mspennyhughes

I'm the original owner of my beloved 2002 Z28 & I THOUGHT I knew everything. I had some steering problems & a new mech. replaced rack/pinion/PS pump and did system flush. I drove it home, felt good. I live a mile from the shop. I turned off the car + while standing next to it--I heard a fan running. It stopped after maybe 2 minutes. I NEVER heard the engine do this in the past. Called the mech. and they swear it';s supposed to do this and maybe someone had "disconnected something". I had a Lumina that did that, but never heard this in my Camaro. After 13 years and 120K miles.
It did turn off, but how could the engine be THAT hot? The gauges look fine but why would it start doing that after power steering-related work?
Anybody have any ideas? Should I worry?

GaryDoug

Does your car have the power steering cooler on the engine? It would be a can-shaped device, just below the throttle body, with 4 hoses, connected in the line from the radiator right side to the water pump. Theoretically I suppose, hot power steering fluid could overheat the system.

mspennyhughes

Well, my concerns about the fan coming on were well founded. Wednesday night I drove it 2 miles and the CHECK GAUGES light came on, followed by the engine light gauge going to 260 in a few seconds and I pulled into a Target parking lot.
Called the repair place who IMMEDIATELY denied that it had anything to do with the $1200 steering-related work, but said to have it towed in. I called AAA & had it towed there and Thursday they called and said it needed a water pump. That makes sense...except...I had the water pump replaced 7/7/2014, by my former mechanic. After some thought, I decided not to have it towed back to the guy that replaced the pump and I gave the repair shop the go ahead to replace.
The next day they called and found more problems. They said when they replaced the water pump they said I also need new thermostat, sensor and gasket. They also flushed the system, replaced oil and bled engine. Another $600.
I only drove it home and it seemed okay. Turned it on yesterday and a loud jangling/screechy noise that sounds like it's coming from a belt. I could not face it, so I turned it off and let it sit. I just tried it again and same noise.
It's very hard to find a good repair place. Love my Z28 but it's starting to defeat me.

GaryDoug

The water pump is belt-driven, so the noise could be caused by a failed new pump. Or a failed pulley somewhere on the front of the engine. Get someone to take a look under the hood.

mspennyhughes

I dread the thought of taking it back to the place that installed the water pump, but I think-since I spent a total of $1800 with them last week, it's the only course of action.
It's frustrating.