QuestionMy 1989 Volvo has run like a dream for the past year that i've owned it, no problems whatsoever...until tonight...my car started billowing steam from the rear and under the hood after driving it under normal conditions, and the temp gauge crept up quickly to the "oh, ^&%*&%!!!" mark (extreme right) after only about 3 minutes of driving it after i noticed the steam. i left it to cool for about an hour and a half, and i came back to it and put in about 1/4 gal of PEAK antifreeze/coolant (undiluted) into the overflow tank (i couldn't find the radiator cap; i had another class to get to); after all that was said and done, i drove it again, and it started the whole scary steaming business, yet worse this time around, after only driving the same distance as before....i left it in the parking lot i pulled into, got a ride home from a friend who was following me (thank god), got a gallon of straight tap water, came back to the Volvo, and, as soon as i started filling it in the same place i poured the coolant, my friend noticed that there was a major, MAJOR leak coming from underneath my car!!! i couldn't trace the leak very well due to the Volvo's plastic cover thing under the engine area, but i am assuming i've blown a gasket or something else devastating and well out of my current budget to repair.
what i am asking here, in an attempt to summarize, is if you agree that my hypothesis is likely correct, and how difficult would it be for me to repair such a problem myself (i have owned many a crummy car in the past and have taught myself a lot because of this...).
any thought, response, estimate on repair or speculation on the matter would be greatly appreciated. thank you!!!
AnswerHaidee, It all depends on where its coming from. It can be the waterpump, it can be the radiator, etc. Radiator is easy but I wouldnt attempt the waterpump. Its hard to say what it is without looking at the car. Look at the fan area and pour the water in and see if its coming from under there. That would be a waterpump leak. Roger
