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Coolant seals blown or WORSE?! Horror story.

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Old 06-05-08, 03:00 AM
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Exclamation Coolant seals blown or WORSE?! Horror story.

Alright let me say I am pissed as a mother that this happened but I guess things happen. I was on my way to GA (where I currently live) From VA (I was visiting family). I have made this trip a couple times with no problem. I always make sure to keep an eye on my PFC Com to make sure the coolant temp doesn't get out of hand. Well I take a pit stop to check if everything is alright because it was a hot day and driving at about 85mph the temp was getting to 100 C and it scared me a bit, but everything seemed fine and when I came to a stop it dropped in the 80's. Well I fill up and continue and all of a sudden my coolant alarm goes off and I notice the temp is at like 115 C and I look up and coolant is coming out the vents in my hood(I can smell it). I am stuck between exits and have no choice but to keep coasting till i get to the next exit and stop. By this time temps are at 127 C I open the hood and the small hose that is coming off of the thermostat housing has exploded. I cut and reconnect and attempt to cool it down. Obviously not too smart to put water in a hot *** engine but I am panicked and add it to the reservoir and where ever I can. I try to start it again and it will not turn over. I pump the gas it finally starts, I notice white smoke coming from exhaust and then shuts off by itself. I let it cool some more and add more coolant. I try again to start and it will not start. It is DEAD After getting really fustrated trying to save my car I give up trying to start it and notice water coming out of the exhaust( only a little.) God knows I made some stupid choices in my panicked state trying to save my beloved car. But some of you would do the same.

So here is a question for those of you who are more knowledgeable than I. I bought the car with a new motor installed by Mazda. It has about 36K mi. on it. Is it savable and what is my best means to fix it. I am located in St. Mary's GA right near FL. I have yet to recover my car. ( The car is in South Carolina and I had to leave it till the weekend to get it.) I am in the military so I do not have all that much time (nor money) to myself. I may need to take to a shop so any shop referrals would be great.
Old 06-05-08, 03:07 AM
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Sorry, but I think your engine is shot. It's sad to say, but it's rebuild time. You can bring it to Pettit in FL.
Old 06-05-08, 05:18 AM
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We are facing another hot summer, record temperatures again no doubt. So this is why everyone should look into a radiator upgrade over the OEM, along with a aftermarket temperature gauge with alarm. I have two AM temp gauges on my FDs, large radiators and Summit racing alarm lights set to 200F.


Later
Old 06-05-08, 05:58 AM
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Put it in her butt
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sounds like you blew the seal and thats why the water is getting out to the exhaust, sorry dude. i shut my car down at 100 if it gets to that, it to 105 once when cap i put on a coolant hose blew, i shut it down imediately, lucky it runs perfect still.
Old 06-05-08, 06:12 AM
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my temps often get to 100c during city driving. thats 212f but it never goest over 100. on highways it runs much lower temps. should i be worried?
Old 06-05-08, 09:52 AM
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Don't forget to also change those turbo coolant hoses if you have the stock twins, just had mine explode about 100 feet from my house though fortunately.

Sorry Kakashi07
Old 06-05-08, 10:37 AM
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Unhappy

Yeah Im really upset. It couldn't have happened at a worse time. Not to mention I cracked the power plant frame and just had it welded and reinstalled it like a day prior. And I stopped like 45 mins prior to it over heating and it all was looking fine. Still anyone know good rotary places near FL or GA?
Old 06-05-08, 10:44 AM
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I wired up a switch in mine to that triggers the fans to high speed regardless of what speed they may or may not be running. Of course I'm still fixing my car up to put it on the street (almost there), so I don't know if this will be much of a help.

If it's got to the point where it's puking coolant into the combustion area my fan idea would be of no use of course, but hopefully that and an FC thermoswitch will be able to keep the temps down.
Old 06-06-08, 01:44 PM
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Yeah All I can do is find a place to rebuild it but that has proven to be reduculously hard. I tried calling Jax Motors which was reffered to in this forum but to no avail. The number given is not used? Can't find it on yellow pages either.
Old 07-29-08, 04:27 PM
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It took me forever and cost me $5k but I got her running again! I am a bit mad that it cost so much because the shop that did the install did some things that perturbed me but all in all I am just happy to have her running again. Also its no mere rebuild either. The motor is from Pettit Racing with a mild street port and new housings and all. Now all I need is a place to have it tuned since it is just eating fuel for some reason. Any feedback?
Old 07-29-08, 04:58 PM
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needs more track time

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That is a good price for a rebuilt motor with a street port from Pettit.
Old 07-29-08, 05:05 PM
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Eh

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Nevermind
Old 07-29-08, 05:47 PM
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i dont understand why you guys are freaking out over 105c...thats not too hot by any means. Thats when the stock fan setting kicks in to bring the temp down.

I keep my car at 180-200 with a fan switch but maybe a select few times I have ran it up to 220 to check the pressure caps.
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