Few "minor" problems
 

So I figured out what my hard starting was. The sensor at the bottom of the thermostat housing was unplugged. Plugged it in and Wee it started. Now I have a coolant leak somewhere. Big. After running the car for a few minutes and taking off the radiator cap, the coolant does this surge kinda thing. Sucks in than spits it back out. If i let my car sit for X amount of time and come back to it, theres no coolant in it.
White smoke (not a big cloud though) coming from tail pipe, water in the oil, lack of power (not too much loss) all made me believe it was the head gasket. The problems are getting worse.

Second, when I went to start it up today, there is no spark at any of the spark plugs.

Im off to work which is why im not researching this right now, but any help would be good. Like where do i start looking at for the no spark? And is it the head gasket leading to the other problems? Thanx for any help

Re: Few "minor" problems
 

It could very well be a blown headgasket. All the symtems are there.

I would take care of it quick, you don't want coolant in your oil.

Re: Few "minor" problems
 

Well if you have water in the oil.I would almost bet you have a blown gasket.In my opinion I would not drive the car or be turning the engine over at all until the headgasket was fixed.

Re: Few "minor" problems
 

That's what I was thinking. It's going to be a long week again *welcomes self to the world of DSM headaches again*

Any idea what would make the spark just "dissapear" like that? It had spark 2 days ago before I let it sit. The engine still cranks over.

Re: Few "minor" problems
 

Bad CAS, ecu, coil packs or power transistor.

I would also check out the oil cooler under the oil filter if you still have the shitty 91+ cooler. It can cause water/oil to mix as well. But it sounds like a hg to me as well.

Re: Few "minor" problems
 

If you have the time, do a leakdown test and compression test. That will give you a deff. if the headgasket is blown. Drain your oil and check it for coolant of any sort. The white smoke is deff. going to be coolant. That is the only thing that smokes white that your car can burn, unless its and automatic. Which still has a vaccum modulator. If the diaphram in those is ruptured than it can be sucked in by engine vaccum. Which in turn makes it burn and turns your exhaust White. So a few more details would be great about the car it self. Miles, trans, mod's ect... the list goes on. The spark problem could just be fouled plugs from burning the coolant as well. Grab the DVOM and ohm the plug wires, they should check out around 5,000 ohm's per foot. You also could have a water pump leaking as well loosing that much coolant. Let us know what you come up with. Just do a good one over of your car.

Kevin

Re: Few "minor" problems
 

I have a 1990 Eagle Talon TSI 5 speed. We also thoght it was the water pump but I didnt want to do it cause than im going to want to do the timing belt. There are no mods except free mods. I'll see if I can come up with a leak down tester and ill go replace the plugs and check the wires right now.

Re: Few "minor" problems
 

Woo hoo. It's not the water pump that is causing the leak. Right towards the middle of the thermostat that is a plastic tube that comes off and splits into 2 (which than splits into 4 hoses). One of the "legs" is broken off. Seems like an easy fix. Does anyone know what this is called or have an extra one laying around :).
According to the book I have to take the timing belt off to take the head off so I think I am just going to do the timing belt/balance shaft belt/water pump anyways. While everything is off, im might as well change the piston rings if needed, and why not rebuild the head.... ahhhh this is why I didnt want to do this! One thing leads to another.