Hi!
Sorry if I am violating forum protocols, I know some places are very picky about first posts.
I have been researching all the forums I could find on this issue; I can't solve it, and I really can't afford to take it to the dealership, whom I have concerns with anyway, and I don't have a relationship with any of the import shops in my area. Plus, I really don't want the car downed for two weeks while they get around to it.
01 Celica. Not sure if it is a GT or GT-S (badge fell off years ago). No factory power windows or locks. 133k on the odometer. Drives just fine, no weird sounds or behaviors. No modifications, no racing, two owners, we are the second. In fact, I don't think it has even seen 7k rpms. (shrugs). I've never even seen the check engine light; I regularly maintain it using the pdf factory manuals. Was the wife's 10 mile round trip work car. Now it is my interstate (that's the freeway for the rest of you lol) car.
I have put 8k interstate miles with light city stop and go, very little idling.
Now it is overheating. I had noticed some white wispy 'smoke' from the tailpipe, so I start monitoring the overflow, add coolant (the correct, high dollar stuff) maybe monthly.
Maybe a few months later, take off, no heat. several miles later, temp gauge went up and started flashing, never saw that before. Pull over, and the coolant overflow is empty. Think I filled it up, went on, no more issues. Went home and researched it, and apparently there is an involved process and no two people do it the same.
So, spend a day with the overflow dangling from the hood (later see there is a pocket for it to rest on the hood latch). Squeeze various hoses, heater on/off, shake the car laterally and vertically, bubbles burp out, etc etc. Think I am ok.
Take off, and don't get 15 miles before it is flashing again. Limp it home, read and watch youtube some more.
Refill and burp differently. Last time I left the caps off. This time, after it gets hot, and I don't see any bubbles in the chamber where the hose coming from the top of the radiator, I cap it. Occasionally, I crack the butterfly and rad fill cap, slight psh but nothing major.
Interstate again, and flashing again. Open the rad cap to refill, and whoosh, fluid fills back up to the full level. Close cap, drives fine for a few days. Then overheats again.
I limp it to Auto Zone for a rental compression tester. Get halfway home, and friend texts me that he has mine and has forgotten to return it... for a few years (I just thought I couldn't find it). :surprise:
Plugs look basically ok. Not black, or coked up. Pressure after about 8 cranks is pretty much 210psi. (from the passenger side towards the driver side, first was 210, second was slightly over 210, third and forth were very slightly (like one gauge needle width) under 210.) I know it's not important, but none really bled down quickly, either.
So, now I'm stumped. I know on certain Fords, you see the steam because the exhaust fills with condensation (I've seen them burble like a submarine). I have read over and over and over the 1ZZ-FE does not kill head gaskets. This one consumes oil, but I don't think the head is warped due to the pressure readings. No milky in the oil cap or on the deflector in the hole. Rad fluid is bright red, doesn't smell like exhaust when I see the occasional bubbles. I see a stream coming from the hose from the top of the radiator, so I believe the pump is at least marginally ok. And, I see a change after the engine is hot, and the fans cycle once or twice, so I think the thermostat is sort of functioning. Lastly, after driving it, cracking the overflow lid doesn't make a huge 'pssssssh', like I'd expect if combustion gases were escaping into the coolant, but there is a sharp 'psh', so I sort of think the cap is ok. :huh::wub:
I don't want to sell it, but I need one reliable car. Anyone got any ideas?
Sorry if I am violating forum protocols, I know some places are very picky about first posts.
I have been researching all the forums I could find on this issue; I can't solve it, and I really can't afford to take it to the dealership, whom I have concerns with anyway, and I don't have a relationship with any of the import shops in my area. Plus, I really don't want the car downed for two weeks while they get around to it.
01 Celica. Not sure if it is a GT or GT-S (badge fell off years ago). No factory power windows or locks. 133k on the odometer. Drives just fine, no weird sounds or behaviors. No modifications, no racing, two owners, we are the second. In fact, I don't think it has even seen 7k rpms. (shrugs). I've never even seen the check engine light; I regularly maintain it using the pdf factory manuals. Was the wife's 10 mile round trip work car. Now it is my interstate (that's the freeway for the rest of you lol) car.
I have put 8k interstate miles with light city stop and go, very little idling.
Now it is overheating. I had noticed some white wispy 'smoke' from the tailpipe, so I start monitoring the overflow, add coolant (the correct, high dollar stuff) maybe monthly.
Maybe a few months later, take off, no heat. several miles later, temp gauge went up and started flashing, never saw that before. Pull over, and the coolant overflow is empty. Think I filled it up, went on, no more issues. Went home and researched it, and apparently there is an involved process and no two people do it the same.
So, spend a day with the overflow dangling from the hood (later see there is a pocket for it to rest on the hood latch). Squeeze various hoses, heater on/off, shake the car laterally and vertically, bubbles burp out, etc etc. Think I am ok.
Take off, and don't get 15 miles before it is flashing again. Limp it home, read and watch youtube some more.
Refill and burp differently. Last time I left the caps off. This time, after it gets hot, and I don't see any bubbles in the chamber where the hose coming from the top of the radiator, I cap it. Occasionally, I crack the butterfly and rad fill cap, slight psh but nothing major.
Interstate again, and flashing again. Open the rad cap to refill, and whoosh, fluid fills back up to the full level. Close cap, drives fine for a few days. Then overheats again.
I limp it to Auto Zone for a rental compression tester. Get halfway home, and friend texts me that he has mine and has forgotten to return it... for a few years (I just thought I couldn't find it). :surprise:
Plugs look basically ok. Not black, or coked up. Pressure after about 8 cranks is pretty much 210psi. (from the passenger side towards the driver side, first was 210, second was slightly over 210, third and forth were very slightly (like one gauge needle width) under 210.) I know it's not important, but none really bled down quickly, either.
So, now I'm stumped. I know on certain Fords, you see the steam because the exhaust fills with condensation (I've seen them burble like a submarine). I have read over and over and over the 1ZZ-FE does not kill head gaskets. This one consumes oil, but I don't think the head is warped due to the pressure readings. No milky in the oil cap or on the deflector in the hole. Rad fluid is bright red, doesn't smell like exhaust when I see the occasional bubbles. I see a stream coming from the hose from the top of the radiator, so I believe the pump is at least marginally ok. And, I see a change after the engine is hot, and the fans cycle once or twice, so I think the thermostat is sort of functioning. Lastly, after driving it, cracking the overflow lid doesn't make a huge 'pssssssh', like I'd expect if combustion gases were escaping into the coolant, but there is a sharp 'psh', so I sort of think the cap is ok. :huh::wub:
I don't want to sell it, but I need one reliable car. Anyone got any ideas?