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Check engine light

Tiny
ERIC LIVINGSTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,705 MILES
Need help. I had the water pump and thermostat replaced in our car because the engine was overheating one afternoon. That was last week. Last 4 or 5 days the check engine light flashes for 30 seconds and turns off. Our driveway is probably 35 degrees and the car sits there for approximately 8 hours. Then when I pull out and put the car in drive the light flashes and goes off. The check engine light never comes on the rest of the day and the temperature gauge reads normal.

A buddy at work sucked out all of the air in the cooling system. Plaza Tire thought I had a blown head gasket but my buddy didn't see any coolant in the oil or anything (smell, smoke, etc) in the exhaust. He says it isn't the head gasket. After sucking the air out and giving me a new hose that connects to the surge tank, he said to drive it around for a couple of days.

Tonight I am going to AutoZone to find out what code the computer is giving me every morning. I hope the air was the culprit and not a blown head gasket. Any ideas from anyone?
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 1:11 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

Your buddy is not right. When there is coolant in the oil, that is when it is really bad. It is not a test for a failed head gasket.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

A leak down test on each cylinder will tell if it is the issue. It sounds like it is the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Check the code and keep me updated. My guess is that it is misfire code for one cylinder. I bet it is getting water in the cylinder overnight and burning it off over time.

Roy

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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 4:31 PM
Tiny
ERIC LIVINGSTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The OBD-II reader didn't register any code. AutoZone tech said it might be a glitch in the system, that whatever happened fixed itself. I am leaning toward this being air in the coolant system or a misfire. The check engine light didn't come on this morning and temperature gauge is reading normal. Engine doesn't run rough.
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2020 AT 6:21 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, first, AutoZone employs parts salesman, not techs. They are guessing only. If they were techs, they would be working in a shop.

You need a shop with a real scan tool and not a code reader. The system stores history codes that can be read with a scan tool. They are there, just in another section.

You already stated that it ran okay after it starts. I still stand behind my suggestions.

Roy
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2020 AT 6:32 AM

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