Need Advice

External Since: Aug 30, 2004 Posts: 45

Two things first, did you replace your radiator cap with one of the correct
poundage and did you remember to replace the restricktor in the hot water
hose going into the firewall.

"Jim C" wrote in message

> I have an 89 LX 5.0 convertible 5 spd. I'm having a problem, and
> wanted some advice, and maybe a pep talk. I'm trying to keep this car
> running, on a tight budget, with a kid in college, and another in
> private school...
>
> Here's the problem: I have no heat, and a low coolant level.
> Everytime I top up the coolant, it bubbles over out of the overflow,
> like a pot boiling over. I thought overheating, but even when it
> bubbles over, the heat blows cold. My theory is head gasket. Does
> this seem sound? Is there something else it could be, and is there a
> definitive test I could do myself, with basic tools? (I don't have a
> gauge set for a compression test. If that would be definitive, I
> might buy a set)
>
> Next, if it is a head gasket, is that a possible do - it - myself for
> an average home mechanic? Just to give an idea of my skill level, I
> have done typical bolt-ons, power steering, radiator, fan clutch,
> belts, etc myself comfortably. It seems pretty straightforward -
> remove the intake and fuel rails, remove the head bolts and header
> bolts, pull, scrape, add gasket, reassemble; but I know it's never as
> simple as all that. The vacuum connections, all the 'gak' on the top
> of this motor and any possible valve work scares me. I don't mind
> paying a mechanic when the job is over my head, but this would be
> expensive, and I'm not sure if this is over my head or not.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> By the way, if I did it myself, I'd look for other likely failure
> items to replace to save myself time and $$ down the road, and for
> performance parts I could add where I've already done the
> disassembly. The biggest candidate there would be an intake, since
> I'd be removing the existing one, and would feel better spending that
> money, if I saved the head gasket labor. What are some other things I
> could look at?

External Since: Aug 30, 2004 Posts: 45

PS I have no idea where the spell checker came up with that word.

"Ironrod" wrote in message

> Two things first, did you replace your radiator cap with one of the
correct
> poundage and did you remember to replace the restricktor in the hot water
> hose going into the firewall.
>
> "Jim C" wrote in message
>
> > I have an 89 LX 5.0 convertible 5 spd. I'm having a problem, and
> > wanted some advice, and maybe a pep talk. I'm trying to keep this car
> > running, on a tight budget, with a kid in college, and another in
> > private school...
> >
> > Here's the problem: I have no heat, and a low coolant level.
> > Everytime I top up the coolant, it bubbles over out of the overflow,
> > like a pot boiling over. I thought overheating, but even when it
> > bubbles over, the heat blows cold. My theory is head gasket. Does
> > this seem sound? Is there something else it could be, and is there a
> > definitive test I could do myself, with basic tools? (I don't have a
> > gauge set for a compression test. If that would be definitive, I
> > might buy a set)
> >
> > Next, if it is a head gasket, is that a possible do - it - myself for
> > an average home mechanic? Just to give an idea of my skill level, I
> > have done typical bolt-ons, power steering, radiator, fan clutch,
> > belts, etc myself comfortably. It seems pretty straightforward -
> > remove the intake and fuel rails, remove the head bolts and header
> > bolts, pull, scrape, add gasket, reassemble; but I know it's never as
> > simple as all that. The vacuum connections, all the 'gak' on the top
> > of this motor and any possible valve work scares me. I don't mind
> > paying a mechanic when the job is over my head, but this would be
> > expensive, and I'm not sure if this is over my head or not.
> >
> > Thoughts?
> >
> > By the way, if I did it myself, I'd look for other likely failure
> > items to replace to save myself time and $$ down the road, and for
> > performance parts I could add where I've already done the
> > disassembly. The biggest candidate there would be an intake, since
> > I'd be removing the existing one, and would feel better spending that
> > money, if I saved the head gasket labor. What are some other things I
> > could look at?
>
>