Coolant problem or not?

DIXIEJAMES

MEMBER
CHEVROLET CORVETTE

I have a 1994 vet with LT1 @ 100,450 miles. I drove car to restaurant, everything was fine. When I came out, I found a puddle of antifreeze on the ground. I checked for blown hoses, but could not find any. I filled the car with water, and drove it home. The temp stayed between 194-201, normal range. When I got home, I left the car running, the temp stayed at 205. I turned on the air, temp stayed 205, fans were running. I turned off the a/c, fans shut off, car reached 227 and when I was going to turn car off, before I could get there, it died. I heard a leak, it was coming from line going into throtal body. I replace hose, filled with coolant, replaced caps, but the car still would not start. I unhooked the + side from the battery for 30 seconds hoping for a computer reset, but no luck. Is this a problem with coolant system, or could something else have went wrong?
Car never ran over 205 on the way home, and only reached 227 at an idel. Any help is appreciated.

5 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

The 2 symptoms may or may not be related. I would carefully check anything that may have been sprayed when the leak occured and make sure everything that was removed was put back together. If nothing surfaces from that, you need to go back to the basics and determine if it is not getting fuel, spark and/or compression.

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Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 AT 10:22 AM

GWH

MEMBER
14 POSTS

Sounds like you have gotten moisture in the Opti-Spark ignition. The '94 and older LT1 engines did not come with a venting system for the ignition. The '95 and '96 models did. This includes Corvettes, Camaros and Firebirds. I'm not sure about the LT1s in other cars. Check to se if there is any spark going to the plugs. I would remove a plug wire from a sparkplug and put a good spark plug in the plug wire and lay it on the exhaust manifold. Do Not touch the plug or wire while you have someone try to start the engine. You are looking to see if there is any spark between the gap of the plug electrodes. If not, it is more than likely the Opti needs replacing. I would also check the coil which is mounted on the front of the head on the passenger's side of the engine.
This what I feel that has happened.

My 2 cents,
GWH

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Friday, August 10th, 2007 AT 4:48 AM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

DJ,

Please follow up with the solution! GWH's 2 cents sounds like a pretty valuable $.02. :)

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Sunday, August 12th, 2007 AT 7:34 PM

DIXIEJAMES

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I talked to a couple people, and they said it was probably the optispark. So I pulled the air intake off, water pump, crank pully, and distributor. Replaced the distributor and plug wires, then put it all back together, and it is running. I did get two wires crossed on the drivers side, I marked them with what I could find, but then could not see my marking on 3 of them. I tried to trace them under but lost track of one apparently when putting them on. So I had to take the belt, and tentioner off, to get to that side to redo the wires again. But now it is fixed and running strong.
Not bad for a girl huh?
Thanks for all the input.