I know I should maybe put this in the feedback section, but I think this is better off here
This weekend I had to drive to Central (well maybe still "norcal" to most. East of San Fran), which is about a 950mi trip, for a business trip (Hydra Stuff
). Since this whole passport deal is going on and i did not get my passport in time I decided to take my babe...96 Tacoma 5vz-fe
with 202k +miles on it.
After 900miles and 12 hours of driving I stop off at Chicoraceworks because i wanted to pick up some parts for Kimchi's 5vz-fte swap and to just say hi (8pm at the time). After shooting the **** about mr2s, performance parts... very interesting conversations eh Josh?...i decide that i better head to my hotel 50miles away as it is 11:30pm
I get into the truck drive out about 10-20miles and i look down to see my temp gauge in the red....%()@)(...so i pull ove...on a random highway...no lights around...get out the tools and light to see what went wrong. Looks like i blew the lower rad hose
, i remove the bottom part of the hose to realize that there still was lots of coolant left...and now that was all over me...yea that sucked
but it was not burst at the bottom area that i could see.
I realized that i cant do nothing unless i have some water. So i call up josh at 12am to explain to him what just happened, he says that he will grab some hoses and water then head on over. I was shocked, I did not expect him to come on out and it was awesome to hear that he was willing to help.
So as i wait for him to arrive i decide to look at the other half of the hose, remove it look around and notice no cracks, bursts, or anything that would leak. Puzzled I just put the hose back on and turn the truck on quickly to see if i can pressurize the hose....no water so that was a no go...
I go and put a new dry shirt on (backwards nonetheless
), then sit in truck and wait for josh to show up.
1am and he shows up with his girlfriend, we put water into the rad and fire up the truck. Warms up....nothing...no leak....check the heatercore to see if it blows hot air...yep...
Still no leak....
So we decide to drive to the next gas station so there is at least some light. 5min drive and no problems, except just before we drove away there was a weird humming/buzzing sound coming from the engine bay. I stop and check it out, but its gone by time i get into the engine bay. So i just get back into the truck and 5 min later we arrive at the gas station with NO leaks. Nothing. I then thought about the buzzing noise and remember that just before i got to josh's place i heard that noise but thought it was my brakes.
So josh gives me the 2 containers to fill with water and take along with me (cant believe i forgot to bring water with me
), i was worried about the whol thing bursting as soon as i left so Josh said he would lead me the rest of the way. I felt bad for dragging them out this far.
We start driving and i thought about the whole buzzing thing and what happened, i figured that the rad cap failed to release the pressure in the cooling system and the first thing to go was the coolant pipe as those pressure clamps kinda suck. So ever since i removed the cap cleaned it out a bit and replaced it, it started to work a bit again but now it still is sticking a bit thus making that buzzing sound. It kinda makes the same sound it makes when the engine overheats. I dunno what else to think, i hope the bearing in the water pump isnt gone but i doubt that as it was replaced last year...
So i today i picked up a rad cap and ordered the lower rad hose just in case it does go...I will put the new rad cap on tommorw and drive around to see if everything is ok.
ANYWAY heh
As soon as i was close to the hotel Josh takes off back to home (or shop didnt know where he went) and now its 3am on Sat....i finally get to my hotel...
So thank you Josh and your GF (sorry her name escapes me right now) for going out of your way to come out and help me out!
Oh and thanks again for the great deal on the mr2 parts! You really do have pretty much EVERYTHING....just gotta find it
I hope that my theory is right and its just the rad cap (i dont think its ever been replaced :P)....the long journey back begins Tuesday....wish me luck!
THANKS AGAIN!