I have an 89 LX 5.0 convertible 5 spd. I'm having a problem, and
wanted some advice, and maybe a pep talk. I'm trying to keep this car
running, on a tight budget, with a kid in college, and another in
private school...
Here's the problem: I have no heat, and a low coolant level.
Everytime I top up the coolant, it bubbles over out of the overflow,
like a pot boiling over. I thought overheating, but even when it
bubbles over, the heat blows cold. My theory is head gasket. Does
this seem sound? Is there something else it could be, and is there a
definitive test I could do myself, with basic tools? (I don't have a
gauge set for a compression test. If that would be definitive, I
might buy a set)
Next, if it is a head gasket, is that a possible do - it - myself for
an average home mechanic? Just to give an idea of my skill level, I
have done typical bolt-ons, power steering, radiator, fan clutch,
belts, etc myself comfortably. It seems pretty straightforward -
remove the intake and fuel rails, remove the head bolts and header
bolts, pull, scrape, add gasket, reassemble; but I know it's never as
simple as all that. The vacuum connections, all the 'gak' on the top
of this motor and any possible valve work scares me. I don't mind
paying a mechanic when the job is over my head, but this would be
expensive, and I'm not sure if this is over my head or not.
Thoughts?
By the way, if I did it myself, I'd look for other likely failure
items to replace to save myself time and $$ down the road, and for
performance parts I could add where I've already done the
disassembly. The biggest candidate there would be an intake, since
I'd be removing the existing one, and would feel better spending that
money, if I saved the head gasket labor. What are some other things I
could look at?
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