Intak gaskets done and Running!!

[94SilverSSEi]

So my 97 SE. I figured the intake gaskets probably needed to be done since they had about 90k on them. So I did the gaskets they werent super bad but some of them were breaking apart slightly. So were pulled it all apart and cleaned everything up. Took the spark plugs out and poured 1 quart of oil through the engine and turned it over 2 full revolutions to make sure all if any coolant got flushed out. Put it all back together. Filled the intake manifold with water because I didnt want to waste the coolant as we were going to be flushing it anyways. Filled the oil to the correct level. Hooked up all injectors, sensors, etc
So we started it up seemed to run a little rough and the engine light was blinking on and off. Its was smoking alot from everywhere I assumed it was because there was a lot of water spilled and the car was in the garage with melty snow and what not and there was other stuff burning off. So there was waterish/coolant or something that was running in a small stream out the bottom of the car we didnt know if it was coming out of the motor or if it was draining off the plastic pan or whatever that goes under the car. So since at first we thought it was coming out of the motor we shuut the car off immediately. Looked everything over and nothing looked to be leaking. So tried to start it again and it seemed like it turned a little bit but would go all the way over. Then tried to start again and it just sounded like the starter was locked with the flywheel. Tried to turn the motor over by hand it would turn a litttle bit but would only go so far. It seemed like it would only turn far enough for one valve to open and then would turn back the other way to close it. Cant be sure though


PLEASE HELP!!!
I dont know what to do. The car ran great before we started any of this. Now I am just really frustrated after putting $200+ into this motor and now its *fook*. Is there any thing I can do or what do I do now?

[Mechanical Mike]

Don't keep trying to start it! You could break the starter or even bend a rod.

Take all the spark plugs out & slowly turn it over by hand. Most likely coolant will come out of the cylinder(s).

[J Wikoff]

Did you drain the oil after you did the work?

Pull the plugs, and try to turn it over. Water might have gotten into a cylinder. See if any water comes out of the spark plug holes when you turn it over. Then you gotta figure out why it got there.

[94SilverSSEi]

But why would it have ran and then locked up after turning it off?

[myfirstbonnie]

When you did the intake, did you replace the upper? Did you use a little sealant in the corners where the heads, LIM and block come together? What area was the water running out of the motor?

[Mechanical Mike]

You might have ran it long enough to build it some pressure in the cooling system. It'll continue to leak until that pressure goes down.
Did you install a new throttle body gasket & supercharger O rings?

[94SilverSSEi]

I replaced the Lim gaskets with the new metal ones and replaced the upper plenum gasket and throttle body gasket. But I did not replace the plenum itself. I did put RTV where the corners are between the LIM gaskets and the endseals. I could not find coolant coming out of the engine anywhere and we did spill a bunch of water so I was hoping it was just the water running out but why would it start running out once I started the car.
I could not find coolant coming out anywhere. IDK??



Edit: I was just reading about hyrdrolock. Now I think once the motor shut off bc the coolant pressure stays up for a while coolant could have been pushed into a cylinder. But how whould it get in there?

[Mechanical Mike]

Oops, I see this is on your SE not SSEi. Was steam coming out the exhaust?

[94SilverSSEi]

Yeah it seemed like it

Edit: It seemed like all the exhaust manifolds pipes everything exhaust related was smoking/steaming



Edit again: Also u know how the metal tube from the intake manifold goes into the plenum? OK so the part of the plastic plenum that goes around that tube if it wasnt sealed tight around the metal tube on the intake manifold could that cause any problems. I thought only air went in there?

[myfirstbonnie]

Is this what you are referring to:

[94SilverSSEi]

yes exactly!!
and the metal tube was a tight flush fit with the plastic but isnt it only air in that tube?
So it shouldnt matter?

[Mechanical Mike]

Coolant goes through the plenum. If the plastic deteriorates around the EGR port then coolant can enter the intake & get into the cylinders. It's a common problem, we have an article in TechInfo section. I'd pull the throttle body & look for coolant in the plenum.

[myfirstbonnie]

In the center is where the exhaust gas is introduced to the intake from the EGR valve. It is surrounded by a cavity for coolant to flow through. That is one of the main reasons for replacing the UIM (upper intake manifold). The heat from the exhaust gas destroys the plastic around there.

here is the techinfo link explaining it all
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... =53&t=3591

[94SilverSSEi]

all of the plastic looked good except for that part shown in the pic. Like I said before but only air goes through that metal pipe doesnt it?

[myfirstbonnie]

Willwren has pictures of my manifold that was so thin that it didn't take much to break through the plastic. If the plastic is deteriorated, it will get sucked in from around the metal.

[Mechanical Mike]

Air goes through the center of the pipe but there's coolant in hte plenum around the outside of that pipe.

[Kevin Amstutz]

Replace the upper intake. The new upper intakes are beefed up where the old ones were weak. I have did 10 of these and replaced the upper everytime. It is well worth the money not to have any future problems. Did you put any sealer on the LIM bolt threads?

[94SilverSSEi]

ok. Thats what I was wondering so could I just goop up A TON of RTV all around the metal tube between the plastic or do I HAVE to buy a new plenum. I really dont have another $105 to stick into this thing but if thats what it takes

Also no I didnt put sealer on any threads of any bolts

[00Beast]

You need to replace the plenum if it is leaking. There is nothing that is going to seal it up.

[Kevin Amstutz]

Have to spend the $$$ if you expect your car to run right and not make you walk. In other words do it right the first time so you won't have to do it again.