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1996 Bonneville SSEi with no coolant - Newby question

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Old 05-13-2010, 09:15 PM
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Default 1996 Bonneville SSEi with no coolant - Newby question

Like I said, I have a 1996 Bonneville SSEi that has started to overheat. It randomly started about 6 weeks ago. I checked the coolant and there was none in the reservoir. I filled it and 3 weeks later it'* gotten much worse.

So, today I've checked the thermostat. It'* good. The hose from the radiator is fine (I think. I couldn't see any problems). I've searched high and low for answers on what to do, and the last thing I did was pull the throttle body to see if there was any coolant in the UIM. When I pulled off the TB, the gasket was in 2 pieces, but didn't see any coolant.

I'm a poor college student with no money to take my car to a pro, so I've tackled more than I can probably handle. I'm very amateur, and hopefully I haven't screwed anything up. Any advice from here?
Old 05-13-2010, 09:23 PM
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Pull the dipstick and check the oil to see if its chocolate milkshake colored
Old 05-13-2010, 09:24 PM
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Check the underside of your oil cap too. What does the exhaust smell like? Is it sweet?
Old 05-13-2010, 09:26 PM
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If the gasket was in two pieces, the coolant was probably sucked into the intake manifold and burned off little by little.

Check the return hose from the radiator to the overflow. As mentioned above, check the oil to see if it is discolored. It would be a creamy chocolate milk type color if it is.

I know it says in the title that you have an SSEi, but can you confirm that it is a supercharged engine? We'll help you out, don't worry. You'll figure this out and we'll guide you along the way.
Old 05-13-2010, 09:27 PM
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Okay, I checked the dipstick, and it is not milkshake colored. Normal oil color. I also checked the oil cap and it is normal, and the exhaust does not smell sweet. Well it hadn't before I got myself in this mess
Old 05-13-2010, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by xtremerevolution
If the gasket was in two pieces, the coolant was probably sucked into the intake manifold and burned off little by little.

Check the return hose from the radiator to the overflow. As mentioned above, check the oil to see if it is discolored. It would be a creamy chocolate milk type color if it is.

I know it says in the title that you have an SSEi, but can you confirm that it is a supercharged engine? We'll help you out, don't worry. You'll figure this out and we'll guide you along the way.
I can take a picture, because in all honesty, I couldn't tell you the difference. Like I said, I'm a serious amateur. I'll check the hose from the radiator to the overflow.

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Last edited by bear801208; 05-13-2010 at 09:36 PM. Reason: Added picture
Old 05-13-2010, 09:33 PM
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Take a pic of your engine for us. A cell phone pic will be fine.
Old 05-13-2010, 09:46 PM
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Okay, I added the image to my previous post.
Old 05-13-2010, 09:50 PM
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It is supercharged. Instead of an upper intake manifold, you have the supercharger.
Old 05-13-2010, 09:53 PM
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Okay, thanks for taking a look. Any other advice? Also, I just want to make sure that the throttle body is the part that has the MAF on top of it, right?


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