View Full Version : Car repair?
blownz281
03-17-2013, 05:31 PM
Monte Carlo is at it again. Intake leak now,which i can see on the side of the block.
Months ago I posted the converter was bad.Well just had it replaced for free under warranty,but they said antifreeze is leaking into it.
Funny thing is if that's true that its passing through the combustion chamber,why nothing in the oil? Radiator cap has no oil residue. No white smoke from exhaust,no smells,no antifreeze dripping from tailpipe.
Part of me doesn't believe this place from what I checked on my own and knowledge. Plus they were trying to sell me other things. Then weeks later I notice they left four of the six plug wires laying on the manifold and burnt them. WTH.... This is a 2003 3.4L v6 incase anyone has done this repair before.
Repair is expensive and have to wait,so now I wonder how long I have till this converter goes bad if that's the case? BUT from info I gathered aftermarket converter fail a lot in the first few months. So they could have lied.
Worm_Farmer
03-18-2013, 04:27 PM
Do you mean catalytic converter?
blownz281
03-18-2013, 04:51 PM
Yes.
bananimal
03-18-2013, 07:34 PM
Bz --- when you said "this place" are you talking about the Chevy dealership you bought the car from? A warranty was honored right?
I could go on and on about my Olds with the 231 V6 problems. Thanks for bringing back the nightmares. lol
blownz281
03-18-2013, 07:42 PM
Nope,went to a shop that works on GM cars and others. Not funny bananimal :08:
LilRaverBoi
03-18-2013, 08:16 PM
Possibly a small head gasket leak? Intake manifold gasket leaks?
blownz281
03-18-2013, 08:26 PM
Yeah,like I said I know its a intake gasket leak as after a lot of mileage the 3400 engines were known for this. Just curious if anyone ever heard or had the converter go bad from antifreeze making its way into the exhaust which is very unlikely without any other signs.Plus how long would it take to kill the converter if it was leaking into it?
Worm_Farmer
03-19-2013, 11:16 AM
Yeah,like I said I know its a intake gasket leak as after a lot of mileage the 3400 engines were known for this. Just curious if anyone ever heard or had the converter go bad from antifreeze making its way into the exhaust which is very unlikely without any other signs.Plus how long would it take to kill the converter if it was leaking into it?
My Monte Carlo got a head gasket leak right after I got the car. It still ran but I know something was up because all of my gauges went crazy.
If it was a small or real slow leak I do not think you would any steam coming out of your tail pipe it would be very hard to catch. But when you turn off the car and the water leaks into it and just sits overnight or longer it could start to rust pretty quickly. I do not know the affects of Anti Freeze on the internal's of a catalytic converter so I can not give you a real sold answer on that subject. I would think, that you would be able notice to that your coolant is always low and start to notice about how fast your coolant was leaking.(1 gal a week)
When my intake gasket went bad, I had to pretty much take apart the top half of the engine, remove the intake and scrap off the old gasket. I then polished both the intake and the block till the metal was very shiny again. Because I had it open I cleaned all the lifter rods and everything I could access which the intake off. Then put it all back together again, It was not a fun job. I did go down to the race shop to buy the best gasket kit they sold for my engine because I knew I did not want to ever have to go back and do it all over again.
blownz281
03-19-2013, 04:23 PM
It is only leaking from the block. Local shop I asked today said its pretty far fetched what the shop said that did the work. I agree since I see no signs of antifreeze leaking into the engine externally. He also said that shop has had issues in the past with people :( . Well today the light came on and I'm sure it's the converter again.
Pretty crazy,first day I drove it was yesterday for maybe 20 miles round trip. Tis am five mins away from my house the check engine light comes on.
So the converter goes bad in one day of driving it a short distance.... I would have to be dumping antifreeze out the exhaust pretty good for it to go bad so quick! I have talked to several mechanics now and they agree its really strange for the converter to go bad this quick with no internal leaking signs. Wy would they have replaced it the first time if they found antifreeze inside it? They said no replacement for mechanical damage. But they felt like doing me a favor? Seems strange. Yes I googled the work and could do it,but no time with kids and both working different shifts. Need two cars all the time.
designshark
03-19-2013, 10:08 PM
Why not find a local welder (or yourself) and cut the converter off and replace with a piece of tubing the same as the exhaust diameter? The mileage might be a bit less but overall I don't think it would hurt anything. It might help the ole engine breath a little easier. Unless you have to test your emmisions down there in NC.
bananimal
03-19-2013, 11:56 PM
I lived in Charlotte for a few years, and yes NC requires yearly inspections --- which you have to pay for. When I see the POS's that drive around here in Fl mandatory inspection makes sense.
Bypassing the CC - big no no -- big ticket.
Time to buy a new To-yota. lol
blownz281
03-20-2013, 03:47 PM
Thanks for the idea,but yes inspections. Car would be impounded and a huge ticket for doing that.
bananimal
03-21-2013, 12:45 AM
In Charlotte I remember seeing at least 3 trucks that had the tailgate logo changed cause the owner couldn't stand the big TOYOTA. They painted out the TO and the TA. So all could see they drove a "YO"! :ha:
blownz281
03-21-2013, 05:12 PM
That's odd,probably some ricer thing. Like the little voodoo doll things hanging from the bumpers on ricer cars.
LilRaverBoi
03-21-2013, 10:31 PM
In Charlotte I remember seeing at least 3 trucks that had the tailgate logo changed cause the owner couldn't stand the big TOYOTA. They painted out the TO and the TA. So all could see they drove a "YO"! :ha:
I saw a rat rod once that used raised letters from a ford trunk-lid to spell out 'ROD' on the back of it. Pretty awesome.
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.