leaks..... it likes to chew up water pump bearings.

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Bars-Leaks... Just say no...

Keith:)

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Trust me on this:

Get your water pump from the dealer. You will pay more than you will getting one from Autozone, but I've seen plenty of aftermarket pumps, even the "new" ones, come apart and take out the belt, t belt covers, etc...

While you are in there, check the timing belt, the cam and crank seals, and the belt tensioners and idlers, they are a lot easier to do while you have it apart doing the pump, also I would do the thermostat as well...

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Unfortunately, the nearest subie dealer is 60 miles away..... a long walk. Also money is kind of tight.... as long as it lasts a few months at least, then I can redo it. Autozone wants 35.99, kragen 48.99..... Does anyone know where I can get the timing cover gaskets for cheap?

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Timing cover has NO gaskets. Just a rubber strip at the bottom to keep out dirt.

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

My guess is he meant valve cover gaskets?

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

??? Both the middle, left, and right timing covers have rubber seals along the exterior edges.... mine have weathered and fallen apart, allowing dust to get in there. I saw them on subaruparts.com, but the combined cost is over $50.... too much. Maybe I can silicone me a ghetto set :tongue:

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Ok so heres what I found after removing the front engine covers:

Timing belt is shredded in half lengthwise....

Waterpump has seized, melted rubber all over it

Right-hand camshaft pulley had lost the outside belt retainer ring from the belt pressing against it, it had popped off.

So I have removed the timing belt and all the associated stuff, and have removed the water pump. Now a couple questions please :(

I have tapped the outer belt retaining ring back onto the RH cam pulley again, but its not perfectly straight anymore.... Do I need a new pulley/where can I get it, how much?

The smooth idler pulleys have pretty good rolling resistance, but are smooth and silent, so are they still ok??

This is ALL from using Bars-Leaks aluminum flake seal, which I have concluded seized my water pump bearings.... beware.

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Thats half the problem, the al flakes will get into the bearings considering your internal seals were leaking before. Then the bearings inside the pump locked up. Replace the belt, water pump and if you can the cam pulley. if you cannot try and bring it to a fabricator and have him/her tack weld the outter edge back onto the gear

Tom

Re: Temp Gauge may have killed my car
 

Thanks Tom, yeah I was thinking I wouldnt feel right if I didnt replace the cam gear.... I dont want to have to worry about it. If it popped off again it could shred my new belt right? Moneys tight but I need my car in good working order..... never again with the stop leak.