I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:25 am

2001 2.2 L Chevy Cavalier is the car.

I was driving with my boys to get haircuts and I saw the low coolant light go on and then a minute later it went off but then we noticed a sound that at first I thought was a detached muffler dragging, but then the temp gage shot to the red.

I nursed it about 1/6th a mile because I did not want to park there with the boys (I-95 exit)

As I pulled into a parking lot I noticed the steering getting a little harder.

I get out of the car and there is no coolant coming from the radiator, good but that skreeching sound is coming from the area of the serpentine belt. I shut down the car.

I noticed the belt is off the pulleys, not all off but off track, so I reset it. I put coolant in the car and restart it and it sounds fine, but then I notice a huge puddle of coolant forming and the temp starts to rise.

I shut it off call my lady to get us a ride out.

I did not like how I was parked (I was at a hotel parking lot, so I start the car to move it about 30 feet and the power steering is gone. park and shut it off and wait for our ride.

Before we leave I go to turn the car over so I can look at everything once again but it would not even turn over or engae, O got current up the wazoo but when I turn the key everything goes dead, back off half way and all the power comes back on.

Maybe the water pump busted and the coolant made the belt slip? Maybe they timing belt/chain snapped?

I don't know. Car is a bit of a beater. So this could be fairly simple and not that expensive, or not so simple and expensive (so fuck it!) or the timing belt is gone and therefore the engine is toast, shoot the horse?

Kenny X · Post by **Kenny X** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:28 am

It's 2001 model year, American, it's a beater and it's acting squirrelly. Definitely shoot that horse.

Mickey O'neil · Post by **Mickey O'neil** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:47 am

DARTH wrote:2001 2.2 L Chevy Cavalier is the car.

I found the problem.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:58 am

Stop by the local auto parts store and pick this up: http://www.haynes.com/repairmanuals/chevrolet/cavalier
That should run you through the repair basics for a pretty cheap price.

Also, how do the oil and tranny fluid look?

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:00 am

Turdacious wrote:Stop by the local auto parts store and pick this up: http://www.haynes.com/repairmanuals/chevrolet/cavalier
That should run you through the repair basics for a pretty cheap price.

Also, how do the oil and tranny fluid look?

Oil and tranny fluid are OK.

Thanks.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:02 am

DARTH wrote:
Turdacious wrote:Stop by the local auto parts store and pick this up: http://www.haynes.com/repairmanuals/chevrolet/cavalier
That should run you through the repair basics for a pretty cheap price.

Also, how do the oil and tranny fluid look?
Oil and tranny fluid are OK.

Thanks.

What about the color of both? Hopefully it isn't the head or the head gasket-- it may be more to repair those than the car's worth.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:12 am

Well I did not check it during the incident, it looked good the other day but I see what you are asking more now, indications of a blown motor.. It was not light enough. If this happened in daylight I probably would have a better idea of the situation I face?

Grandpa's Spells · Post by **Grandpa's Spells** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:34 am

D, I would inquire here: http://chevroletforum.com/forum/cavalier-12/. You'll get DIY enthusiasts who know the car. I've done similar on other forums with past repairs on my vehicles.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:58 am

Thank you, Gramps!

nafod · Post by **nafod** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:24 am

Did it actually need coolant? If it didn't and you put some in, it will overflow out.

Coolant problem coupled with power steering problem where the only thing that unites them is the serpentine belt...check and see if any of the belt pulley don't rotate that should. Then start the engine and see if the ones that should don't.

But you are saying you turn the key and nothing at all happens, which sure doesn't sound good. Do you hear the solenoid of the starter engage? Or just nothing?

Time for Click & Clack...

So many people own so many cars, that I guarantee some knucklehead has had exactly what you had, and there's a forum thread on it. Best of luck!

Protobuilder · Post by **Protobuilder** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:29 am

Try to jiggle the steering wheel.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:53 am

nafod wrote:Did it actually need coolant? If it didn't and you put some in, it will overflow out.

Coolant problem coupled with power steering problem where the only thing that unites them is the serpentine belt...check and see if any of the belt pulley don't rotate that should. Then start the engine and see if the ones that should don't.

But you are saying you turn the key and nothing at all happens, which sure doesn't sound good. Do you hear the solenoid of the starter engage? Or just nothing?

Time for Click & Clack...

So many people own so many cars, that I guarantee some knucklehead has had exactly what you had, and there's a forum thread on it. Best of luck!

No, when I turn the key, no solenoid or starter engagement, just silence.
Yep someone has had to have this issue. Going to talk to a mechanic to even see if it's worth bringing in because I have a limit as to what I will put into this car. I have F-150 I have had parked for 2 years that just needs a new whell, 4 tires and a battery so if the Cav gets close to what that will cost, I'll junk the thing and fix the truck.

Oh well, we've all had shit happen when it really makes shit difficult. Thanks Nafy.

nafod · Post by **nafod** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 3:06 am

DARTH wrote:
nafod wrote:Did it actually need coolant? If it didn't and you put some in, it will overflow out.

Coolant problem coupled with power steering problem where the only thing that unites them is the serpentine belt...check and see if any of the belt pulley don't rotate that should. Then start the engine and see if the ones that should don't.

But you are saying you turn the key and nothing at all happens, which sure doesn't sound good. Do you hear the solenoid of the starter engage? Or just nothing?

Time for Click & Clack...

So many people own so many cars, that I guarantee some knucklehead has had exactly what you had, and there's a forum thread on it. Best of luck!
No, when I turn the key, no solenoid or starter engagement, just silence.
Yep someone has had to have this issue. Going to talk to a mechanic to even see if it's worth bringing in because I have a limit as to what I will put into this car. I have F-150 I have had parked for 2 years that just needs a new whell, 4 tires and a battery so if the Cav gets close to what that will cost, I'll junk the thing and fix the truck.

Oh well, we've all had shit happen when it really makes shit difficult. Thanks Nafy.

20 second google...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 803AA9p2Au

So I don't get the engine not turning over thing, other than if the alternator cooked the goose and locked up the serpentine belt, but not before draining your battery. Then even though you think you have the amps, when you turn the key to start, you don't. So your battery is enough to light things up, but not enough to engage the solenoid.

With the belt off, try to turn the alternator. I bet it is frozen like Hillary's you-know-what. I could be wrong.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 3:21 am

Your Google Fu is better than mine.

Hopefull!

Thanks!

ccrow · Post by **ccrow** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 9:49 pm

My first guess would be the belt broke, or the tensioner, or one of the brackets that holds one of the accessories that run on the belt. There are a lot of ways for the ignition to go offline, but only one that would make the steering go at the same time the temperature takes off.

j-cubed · Post by **j-cubed** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:52 am

The puddle of coolant concerns me. Otherwise I would think one of the items the serpentine belt turns, or the tensioner, has seized up. Possibly the power steering pump, since you had no power steering.

If you jump it, does it turn over? Any clicking or anything with the solenoid?

How long did you run it with the coolant in the red zone?

The 2.2 L is an ecotech engine, and they are actually fairly well built. THe one in my Saturn had 195,000 miles and was still going strong when I got rear ended on the expressway.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:43 pm

Whoop tee Do, the Ol'Lady is barrowing her grandma's Subaru!

So we are having the Cav towed to the house, where I will wrench on it and determine if she's worth saving or shooting.

Thanks for the input , guys.

At the least it's a fried water pump, at the worse I killed the engine. Let's hope it;s just the former or inbetween, because I am not buying a motor for that thing.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:01 am

You might have to go for one of these Drath!*
$\:D/$

*propain sold separately

nafod · Post by **nafod** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:07 am

DARTH wrote:Whoop tee Do, the Ol'Lady is barrowing her grandma's Subaru!

So we are having the Cav towed to the house, where I will wrench on it and determine if she's worth saving or shooting.

Thanks for the input , guys.

At the least it's a fried water pump, at the worse I killed the engine. Let's hope it;s just the former or inbetween, because I am not buying a motor for that thing.

Ok, I am going on record as saying it is a frozen alternator. Folks, make your call.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:21 am

Turdacious wrote:You might have to go for one of these Drath!*
$\:D/$

I'd love one of those. Tanks! Lot's of room.

*propain sold separately

terra · Post by **terra** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:06 am

A possible explanation...
- Water pump bearings stuffed (waterpumps often die because inner seal leaks coolant into them. They also have a hole in the shaft so that a leaking inner seal will bleed out through the front, thus making you aware of the problem. This may explain loss of coolant).
- The drag from the stuffed bearings in turn cooked the belt.
- The now cooked belt was also responsible for spinning alternator pulley which supplies charge to the battery.
- Stuffed belt means no charge to battery.
- Continued driving at night with headlights on means flat battery (it's winter over there right? A mostly flat 'cranking' battery probably won't hold a residual charge on a cold night).

Further investigations:
Remove the alternator/waterpump belt and hand turn the water pump and alternator. Are they spinning freely?
If this doesn't show stuffed bearings on one of the pulleys, refit belt and start car. CAREFULLY place a steel extension bar to alternator, near bearing location and place ear to other end... Listen for telltale "stuffed bearing noise". Repeat for waterpump. Note the word "carefully".

My guess diagnosis...
You are up for a new waterpump and new belt. If you are a man you should be able to do this yourself - purchasing pump/gasket and fitting.
Note, the dragging exhaust sound is pretty much what a stuffed alternator/waterpump/AC compressor bearing sounds like.
If it is the alternator, you can (in Australia) have these rebuilt or exchanged by an auto electrician. Again, if you are a man you should be able to do the fitting/wrenching yourself.

Edit: At minimum get the battery charged up and store it out of the cold, so you don't have to buy another one.

Good luck.

Andy83 · Post by **Andy83** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 3:52 pm

All bullshit, Darth. Call a junk yard and have them come tow it away. They might even give you $25/$50 bucks for it. Get a safe to drive car for your family to ride in.

nafod · Post by **nafod** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 5:49 pm

Darth, is the alternator fubar? I know it is, just waiting for confirmation. Get out there and give it a turn.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:50 pm

It's home, we just had a good dumping of snow so it will be a few days before I fuck with it. We have a car to use for now (long story, her grandma's old car, who is about at the end of her driving life.

IGX

I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.

Re: I.G. Motorheads, a story and your opinions on it.