but I agree, I don't suspect a cracked head...it sure appears it was just sloppy installation and the coolant puddled in the little valleys behind the spark plugs...

but I'll keep my eye on it.

I'm not clear at this point...

The "leak" is okay, but the gurgle is still there?

yeah, no leak...but it's NOT really a gurgle...it's a warbling growl almost...rises and falls with engine speed...but it's definately not supposed to be there..

UPDATE: Car is back at shop..told them to fix it.... Driving there, sound was clearly heard...a rotating/warbling sort of sound...a spinning sound...could be a bad waterpump...who knows....but it's not coming home until it's fixed! Lucky I have two cars.

I'll update when I get it back!

Okee dokey.

I'd say maybe a pump, more likely a belt that now has some dirt or coolant in the grooves, except for that part about only hearing it inside the car...

Hey! Did you ever check the steering fluid level after getting the car back from the water pump job? They could've allowed fluid to leak out while the pump was unbolted to do the other work.

I took it straight back..however...the thought did occur..."Am I low in fluid somewhere?"...didn't get time to check.


Took if Friday pm...nothing yet... I'll let her stay for a few days before I call for update...

I wonder if a defective waterpump could do that....

I'll see what happens....

Just got back from shop. Mechanic wanted me to show him, and we looked together.

We took off the S/C belt and the serentine belt and started car...no noise...Put s/c belt back on...no noise (a little noise from S/C..there's a small bit of slack there..) but no noise like before...

So...they're going to put a new waterpump on (another new one) and I think I'll have them change the idler pulley behind the engine mount..that needs changing too..

They'll call me when it's ready. Till then I drive my other toy...

But man, I miss my smooth Riviera!

Good deal.

While it's apart for that miserable job, I'd make sure that both tensioners are in good shape and have them replace both of the lower/rear PIA pulleys... Plastic versus steel I don't know, the opinions seem to be split.

Well, I noticed (awhile back) that my s/c belt is not straight when it's in the OEM location using OEM pulleys. The pulley on the tensioner had the belt just off to the side...just a hair (I posted a topic on this awhile back)...you guys said (and were right) that it would slip off...it did.

So I had modded the belt by moving it over one notch on the harmonic balancer. That wore down the raised portion of that little part of the belt, but it was straight after that...

They put the new balancer on...and a new tensioner pulley and the belt is still just off a little bit... So I don't know if the tensioners are out of perpindicularity just a little or what....

Hmmmm

It's possible the balancer isn't seated all the way... ? You'd have to put a straightedge in there and use it to figure out what the offending pulley is.

Okay, got the car back and this will be the final update..

Got to be a litte precise here, but I think problem is solved.....

Okay...took car back, noise was still there. They had car for a week and did some more tweaking...Changed exhaust flange & gasket on rear bank. Changed pulleys , found a collapsed vacuum line and changed PCV valve....(they say)

Picked up car...went for drive..noise still there...worse than ever...FU_K!!!

So, for no reason, I took off S/C belt to see if noise was lessened with removal (we'd already done this at shop).. still there.

While putting belt back on I must have misaligned it...it ripped shortly after I put it back on....FU_K 2!...

So got new S/C belt, put it on (easy with modded lower engine mount)... put it all back togther and drove....noise GONE!

So I'm trying to figure out why it's suddenly fixed!...here's some ideas:
1: Finally successful in bleeding air bubbles out enough
2: They had over tightened the lower engine mount bolt...perhaps causing just the slightest misalignment (not sure on this)
3: New belt did the trick (NOT!)

I think it may have been an air bubble problem....since even with all new pulleys it still made that noise....but once I burped it a few times and squeezed the upper coolant hose (while holding the vent cap on the radiator open) it seems to have lessened/gone away...

So if I have any advice to anyone on this????
1: Get a vent-able radiator cap
2: BURP your coolant when you change water pump!
3: Change them pulleys!

Thanks guys! You were a great help! (you all suggested an air problem!)

Love my Riviera!

Well, that's good news.
When did you do the final burping.....after you replaced the belt I assume.
And what has been modded to help with the belt change.?

Thanks for the props. Don't forget one last item:

4. Bleed the cooling system on an uphill slope...

I did once open the bleed screw...coolant came out.

Let me ask a question ..... I have a redi-vent radiator cap (with a lever to release presssure).... been using it lately...

Run car, car is warm...get out...lift lever and I hear (and see) a bubbling noise in overflow tank.... Is that evidence of air trapped in my coolant...or just the pressure pushing fluid to the reservoir???