Green fluid on the ground...Solved.

96RIVMANN wrote:

"lT Grey interior". What the he$$ does this mean?

Goddammit, please don't use words like He$$...

Rick called, everything's fixed. The leak turned out to be the low coolant sensor popping out from the radiator. The plastic clip that holds it in must have weakened over the 15 years and under the coolant pressure, popped out. He'll see about getting a replacement the clamp itself, but other than that everything went smoothly!

oh joy.
happiness is an honest mechanic
my clip broke off also. let us know how he fixes it...

Yea no worries, he's a good guy. He's actually going to do the research and see if there's a part online or at the dealership tomorrow, and if he can't get the clip itself we'd have to get a new sensor but if that's the case I'll try to find one cheap.

IBx1 wrote:

Rick called, everything's fixed. The leak turned out to be the low coolant sensor popping out from the radiator.

I'm glad you got it fixed, Ilan...

However, we are not going to be able to sleep @ night until you tell us what the deal was with the green vs orange fluids!

Oh yeah, sorry. The fluid turned out to be mostly green but a little brownish, meaning the two coolant fluids blended together. Since I only topped off the plastic reservoir tank and didn't do a full flush, everything that was inside the rest of the system, radiator included, was still green. It was brownish green fluid in the end.

So was the water pump replaced, or only the sensor clip?

Re: the issue of whether or not to tackle a job like this yourself, yes there are times when you need the car right away and can't afford the time, and some jobs are just too complex for the shade tree mechanic, but a water pump shouldn't be a huge burden if you have a plan and some patience. I think I did my first one when I was 19 (while in college), and it was surprisingly simple. Unless you need the car next week, there is no harm in letting the car sit until you have time.

I think working on cars can be a very good experience for anyone who wants to be an engineer or designer, especially in an automotive field. I'm not saying this 'just because', but as a teacher I've personally seen students benefit from the challenge of visualizing how they think something works, and then learning first-hand how the mechanics actually fit together.

I don't have the tools or time, plus you have to admit, with all the things in the way, this isn't a good 'learner's car' for repairs.

I gotta disagree. What's in the way, a belt? Try changing an alternator in a '90s Honda, and you'll know the meaning of "difficult to work on". I really don't mean to be pushy. This is entirely up to you, but please don't think the Riviera is a complicated machine. It's a good machine, but a pretty simple one, and relatively easy to work on.

VW, Porsche, or even Hondas can all be hard to work on, and one of the perks of owning a Riviera is how easy it is to DIY. There's plenty of room to get at the engine - it's a perfect learner's car, imo. I have learned A LOT working on this car, and I'm no pro. Many parts of the engine and accessories are basically the same as classic American cars from the '60s-'70s.

Honestly, I'd love to own a newer European car, just because I like some of their looks and attempt at dedication to the driver experience. But I know how these cars like to break a lot, and I also know that one must own specialized tools to do work on many parts. The Riviera, in contrast, can be torn apart and put back together with a basic set of Craftsman tools. This is why I'm not getting rid of her anytime soon. Having two cars and zero car payment each month is a great incentive!

If you can't, then you can't. If it has to be fixed now, then fine. All I'm saying is, if possible, this would be a great opportunity to conquer a fear of the unknown. There's nothing like the feeling of challenging yourself, learning something new, and coming out on top. Replacing the water pump is a perfect project for a beginner, imo. Maybe you meet a friend in college who likes working on cars? Maybe he has some tools and would be willing to lend a hand?

Edit - it sounds like you know your mechanic pretty well. Any chance he'd let you sit in and watch/help him work on the water pump? My mechanic once showed me how to replace a power steering hose, even broke loose the fitting for me at the shop. I drove it home and fixed it myself.

Oh I'm sure he'd be more than glad to show me how he does the work, it's just that I'm not home or near my car and again, don't have the tools. The Riv is a much easier car to work on than any newer or import, I know that for sure. I just don't trust myself on the vital stuff like a coolant pump. Otherwise, if I had the time and the tools, I'd give it a shot. I don't want to avoid working on the car myself, I just know my personal limits.

All right, I guess it'll just have to get fixed by a pro. I mean, it's just money, right?

The reason I like to encourage people to do this kind of thing is not to turn them into grease monkeys. It's to show that you can learn to trust yourself, become more efficient, and raise your personal limits, if you want to.

And, to be honest, most of the time the tools you invest in for a project are less than the labor it would cost to have a pro do the work, really. Over time, it you can save hundreds or thousands in repair bills, and you also build up a nice set of tools. Eventually you aren't buying new tools very often. That's the main reason I like do work myself. I will admit though, everyone has their threshold for what they feel comfortable doing, or what it's worth to save a dollar. For example, I don't do my own wheel alignments, and I don't rebuild automatic transmissions, although I really would like to try to in the future.

Alrighty, Rick called last night! Everything's finished and he was able to get the replacement clip for the radiator sensor. Drove it around for a mile or two and everything works great. He even went and took some more metal clamps from the dealer's parts dep't. and made sure I wouldn't have any leaks or problems with the air conditioner pump or other things! Took him 3 hours to do the water pump, and even with the clamps and antifreeze needed to flush and fill, he said $220. I'm giving him $250 since he saved me from paying $500+ at a dealer(which I'd never do).


Problem identified, and solved.

IBx1 wrote:

Alrighty, Rick called last night! Everything's finished and he was able to get the replacement clip for the radiator sensor. Drove it around for a mile or two and everything works great. He even went and took some more metal clamps from the dealer's parts dep't. and made sure I wouldn't have any leaks or problems with the air conditioner pump or other things! Took him 3 hours to do the water pump, and even with the clamps and antifreeze needed to flush and fill, he said $220. I'm giving him $250 since he saved me from paying $500+ at a dealer(which I'd never do).


Problem identified, and solved.

That sounds like a fair deal to me. Glad it worked out fine.

Bert