Please help me!!! I have no clue!

[leather&wood]

Ok so I get into my 2000 LS V8 and start the engin " thats when I noticed things just wern't right".

when I started it up the temp gauge was reading COLD, and it was ideling at1500 rpm then after about 45 seconds it drops down to 1000 rpm.

when I begin to drive it feels as if the gas pedal is less responsive, and about 1/4mile into the drive the engin temp gauge slowly but steadly rises up to the top reading HOT, fallowed by a reduced power warning on the message center.

so I pull over and pop the hood, and notice a thin white smoke comming from the back of the engin..... I get the car home and check the coolant level and it read LOW, so I put some water in it to bring it back up.

I also checked the Fan coolant and it was low aswell. " what fluid do I replace that with??"

the next day I try to drive it again and the same problem happens and I notice that my heater doesnt work, it just blows cold air on me.

please help me out, I love my LS, and would rather get my information from here than from some jerk off mechanic who only wants to make his pockets fatter.

 

[gcwimmer]

If the LS has sat for any length of time it should read cold, and at start up it will idle at 1500/1700 RPM then drop to around 1000 RPM with in 30 seconds and when warm 700RPM. White smoke would indicate a antifreeze leak with air in the system - no heat. Low coolant should be a clue, do not use just water. The fail safe warning is because of low coolant.

You might want to down load the Owners Manual from TECH ARTICLES next to the SEARCH at the top of the page if you don't have it then you can read about the LS operation and features.

 

[joegr]

Once the coolant has run low, you can't just refill it. You have to properly bleed the air back out. However, before you waste your time on that, you need to find and correct the coolant leak.
I think the fan takes power steering fluid. Whatever you do, don't put water in it.
You should probably also change out the thermostat while you are at it.

 

[leather&wood]

thank you very much for your quick responses.

 

[tireman]

The fan pump takes ATF not power steering fluid

Read your owners manual, the fan pump takes ATF only.

 

[exceptionaLS]

dude warm your car up before you drive. Let it idle for about 5 mins. It might prevent it from happening temporarily. When these cars get old (I got a 2000) they start to get touchy.