Smoke from Upper timing belt cover

[SHOEagle]

I have been having some trouble with my 1994 ATX SHO. I have been smelling a burning smell from the passenger side of the engine compartment for a month or so. I have not been able to locate it until this morning. It was really cold so I could actually see the smoke (steam?) coming from the engine. It appears to be coming from under the upper timing belt cover on the passenger side front of the engine (closest to the radiator). I know this is not good.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have no idea if the 100,000 mile belt replacment has been done on the engine since I am the 4th owner of the car and it has 126,000 miles on it.

I just had the read vavle cover gasket replaced by Pro-care in Irving, TX. Thanks in advance.

 

[SHO#7]

Is it a sweet smell like sugar water, or a oil type smell. Have you had to add coolant lately? Some common things to leak on that side are the waterpump, which will emit a sweet smell. Or a cam seal which will cause her to leak a little oil. The oil leaks on the the converter and burns off.

Good luck

 

[SHOEagle]

I think it is a sweet smell. At least my friend said he thought it was sweet. I cannot smell anything to save my life (I cannot smell well). It is like a sweet burning smell. I have been low on coolant once and I added it to the overflow and I think that has been dropping slowly.

 

[SHO#7]

Sounds like it is time for a water pump. There is a great write up on how to perform this at the SHOPP site. There is a link on the front page.

Good luck. It is not that difficult to do.

 

[SHOEagle]

Thanks! I will check it out. This will be my first time "digging" into the engine.

 

[SHOguy 92]

Either a leaky water pump or front main seal. Has your car stalled ever? I'd replace the CPS if it is either of those, justs o you dont have to do it again.

 

[GreenStreak]

I'm assuming I have the same problem. I occaisionally leak anti-freeze, and occaisionally find smoke/steam coming from the passengers side of the engine bay. Would this be the same problem then with a leaky water pump? How much would water pumps run if it is in fact the problem?

 

[SHO#7]

A reman pump from your local parts store will be around 50$. I would also recommend that you take time to change the CPS as well. Coolant dripping on electronics is never good.

 

[SHOEagle]

I have never had stalling problems. Is the CPS the only other thing I should replace while I have the engine apart?

 

[SHO#7]

It depends on your budget. If it allows; change your timing belt, cam seals, front crank seal, water pump, and crank postion sensor.

If your budget is tight right now because of christmas, change your waterpump and be ready to have to change you crank sensor down the road. A leaking waterpump does not promise you will have a bad crank sensor, it just helps it die sooner.

Read up the directions on SHOPP and go slow. You will have no problem.