Water pump and timing belt replaced now engine runs badly

Tiny
RSMARTINEZ0485
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 136,000 MILES
I recently replaced the radiator, thermostat, thermostat housing, and lastly water pump and timing belt, ( water pump and timing belt was done at the mechanic). When I got my vehicle back from the mechanic it was running rough at startup and blowing white smoke until it warms up. I immediately called them and took it back in. They attempted for about thirty five minutes to get the engine to overheat but it would not. Fans came on and the temperature would go down. He told me to drive it that day and see if it overheats. I drove it for about thirty miles including sitting through two drive through's it never overheated. That next morning when I woke up the coolant had leaked out overnight from what looked to be the water pump. So I took it back to the mechanic. They pulled the water pump to fix it and did a pressure test and said the leak was coming from behind the timing casing/housing. The mechanic said his fear is replacing that and the real reason it is not holding pressure is because there is a blown head gasket. I asked him to put the water pump back on and fill with coolant and told him I would make a decision on what to do. At this point I pick up my car drive it home and want to get a second opinion to determine for sure if it is a head gasket. I wanted to think maybe it was a intake manifold gasket which is much cheaper to replace, This time when I pick it up the CEL is on and I stop by Autozone to get it read the codes that came up where:
P1684, P0562, P0152, P0352, P0133, P0325, and P0113, the last two codes repeated a few times each. I woke up this morning and I see the puddle of fluid at the bottom front side dripping from the radiator. I plan on going to get a second opinion but before I did I just thought I would ask if there is any chance of saving this vehicle? I would love to get it repaired but cannot afford to put a new engine in. Please advise what you think it may be and where to start. Also, just so you know when I got it from the shop the first time they informed me the alternator and o2 sensor needed to be replaced as well as a motor mount. I just wanted to throw that in there in case it was relevant to any of the codes that come up. Thanks for any input it is so much appreciated.

Also, forgot to mention there is no water or coolant in my oil, no oil in coolant.
Thursday, January 4th, 2018 AT 6:47 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,256 POSTS
Hello,

It still can be a blown head gasket with no coolant in the oil. I would warm the engine up to build pressure in the cooling system. Then remove all spark plugs and turn the engine over(stand back) to see if any coolant is shot out of any of the spark plug holes. Here are guides to help you:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

and if nothing happens do this test next.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please run down these guides and report back.

Cheers, Ken
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Friday, January 5th, 2018 AT 2:04 PM
Tiny
RSMARTINEZ0485
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Okay, so at this point I am pretty sure it was the head gasket. Before seeing your post back I drove less than two miles from my house to Walmart last night to grab things we needed. While driving there it was running badly and had white smoke coming from the tailpipe as it has since I picked it up from the mechanic. However, on the way home right before getting home it started having a lot of smoke come from the back of it. At this point I was sure I had ruined the engine and was blocks from my house in twenty five degree weather so I just continued to drive it home. After I got it here and cut it off the smoke was so overwhelming it covered my whole front yard and had a distinct smell like burning plastic or something. I found a engine with a one year warranty for $400.00 and a mechanic that will take a week to switch them out but he will charge $400.00 to put it in. I will just need to buy oil, coolant, spark plugs etc. I really do not want to get rid of the vehicle it only has 136,000 miles on it. That said, I just spent a little over a thousand dollars replacing the water pump radiator etc. The thing that worries me is putting another $1,000.00 into it and then there being a ton of things other than that wrong. Previous to this issue the mechanic said the other things I needed to replace was the alternator, the motor mount, and the 02 sensor. Is there any other damage I could have done to it while driving a short distance with the blown head gasket? Your advise is very much appreciated at this point. I am over here banging my head at all the possibilities. Thank you again for your help.
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Saturday, January 6th, 2018 AT 7:59 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,256 POSTS
Yes, you are in a spot. I wonder if you could just do the head gaskets? It all depends on how bad the engine overheated. It seems pretty cheap $400.00 motor and $400.00 to install so be careful with that. Try to see how many miles are on the engine will install.

Please report back, I am interested to see what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Saturday, January 6th, 2018 AT 12:14 PM

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