Blown Radiator?
 

Hey guys, heres the story...

Car drove fine on the way home from school. 20 minutes later I started it to goto work and the idle seemed normal, but my Entire car was shaking. I popped the hood, the block was shaking pretty hard, but its not idling rough. Went and checked my exhaust, the muffler emitted a "pulsing" exhaust gas, again, it was not rough idling. Looked under the car, my b pipe at the connection with the cat was also shaking.

Heres the pics, I think I blew my radiator somehow, theres what seems to be coolant everywhere, and none left in the yellow container...

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...01029-0002.jpg
(Driver side corner of Radiator and fuse box)

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...01029-0002.jpg
(Driver side fuse box and ballast, right next to radiator)

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...01029-0003.jpg
(Middle of Radiator looking towards bumper)

Could definately be a blown radiator. If your radiator is on the way out you could do a band-aid fix by adding the contents of a cracked egg and topping off your coolant to your radiator while also topping off your overflow container. The egg will plug any leaks that you might have in your radiator and topping off the coolant will help replenish any coolant that may have been lost. You also might want to check your radiator hoses to make sure that they aren't cracked and leaking coolant (this fix won't be of much help for cracked radiator hoses). Is your car running hot?

This isn't a permant fix, but it will get you by in a pinch.

It does look like you've got a cracked radiator, but I think you have another problem. I would bet the radiator cracked because of the severe vibration from your engine. If the radiator is old, those plastic tanks succumb to stress fractures fairly easy. It looks like you will need a new radiator, but, IMO, you should check to see if there is a larger underlying problem with your engine. It sounds like misfire to me. Check the 3 majors.

I noticed this before the engine started to shake, Didnt think anything of it because it was small leak a while ago. Engine started to act up today.

Right. So, it was a seeping leak. Then the engine began to have problems which caused hard shuddering. Now, you have a big leak. Change the radiator. importrp sells the koyo for a really good price in the GD section (bought one for my 98 a couple months ago and just boght one for my 02 yesterday) and it's plug and play and good quality.

I only see two realistic ways the radiator could have caused the engine problems:
1. The radiator was empty or plugged which overheated the engine.
2. The coolant sprayed out onto something electrical causing it to fail. Have you checked for pooling on all your electrical connectors where the coolant sprayed?

Ok, engine problem was caused by clogged MAF. Ive got a cracked radiator. Ive also had a bad wheel bearing and a busted KS is bad still.

I got quoted 100 labor for KS, 200 parts and labor for bearing, 320 parts and labor for radiator, and 250 to install my KYB AGX/ Progress Springs setup. So under 1000 for alota work that I dont have the space/time/tools to do most of with.

He's a really nice guy, names Joe. He owns Orlando Auto Import Specialists, theyre the best shop in Orlando.

Sounds kinda steep. Knock sensor u can do yourself just need a lot of patience to do it without removing the UIM. See if u can source parts yourself because his parts could be marked up. Try to get stock wheel bearings not aftermarket and also aluminum radiator if u are replacing it. I can help u with the suspension install and for less. Let me know man.

Firestone wanted 600 for the KS. Ive got a new one, last time i tried changing it the wrench got stuck and stayed there for 3 months...

I need the radiator done fast so thats getting done monday.

The wheel bearings can wait, why do you say go oem vs am?

As for the suspension, i told the guy we'd come to him for it and an alignment, hes really nice and I trust him fully.

Also, most of yall dont know that im a senior in high school, ive got a job so i pay for part of the repair costs, my dad covers most of it b/c he wants me to save money for college.

I had bad wheel bearings and I bought some replacements from Autozone and they went bad again in about 6 months. Just be careful because if u leave them bad for too long they can damage your hub which happened to me when they went bad the 2nd time around.

Odd. Well he told me it was the wheel bearing, so im assuming i need to buy only THIS?