First I have a Watts Linkage bushing go bad. Other than paying $75 for a bushing, doesn't seem like that big of a deal, and have planned on fixing it myself depsite my limited skills.

Then, before I can even order the bushing, the three amigos show up. Still hoping that it's not that bad, although it will mean a trip to the mechanic to at least have the code read to see what I have to deal with.

NOW, I go out this morning to take a look under the hood and notice that the coolant is barely visible in the resevoir, despite the fact that it was up to the cold fill mark just a couple of days ago. I've seen no signs of a leak, but I am starting to hear the faintest beginnings of the "waterfall" sound!

What am I looking at now, head gaskets? I've heard horror stories about what an expensive job that is to have fixed, and it sure doesn't sound like a DIY.

Any words of wisdom??? I'm starting to have cold sweats here!

 

First take a deep breath and start checking it for a coolant leek. Fill the coolant bottle to the lid, every morning before driving, if you can't find the leak, get the coolant system pressure tested and let us know what you find.
As fore the brakes, are your brakes squeaking, have lots of dust on your wheels?

 

Thanks Mike, I kind of feel like I did the first night that we brought our first born home from the hospital!

Re. the coolant, I'll give that a shot. I had thought about bleeding it tomorrow. Do you see any point in doing that?

As for the brakes, I haven't noticed any squeaking, but I have been seeing a lot of brake dust, and when I had the tires balanced the other day, I did notice that the back brakes needed changing.

 

Doesn't do a lot of good to fill the coolant bottle if you don't bleed it.
Send me your number if you want some help.

 

Thanks Mike, I message you with my number.

I found the thread with the instructions, so I'm going to bleed it tomorrow after work.

 

If you are ddriving the truck to work, you may want to get up early and bleed it before you head out in the morning. I have found that the bleed process works best on a cold engine. I also found that taking the expansion tank cap off, that the bleed screw completely out, careful not to drop it, and then fill the bleed hole using a funnel or measuring cup. Fill the hole unitl the expansion tank is full, put the cap on and continue to fill the bleed hole until full, replace the bleed screw and drive. Check it over the next couple of days. Good luck. Phil

 

Ok, bled it this afternoon. Yesterday I filled my resevoir to the fill line and by this afternoon it was just a little beneath the line. I followed the directions that Mike gave me, filled it to the top until it started coming out the screw hole, put the screw back and let it idle until it was at running temp. Never had to pour any more in. We'll see where it is tomorrow. Full now, minus any that came out of the overflow hose.