98 Firebird overheats

« **on:** June 23, 2014, 10:43:17 pm »

HI! I just acquired a 98 firebird 3800 v-6 an you cant even go 2 miles without overheating and then a hiss noise from middle of intake. It has a new water pump but you can see that if it were leaking, and t-stat. it has no water in the oil and it does not blow water out of the exhaust. Looking for opinions and maybe someone has had some experience with this. I don't think it head gaskets. I got it for less than 1000.00 and its red with t tops. and guesses on what it might be?? This is a car and not a boat.

« **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2014, 11:13:57 pm »

Is the t-stat still in it? If so take it out bolt tge housing bak on then drive it and see wat hapoens.

Sent from my PantechP9070 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2014, 11:24:17 pm »

Also of course check the obvious like radiator cap fitment, clogged radiator, fluid, etc.

Sent from my PantechP9070 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2014, 11:32:35 pm »

pull the thermostat out of it and see if it overheats.

theres also test strips for coolant that will tell you if theres hydrocarbons in the fluid from the combustion chamber indicating a head gasket failure. are you loosing coolant?

« **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2014, 11:42:10 pm »

Put in a new thermostat and radiator cap.

These are a little difficult to get the air out of them.

Fill it with water only (I use distilled) and test it for a few minutes, shut it off and let it cool.

Do this two or three times, Probably be fine.

Does the cooling fan run, this is stupid common. The fan motor is really inexpensive, as are the stat and the cap.

Once you have it figured out, replace the water with coolant and drive it til' the wheels fall off.

GT

« **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:32:47 am »

Shooooot if that dont work u gota bad sensor giving false readings to cooling system....stupid new cars...LOL

Sent from my PantechP9070 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2014, 04:56:45 am »

Its leaking coolant whee it the hiss is.. it has a new radiator cap and the cool I g fans do come on. Who had it put that copper crap in the radiator so will the test strips still work? Ir don't seem like head gaskets to me. Stupid new cars. If its just intake gaskets its buried so its a all weekend job. The guy said he had a new t stat in it also.

« **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2014, 05:49:40 am »

Those motors are famous for the intake leaking coolant

Sent from my SCH-I545 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2014, 07:25:21 am »

Ya. I kinda thought so. I just need to get in gear and start tearing it apart. Does anyone know if there is a upper engine gasket kit for this engine and does this mean it needs a new intake also?

« **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2014, 08:34:03 am »

Yep you're going to need both felpro makes them and if the intake is bad doorman makes those cheaper than oem

Sent from my SCH-I545 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2014, 09:12:55 am »

Alright. I just need to get started and do it. Dang newer cars....LOL!
Thank you

« **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2014, 10:43:02 am »

If you put ant type of stop leak or head gasket stuff in the radiator kiss that thing good bye get a new radiator

Sent from my iPad using SoCal Jet Boats

« **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2014, 11:12:00 am »

Shooooot stop leak and JB weld is wat makes you a man...pops grew me up on that stuff.....true u get mixed results but ive good luck with it...LOL

Sent from my PantechP9070 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2014, 11:12:47 am »

Buy yea if u hav money then no need...hahahahah

Sent from my PantechP9070 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2014, 11:13:59 am »

But yea..sorry http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=21044.msg240408.msg#240408

Sent from my PantechP9070 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #15 on:** June 24, 2014, 11:45:01 am »

His ya when I was a mechanic for Toyota and in the early 90's the fix for pitting in the block on the head surface was fill with job weld and next day grind it smooth and reinstall heads on v6 for runners

« **Reply #16 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:25:25 pm »

I hated that v6 in those Toyotas what a piece of crap

Sent from my SCH-I545 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:35:38 pm »

Quote from: rush1 on June 24, 2014, 12:25:25 pm

I hated that v6 in those Toyotas what a piece of crap

Sent from my SCH-I545 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

my dad had one of those f,,, up year toyotas had head gaskets blow all the time

Sent from my iPad using SoCal Jet Boats

« **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:42:13 pm »

Quote from: rush1 on June 24, 2014, 12:25:25 pm

I hated that v6 in those Toyotas what a piece of crap

Sent from my SCH-I545 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

Touche'

« **Reply #19 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:44:56 pm »

Quote from: jamiemwedmore1234 on June 24, 2014, 12:35:38 pm

my dad had one of those f,,, up year toyotas had head gaskets blow all the time

Sent from my iPad using SoCal Jet Boats

It was crappy Japanese iron, aluminum heads and water jackets that were in the heads but not in the block

« **Reply #20 on:** June 24, 2014, 01:01:02 pm »

Quote from: Horizonjet on June 24, 2014, 09:12:55 am

Alright. I just need to get started and do it. Dang newer cars....LOL!
Thank you

Newer cars?

This thing is 16 years old.

Probably maintained like it would be owned for 2 and kept it for 14.

Just sayin'

Anything built after about 1972 was not only not built to be repaired, but engineered to die just past the warranty period.

They are just getting better at making then hold together to the end of the warranty and being non repairable when they finally die...

GT

Sent from my SGH-T989 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

« **Reply #21 on:** June 24, 2014, 01:09:42 pm »

Quote from: GT Jets on June 24, 2014, 01:01:02 pm

Newer cars?

This thing is 16 years old.

Probably maintained like it would be owned for 2 and kept it for 14.

Just sayin'

Anything built after about 1972 was not only not built to be repaired, but engineered to die just past the warranty period.

They are just getting better at making then hold together to the end of the warranty and being non repairable when they finally die...

GT

Sent from my SGH-T989 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

Now I feel old.....LOL!
Looking at the car it doesn't seem that old but I can remember now getting my 76 Camaro and a blazer I had to replace the intakes because they were corroded through and leaked so u guess things have not changed to much.

Horizonjet

JOE COASTIE

JOE COASTIE

ka0tyk

GT Jets

JOE COASTIE

Horizonjet

rush1

Horizonjet

rush1

Horizonjet

jamiemwedmore1234

JOE COASTIE

JOE COASTIE

JOE COASTIE

Horizonjet

rush1

jamiemwedmore1234

Horizonjet

Horizonjet

GT Jets

Horizonjet