Crap!! Hissing noises and steam!!!!

[94camaro25]

Got to work this morning, and a fellow worker said my car was over heating!! My first reaction was,"your full of it cuz the guages all read good"! Then I heard the hissing noises. After I popped the hood, the noise was deffinetly louder and a small white smoke/steam was coming from underneather the black cold air intake tube before the intake. The top of the water pump is wet. It smells faintly like antifreeze, but its not strong at all. Could it be a pin hole in a hose? I did have the AC on, could the AC line be bad and spraying on the block??? I have 35 miles to drive to get the car home. If there is something I should look at, please make those suggestions. The motor has 150,000 miles...I knew **** like this would happen sooner or later!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[chas]

i suppose you could have condesate from the a/c cooler lines dripping on your engine but its unlikely.

sounds like a leaky water pump or intake gasket. you need to track down the leak. with the car running and hot on your next trip dont shut the engine off and take a look inside and see if you can spot the source (be careful of the whirling bits).

[94camaro25]

I'm kinda hoping its the ac line with a pin hole. A hose is an easier fix then replacing the water pump, I think? Anyone replace the water pump before?? Anyway, as soon as I get home, the motor will be plently hot and I'll recheck for the leak source. Thanx

[hockeyman]

Originally posted by 94camaro25:
I'm kinda hoping its the ac line with a pin hole.

No way! A radiator hose is much easier to replace. I don't know about 3.4's, but the water pumps on 3.8's is alot easier than I expected. I did it overnight, but that's because I used silicone instead of a gasket, and had to let the silicone cure for at least 6 hours. All-in-all, the whole hands on teardown and assembly took approx 2 hours...MAX.

[94camaro25]

Hopefully, we just over looked the hose and thats the problem!! I agree the hose would be easier to change out. Knowing my luck, it's not the hose!!! But if its the water pump, then I'm a little glad its an easy installation. Again, around 5:15 (east coast) today I should know what the deal is!!

[chas]

i have never found a leaky hose. its always a leaky connection at one end of the hose (cursed spring clamps), water pump or the radiator.

[94camaro25]

Okay, got this one in the bag!! When I got home I looked under the hood to find the nipple and pipe assy pissing antifreeze all over the the intake manifold and water pump!! Got the replacement parts from GM. Not a bad price either, nipple(P/N 24503681)$8.39 & pipe assy(10189204)$14.71. Parts guy says GM has been having a problem with 3.4L camaros leaking at this location!!! The hole set up is a leak waiting to happen. Check this out, the pipe assy is inserted into the nipple with a stupid black plastic clip holding the pipe in place. My mine melted, thats why it leaked!! Hope none of you guys get this problem. Thanks. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[L32Projekt]

Hey, thanks for the heads up! It's the posting of a problem and a follow-up on a solution that's going to make this board a better place (and more search friendly!) Not saying this board isn't already great, everything could stand improvement! ;)