RANT/ You're better leaving the damn things off. While changing the serpentine belt and pulleys I had to disconnect the overflow return hose from the overflow tank to the drivers side of the radiator. More coolant came out than I thought would. Even though I had a rag over the end some of it leaked down onto the drivers side Coil Cover. It was screwed down and doesn't appear warped or cracked and the seal looks perfect. I figured no problem but when I took the first post new belt test drive I got lots of random misses from that side. So I took the Coil Cover off and it was really wet in there! The coolant got in no problem. Then of course the cover being there makes it take longer to dry out as much of it just condenses on the underside of the cover and then drips back down on the coils when its cooled off. So after wiping out what I could I drove it around with the cover off for a while and it ran better and better as it boiled that crap out of there. Whats the point of these covers if they act like a one way valve and let moisture in but makes it hard for it to get back in. I may just leave mine off. /RANT



Dave

 

Sounds like the gasket for those has gone bad.

 

The gaskets are like a round compressed foam and they look in perfect shape. Not smashed and no missing areas.



Dave

 

At least you dodged the bullet on any additional issues related to the belt coming off. Good news....

 

I drove it for about an hour on and off running some of the errands I couldn't do this week without a car. Made about 3 stops. Except for the random sputtering from the coolant I spilled it ran fine. I was worried about the fans coming on but it just takes more driving than I figured before they finally came on. Even when I got home they only ran about 15 seconds after I shut the car off which has been normal for this car.
After watching the radiator hoses swell up after the belt came off I will have to put new hoses on the new short list of things to do. They don't look bad otherwise but that was scary watching them swell up like that. That I am worried about the orange coolant when I thought because of certain seals it could only be used 2000 MY and up. That and I topped it up with green not realizing it was in there.

Dave