Coolant leaking, and power steering noise... oh noes!

[409industries]

The STi (2004) had a bit of a problem yesterday after work. It was fortunate that it was right as I was pulling into my parking spot that I noticed a strange smell (which turned out to be evaporating coolant / water mix) and some steam coming out of the hood scoop. Glad i wasn't on the freeway still.

I parked and noticed that coolant was everywhere on the front of the motor and on all the belts. It was steaming up and evaporating on the hot exhaust manifolds. I couldn’t figure out where it was leaking from right away, but after things cooled down a bit I saw it was coming from the top radiator hose. There was a decent sized hole in it, that coolant could be seen spraying out if I squeezed it.

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/radiator_hose1.jpg

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/hosting/imagehosting/radiator_hose2.jpg

So I dropped by the Subaru dealership this morning before work to get a brand new hose, some OEM coolant and the coolant conditioner. I get home from work today (and even though it REALLY pisses off my leasing people) I pop the hood and get the old damaged hose off and replace it with the new one. I fill radiator until it’s topped off, coolant reservoir till it was full, check the over flow bottle its on the F. Started the car and wait for it to burp, adding distilled water only. There was still some dripping under the car, but i can't be sure if its because of my spilling, or another leak somewhere.I am still not sure if it is still leaking but I decided to let everything dry and ill check it out tomorrow.

Once I am confident there are no other leaks I will drain everything, add an appropriate mix of coolant / water / conditioner.

Here’s my dumb questions:

1) Is the power steering system in any way related to the coolant system? When I started the car, the steering was VERY heavy feeling and the power steering was making a LOT of noise. Definitely not sounding normal.

2) The coolant / water mix was very frothy. When I went to check how much fluid was in the radiator, it bubbled out like foam, so I just closed it up. Is this out of the ordinary?

Do I have a more serious problem with my power steering now? I have no idea why it would be acting that way.:pissed:

[rllyrckt]

the power steering could be because the belt got sprayed with coolant it became slippery and is slipping on the power steering pulley, and that would cause a squeal and if its slipping the pulley isnt being turned as fast and thus the power steering would feel harder than usual, and the best way to check on the coolant "problem" would probably drain your oil and see if it comes out frothy, if so then you possibly have a serious problem, but im not completly sure, just trying to help ya out....

[409industries]

the best way to check on the coolant "problem" would probably drain your oil and see if it comes out frothy, if so then you possibly have a serious problem, but im not completly sure, just trying to help ya out....

blown head gasket? I have to change the oil, so i might be doing this sooner than later to check it for signs of coolant in the oil.

[rllyrckt]

Possibly a blown head gasket, but i hope not for your sake *crossing fingers*

[bfrancis827]

the power steering could be because the belt got sprayed with coolant it became slippery and is slipping on the power steering pulley, and that would cause a squeal and if its slipping the pulley isnt being turned as fast and thus the power steering would feel harder than usual

This would be my guess/hope.

[409industries]

the power steering could be because the belt got sprayed with coolant it became slippery and is slipping on the power steering pulley, and that would cause a squeal and if its slipping the pulley isnt being turned as fast

This problem should disappear once the belts all dry though right? I am at work right now, but i'm going to fire her up when i get home, to see what's what!

crossing fingers too! :oops:

[WRXCMM]

is the noice like a squile or a reving hinda noice cause remember at gorman meet, my ps pump started to make that reving sound and it just quit. hopefully it's just the fluid making it slip just like mentioned above. now lets say it is the fuild is there a way to wash it off? maybe wash it off with water?

[Slim]

blown head gasket? I have to change the oil, so i might be doing this sooner than later to check it for signs of coolant in the oil.

If the coolant is frothing it may be a pinhole head gasket leak from the cylinder to the water channel. If that is the case the oil would appear to be normal with no signs of coolant. That could also explain the leak in your upper radiator hose. The built up pressure from constant compression on the cooling system would cause it to leak somewhere.

I hope that for you sake I'm wrong.:unamused:

-Slim

[409industries]

The hole in the hose looks like it was from contact with the fans, or the fan assembly somehow.

[JacksonRally]

Definetly a hole from the fan blades. The stock radiator mounts are pretty loose to say the least. Pull the upper hose back off and cut a 1/2'' off the hose, this will bring it away from the fan blades. The whole lot moves quite a bit. It may have been knocked out of one of the lower mounts too and finally wore a hole in the hose.

If things get ugly I may have a spare P/S pump or two ;) And if its a head gasket just call OP, he will get you fixed up in no time.

[UP2MTNS]

I think you're fine, if it was a blown HG, you'd also be overheating once you got a mile down the road.

[aresbykes]

Also, something to keep in mind, the coolant doesn't dry clean. It WILL leave a residue, so even if they appear to be clean, there will still be residue wherever it spilled. If it was me, i'd spray my entire engine bay down, and let it dry so you could better investigate what is going on inside your car. Another important thing to take into consideration. You have a dirty engine...... Do you check your fluids regularly, and if so do you clean the surfaces around it so that no debris can get into the filling areas? You could have gotten dirt in your ps and possibly done something that way.


Though my money is on your belt slipping, i would still investigate other possibilities.

[WRXCMM]

Yeah when i had my radiator fiasco, and had to change it i hosed that bitch down. cuase that shi+'s slimy as fk.

[lorenkb]

I have nothing usefull to add, I'd just like to point out that Carlos is hosing bitches down to get rid of the slimy stuff every time he has a fiasco.

[409industries]

I started the car again last night and the problem is still persisting with the power steering. The good news is that i think that hose to the radiator was the cause for the coolant going everywhere, because nothing else seemed to be leaking coolant. I still can't figure out why it got cut open though, i wansn't even driving spiritedly home from work, nor did i run anything over...

Checked the power steering level, strangely even cold the level was way higher than the high / hot lines. The fluid was also very frothy.

I ran the motor for a few minutes, and again the coolant was just bubbling out all foamy to the point that i can't add anymore. Maybe its full? I can't tell. It did seem to warm up at a normal rate though.

I'm definitely not comfortable driving the car in this condition so I'm going to get it towed to be looked at, simply because i don't have the time or the facilities to deal with investigating further what is up with it. I'll post up about this when i get back from Vegas, i should have an update by then.

[aresbykes]

my money is on your pump going out. Or a obstruction or partial obstruction in the line.

frothing could be from your pump deciding to take a crap on you.

[409industries]

I drove my car out of my parking structure down to the front of my complex for the flatbed to pick it up. Even just driving a short distance, i was noticing a lot of steam coming from the passenger side back of the engine compartment. Not rad. Powersteering is jacked.

Car was towed to the stealership this morning. Again the dreaded "head gasket" theory came up in conversation again. They probably won't look at it until Monday, but there is a chance that ill hear back later today. Either way, i know its going to be bad news.

[WRXCMM]

dude that sux, sorry to hear.


edit: how hard is it to change a headgasket? just wondering.

[Slim]

I'll cross my fingers for you that it's not the head gasket. But if it is and you're attempting to fix it yourself, I could offer offer my assistance depending on time-frame.

Good luck,
Slim

[409industries]

w00t! problem has been diagnosed.

Leaking power steering pump = burning fluid / steam coming out of the hood. These repairs are much cheaper than a head gasket. At 67k miles, I was shocked to be facing HG problems on a GD Impreza. I am very pleased that its only the power steering pump. I know i could do this myself and save some cash (JacksonRally said he has some PS pumps available for sale) but i simply don't have the time to deal with it right now.

DRTY STI will be picked up on Monday and driven home if all goes well. :)

[Slim]

Excellent. Glad it wasn't something more major.:)

[WRXCMM]

cheapo (in comparison) problem ftmfw!!!!

[409industries]

+1 for Irvine Subaru. I'm picking up my car after work and getting it home before heading to Vegas tonight.

Thinking in my foolish financial way, this means i have roughly an extra $1800 to gamble with out there that would have been blown on head gasket repairs... :muhaha:

[UP2MTNS]

I have nothing usefull to add, I'd just like to point out that Carlos is hosing bitches down to get rid of the slimy stuff every time he has a fiasco.


nothing wrong with that. its how he rolls.






aaron, glad you're car is OK...but now take that $1,800 and use it for Gorman!!!

[aresbykes]

it's 1800 dollars to get your f-in head gaskets fixed?

holy poop.

[409industries]

Naw dawgg, $1800 was just the quote for labor. This was the difference of what it would have cost for the whole HG repair minus what I paid for the PS pump.

Crazy huh....

[me_jimmy]

what about the foaming coolant?
the words "head" and "gasket" cost $500 ea. the rest is labor