radiator cap popped off while driving

[UpOnGaMe]

Ok like it says i was driving, (i mean i dont check the under the hood every time i drive but i did recently have my oil changed) so then my car starts acting up. Then all of a sudden smoke and my car's temp gauge goes above the 210 like a shocker since i installed my 160* thermo. So i get as close to home as possiable and check under the hood a huge wet spot above the radiator and fluid dripping everywhere car idles hard and the cap well it was off to the side smoke and fluids burning what could this be?


i have a 1998 Firebird 3.8 of course open to all comments

[Rob Bell]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

That's why you should change your own oil ;)

[97rs4life]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

is your cap cracked or can you screw it back on?

[UpOnGaMe]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

Uh thanks but i kinda of want my car to drive tomorrow any other inputs? =)

[UpOnGaMe]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

i screwed it back on

[Rob Bell]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

Seriously though, like 97 said, check it for cracks or other damage. I would bet you though, that the guys who changed your oil checked the radiator fluid and did not put the cap on. All you can really do is top off the fluid and hopefully there was no damage done.

After I have work done to my car, I always re-check to make sure they didn't mess up anything. One time I took one of my cars to Midas for a muffler and dicovered that they had forgotten to put the air cleaner lid back on. Why they were checking the air filter when they were supposed to be changing the muffler is beyond me.......except that they probably wanted to sell me an air filter.

[BobbyZ72]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

that happend to me once in my company truck. The quick lube people opened it for some reason and didnt put it back on right.

[UpOnGaMe]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

Ok now its back on and it is throwing a code dont know which one yet, haven't had it checked out. But it idles hard in park not at a stop only in park. It also seems to be either still buring fluid or burning new fluid (if your looking at in from the front) the left side by the vavle covers? any ideas?

[97rs4life]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

burning fluid by the valve covers, might have blown out a gasket

[UpOnGaMe]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

but it smells like burnt coolent not oil?

[Rob Bell]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

Did it have a chance to get really over heated? Or was there no fluid in the radiator? If so maybe something did get warped or a gasket blew. Or, since fluid sprayed everywhere, maybe some ignition components got wet. Like the ICM and coils? Maybe it's just taking awhile to burn off.

[pr95blackbird]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

but it smells like burnt coolent not oil?

burnt coolant is never a good sign.... if you have a chance get a compression test done

[UpOnGaMe]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

just wanted to update you guys, so ya ended up filling up 2 n 1/2 gallons of water and coolent into the radiator/ reseivor. Got the codes check it was:(BEFORE FILLINF FLUIDS UP) thermo and O2, now that i filled it up they went away and shes back, ya lesson learned at 22years of age after i get work done i will double look my fluids thanks guys.

[97rs4life]

Re: radiator cap popped off while driving

good to hear it wasn't anything to serious.