The car is almost ready to go on the road! I finally got my starter in and she fired right up... I'm really glad it runs but I've uncovered another problem.... coolant is dripping from between where the engine and tranny meet. I think it might be a freeze plug that is letting coolant out. So the question is should I try some block weld or take another weekend off of work and pull the engine and replace the freeze plugs?

And what/how do I hook up the oil pressure sender? The gauge shows no oil pressure but I know that the pump key is in and the pump works...

Thanks,
Rob

 

For your cooleant leak you need to trace where the leak is coming from. I had a leak in the same place you are talking about and it could be from a number of things. 1st check the 2 cooleant lines on the backside of the TB. 2nd check all around your LIM, easy way to tell is puddling in the 4 holes where the Primary injector sits.

 

for your oil pressure sender, assuming its installed, you need to hook the wire up to it. There is a wire that slides onto the button like thing at the tip of the sender.

 

Thanks, Is this wire going to be on the harness that is on the engine or the harness that is attached to the chassis on that side?

 

This applies to my S4 Vert, so yours may differ:

The oil pressure sender wire is in the vehicle (NOT engine) harness, on the driver's side rear of the car (look around the area of the trailing coils). I just started my rebuild as well, and did the same thing (I freaked out when I had no pressure showing ). The connector, as noted above, is plastic and slides on, rather than the traditional clip-on style.

 

Thanks, I'll look for that... its been too long that ive had it apart... I usually have a good memory for this type of thing... but other than that and my coolant leak this car is ready to go... one more question:
Should the car still rev up to 3000rpm when I start it even though ive removed the sub zero assist bottle?

 

Yes, It will still go through the warm up cycle.

You're going to find that the coolant leak is most likely the two hoses that attach behind the upper intake. Look back there and you'll see them.

Your Oil pressure sender is that barrell shaped copper looking thing under the oil filter pedestal. The is a white'esh slide on connector that comes from the area of the wiring harness that stays in the car whe you removed the motor.

 

BTW, congrats on the rebuild. Don't you feel great!!! When that motor fired right up you felt like crowing didn't ya'? You didn't need any Viagra that night!! Strong like bull!!

 

I had an audience when I fired it up so it felt pretty good. I can sleep easily tonight knowing that the hole ive been throwing money in for the past few months has a bottom... It gave me hell every step of the way.. and still is... but its almost there!

btw... The hoses on top of the intake arent leaking but ill give it another look tomorrow... I know where the oil pressure sender is i just cant find the wire for it!

 

Look at all the connectors that are floating around by the starter. That area of the harness was the hardest for me. The Real harness fit right back where it was supposed to fit without any trouble. Those wires on the Driver side under the brake booster or beside the Starter gave me Trouble. And after it was all said and done some of them didn't even need to be disconnected to pull the motor.

 

Well I have oil pressure... I found the wire and hooked it up to the sender. Thanks for the help. Now I have to take the motor out or the tranny out and change the freeze out plugs... I cannot see any hoses that are leaking.

 

There is a hose on the rear iron that connects to the tb and it flows coolant, and when it leaks it drips right in that are your talking about.

-Andrew

 

I felt to the base of all the hoses I could find back there and found no wetness/ evidence of leakage... I will keep checking until I have the time to pull either the motor or the tranny (Which one is going to be easier ?) It leaks alot of coolant, maybe a quart or so a day just sitting... and with one start to see if I had oil pressure... would it leak that much from a small hose? Nothing is disconnected totally because it doesnt spray coolant when it is running.

 

I drove the car today and it feels pretty solid... little lacking on power at the moment... but I didnt take it over 3000rpm... and maybe it will be better after its broken in alittle more. The interesting thing about the coolant is that it leaks only when the car is off! There was barely a drip while the car was running cold an warmed up. Any ideas? Also the leak appears to be closer to the middle of the engine on the drivers side now that the car is off the jack stands. I'm thinking that it might be leaking out of the coolant drain plug by the motor mount... Ill tighten that down next time I get a chance and see if that helps.. any other ideas?

Thanks,
Rob

 

That location sounds like the heater core return. You know the one that goes into the block from that side. The hole that is just below the Oil filler, then one that kept spewing coolant when you were breaking doen the motor.

 

Check the little hose that connect from the top of the rear plate to the TB - do you still have this coolant hose?
If so, sometimes it can leak and flow down toward the back of the engine.

Is the coolant leak on either side of the car?
Driver's side could be the heater hose from the firewall snaking under the oil filter pedestal.


-Ted

 

Can anyone think of a reason that it would leak coolant when the car is off but not while it is on?

 

hummm, no clue on the coolent leak but congrats on the rebuild