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2000 BONNEVILLE SE, 3.8 ltr, 6 cyl SERIES ii ENGINE
CAR WON’T START / CRANK - WHITE ENGINE SMOKE / LOUD NOISE
SYMPTOMS:
extensive white smoke coming from radiator area from under hood, with a
smell of maybe burnt wiring or a synthetic plastic smell (SMOKE, not steam!
did NOT smell of rubber or sweet of coolant), accompanied by a high-
pitched, loud revving or almost whistling noise (but NOT a belt noise).
instinct indicated the fans, as it came from this front area. noise and smoke
simultaneous, lasting from 10-30 min (10 min before i left on foot to go get
help... returned 20 min later, had stopped). did not open hood up, but did
pop the hood release. when i returned 30 min after smoke and noise
began, car was sitting quietly, as if nothing ever happened... no noise, no
smoke (just a polluted area around it).
INSPECTED:
- 10 min after arrival from seeking help, open hood (not hot)
- radiator not leaking, level normal
- overflow tank level normal
- oil appears normal
- no leaks onto ground whatsoever
- 1 hour after incident, attempted to start car... no start, no crank
- attempted battery jump-start 3x in next 24 hours, via 3 different vehicles
(got lights to work during 1 attempt, but drained back to nothing quickly)
- battery terminals clean and clear, connection tight and sound
- all fuses (accessories fuse was blown, replaced)
- firing order/proper contact
- no sign of anything burnt or melted anywhere (from above/top of engine)
- car towed 24 hours later to my garage
REPAIRED/INSTALLED:
(no start, no crank)
- new alternator (but old one tested fine)
- new battery (old one not holding charge after incident... new one fine)
BRIEF HISTORY:
- rebuilt motor with 65k mi and new water pump installed (Nov 2011), after
blowing original engine of 110k mi... only 15k mi added since replacement
- oil/filter change (4 mo ago, only ever fully synthetic, oil still clean)
- only ever 91 oct unleaded fuel
- new oil pan (4 mo ago)
- new oil level sensor (4 mo ago)
- new spark plugs and wires (4 mo ago... #4 was mis-firing... not sure if still
a prob)
- new manifold casing (1 yr ago)
- new radiator (1 yr ago)
THE DETAILS/ORDER OF INCIDENTS:
after an out of town round-trip of apx 130 miles, with a 3 hour parked
layover, engine off... car ran fine there and back (flat terrain, 1/2 light city
freeway traffic, 1/2 rural, avg speed 70 mph, cloudy, light rain, temp 60-75
F, no AC or heater use)... afterward, car had been sitting all evening inside
garage for about 8 hours (outdoor temp 75-80 F, low humidity)... started it
up to leave, thought it sounded funny, ignored it and forgot about it, drove
to store 3 mi away, was in and out in 5 min. approaching parked car,
discovered same sound, only much louder, then saw thick, white smoke
coming from radiator area of under hood. popped hood latch from inside
car, then realized it seemed likely engine was on fire! i immediately
abandoned ship in fear it could explode, never lifting hood from outside that
was left cracked open. don’t recall if i had to manually open door with key
or if keyless entry remote worked (remote intermittently on the fritz). also
don’t remember if i had interior lights at that point. but after 10 min of
hiding behind a cement wall 25 ft away as protection from possible
fire/explosive debris while it smoked profusely and screamed in high pitch
(completely polluting the area!), i remember keyless remote incapable of
locking doors/setting alarm, as i left to go seek help about 1/8 mi away, so i
just left it unlocked. when i returned about 20 min later, smoke/sound had
ceased. battery jump-start attempt failed. found the rigged speaker wire
connecting cooling fan to fuse box, frayed. found nothing burned or
melted, as i had expected (looking only from above). towed back to my
garage 24 hours later, after 2 more jump-start failures. replaced alternator.
still no start, no crank. replaced battery... have lights now, keyless remote
operating, fuel pump regulator now making usual sound, but still no start,
no crank. HELP PLEASE! starter? starter location? what burned up? and
even a bad head gasket should at least allow the engine to turn over when
trying to start it, right?
_________________
If it dies tomorrow, I just can't complain... I've called it names I should be ashamed of, I've kicked it, I've even threatened to sell it, but truth is, it's magic... it's run on no gas, no oil, no water, and it just keeps on a'tickin'.
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