Fluid and Serpentine Belt Replacement, pumps too?

Called the dealership closest to my current location, they'll have it to me the soonest. I'm definitely paying for convenience there, but I've bookmarked Camelback and will likely use them in the future. Thanks for the recommendation. I did a double take when I saw the name because Camelback is the name of a popular resort in my area.

As "luck" would have it, there was a delay to the inverter pump shipment and it'll arrive on the same day that I can pick up the thermostat, but that doesn't actually matter now (explained below).

I hope that the new pump and coolant replacement solves the issue.

My FIL equivalent was right and the thermometer I was using wasn't reading accurate temperatures, but I was right too and the thermostat is shot. It was opening closer to 200° and now I'm more concerned about what kind of damage that can do (has possibly done?) to the car. Obviously, I know that it can overheat, but it didn't and I don't know what else (if anything) it could do. Or did I just get lucky and catch it before anything could happen?

I've also managed to add another concern. Last night, I decided to drain the inverter coolant in order to determine whether or not I'd need to pick up another gallon of coolant while I'm at the dealership to get the thermostat, and as I was placing a jack stand under the car, the jack slipped off the jack point, the car crashed down before I had the stand locked and my finger got pinched (for lack of a better word) in the stand. I'm okay, but have a pretty nasty avulsion (I'm damned lucky that I didn't lose a hand). I bring this up for 2 reasons, the first being a warning to those who may come across this post and may not know to NEVER get under a car with just the jack holding it up - jacks fail and you can suffer serious injury or death (Additionally, if the person you're working with is the one using the jack, double check their work - I may have avoided this had I just done that). The second reason is because, like many others, my jack isn't long enough to reach the center jack point, so we use the front tow hooks one side at a time - the jack slipped on the driver side and now the coolant tank has a large dent in it. It doesn't appear to be more than that, but I want to know if there is a safety concern if left like that, or should I just replace it?

Only I could take a 1 or 2 day job and turn it into a week long debacle (longer now since I'm temporarily down an index finger). Oh well, everything eventually becomes a funny story.

 

I'm also glad that it's not worse, and yes it's bad. A big OWWW with this one. At first I wasn't sure if I was walking out of the hospital with 9 or 10 fingertips. Not the kind of bleeding I had on my agenda.

I get anxious every time I get under, but it's become necessary. I also give it a big push after it's up, but we didn't get that far last night.


I just went out and took some photos. I only got a quick look earlier, and now I see the bracket next to the tank also took the hit. I'm afraid to ask how bad that is in terms of repair, but how bad is it? Also, the tank - leave it or replace it?

 

I won't know that until I get the thermostat installed and refill the coolant. Unless there's a way to test it beforehand? What would I be looking for in order to determine if it's functioning properly? If it's not, it means another coolant drain and replace, doesn't it?

 

I came across some used ones doing a quick google search, but I'm not sure I'd trust a used one.

I'm going to test it first, but if anyone has the part number for the canister as a stand alone, I'd appreciate it.

 

At this point, I've already ordered it from the dealership, and I'm too fed up to bother with anywhere else. But I'm sure I'll order from rock auto in the future and add more classic collection magnets to my fridge.

This was a simple job gone horribly wrong, and I'm the only one here with the skill set to complete it. I can manage the thermostat install and coolant refill/bleed with this injury, which will allow me determine if I need to replace the coolant tank. That's as far as I'll go until I heal.

Since I've already completed the transaxle fluid drain and refill, I don't need it up on stands to finish the job. I've ordered low profile ramps (already have chocks) for when I'm able to do the work. In the meantime, no one will be permitted to touch my car until I'm ready to take it to my stepdad. The tank and bracket weren't the only things to suffer damage, and my stepdad (mechanic - retired) has a vast amount of experience doing body work. He won't be able to do the work (poor health), but will be glad to walk me through it (without dropping the car on me). I'm hopeful that Galvatron will be reassembled soon (yes, my car's name is Galvatron).

In the meantime, I'm using my MIL equivalent's car (hyundai accent hatchback), which I am grateful to have use of.

 

Well, pulling the parts out and revisiting the surface areas to scrape and clean them was the right call. The water pump gasket was warped, and I'm going to assume it was my lack of attention to detail when it came to scraping everything down. Though it was a great help, there was still a slow leak after I reinstalled the parts. I had agreed to allow the car be towed to the mechanic who provided a 2nd set of eyes should I fail to complete the job this time. I attempted to get the car towed to my house as I'm still very leery of anyone without hybrid knowledge or experience work on it, but I lost that battle. So off to the mechanics it went. I sent him, via text, a novel on what I needed to complete the job, and cited youtube videos as a visual guide/better explanation on how to bleed the system. He called today and there isn't any more leaking, the problem? I didn't tighten the nuts/bolts enough. I'd be extremely embarrassed if I hadn't been doing this one-handed. He said that everything was well done and that I just lacked the strength to pull it off.

However, he didn't refill and bleed the system. He filled the radiator with water to test it, and not knowing about maintenance mode, drove it around. Now, the check engine light is on and the car is throwing 2 - P1118 DTC, his reader notes fuel metering system. I'll run techstream when I get to the car tomorrow, but clearly have new concerns.

Water in aluminum is bound to cause problems, summer is in my favor, but freezing isn't the only thing to be concerned about here.

I know that filling the radiator doesn't mean full, so I don't know how much water (I hope it was distilled) is now in my ICE coolant system.

I also know that not all of the coolant leaves the system when you drain it, so the current water to coolant ratio is unknown. Is there a way to purge the system?

I know that code could be chalked up to the air in the system, but can't that also be a sensor of some sort? Let's not forget that, that tank is damaged, it could also have something to do with that, right? A combination of?

For anyone that may be curious, I lost all layers of skin and some fat on my finger, but everything else seems to be in tact. Doc says that it'll take a few weeks for the first layer of skin to grow back, and that I might even get to keep my fingernail.

 

I will no longer allow a tag team jacking up of the car. There is never an issue until there is one, and fear can be a great motivator.

I've previously noted that I intend to leave it be unless there proves to be something wrong with it.

False.

I keep a very close eye on my mfd since my little put-put went kaput and was wrongfully sentenced to an oil-sludgy death. I've not noted a lot of purple and my mpg is around 40 (not great, but not "really bad"), but the other symptoms remain. It won't hurt for me to test it.

 

Yes, that's precisely what's happened here. After all, I only have access to 9/10 nails.