Hi guys,

 

My AE92 1994 Corolla hatch broke down yesterday. It overheated so I pulled over and put on my hazards. I had a look under the bonnet (hood for US folk) and there was white smoke hissing from around where the dipstick for the oil is. There was also no pressure at all in the radiator so it looks like a coolant leak to me. There was enough oil, I did check that. Once it cooled down I tried driving further towards home but it just overheated after about 300m and I had to get it towed. I'm 18 and I've had my license about 2 weeks. Dad reckons it's the Welch plugs, but I have no idea, honestly.

If anyone could shed some light on what I'm dealing with and/or how much it would cost to get it fixed, that'd be great.

 

Thanks ~Brendan :)

Hello brendan.

 

Your best bet is to figure out why it overheated. First thing first, fill it up with coolant, bleed all the air out let it idle and observe. Look for leaks and keep an eye on what the temp gauge is doing.

Hello brendan.

 

Your best bet is to figure out why it overheated. First thing first, fill it up with coolant, bleed all the air out let it idle and observe. Look for leaks and keep an eye on what the temp gauge is doing.

 

So when it did overheat, I forgot to mention, it was dripping coolant on the road down at the right axle. There was quite a bit too but it was next to a freeway so I couldn't get a good look. The temp gauge, whilst I was driving it, went up quickly and back down to operating temperature slowly (usually when I was in 4th or 5th gear). I made sure to drive it slowly, acceleration wise, but whenever I was in the lower gears it would shoot right up. It did that for about 20 minutes and then the gauge just wouldn't go back down again so that's when I had to pull over.

ah yep, classic coolant leak. sounds like you did the right thing.

 

Fill it up up, idle it and find the leak.

ah yep, classic coolant leak. sounds like you did the right thing.

 

Fill it up up, idle it and find the leak.

Thanks. Will do

4AFE? Coolant leak around the dipstick area would lead me to believe it's either the water pump or the short stumpy hose that runs from the pump to the head - this is a common failure point on these engines. Stick a torch down behind the block and see if that hose is bulging or the hose clamps are missing

 

Edited October 26, 20169 yr by Hiro Protagonist

4AFE? Coolant leak around the dipstick area would lead me to believe it's either the water pump or the short stumpy hose that runs from the pump to the head - this is a common failure point on these engines. Stick a torch down behind the block and see if that hose is bulging or the hose clamps are missing

 

Yeah I took it to the mechanics. Thanks though! They told me it was a dead water pump so I'm getting that replaced and getting new coolant which is nice. $276 in total (AUD)