Hey,
I'm a new forum member, on a transcontinental trip in my 1994 Volvo station wagon, from FL to the Northwest, and currently in WY.

I drove over 2000 mi over a couple of days last week, and towards the end of the trip, the "check-engine" light came on, but I didn't notice any other warning signs.

Then, very recently, the "service" light comes (and usually disappears into driving), and after starting the car there is a mid- to higher-pitch, irregular humming noise that appears to be coming from near the left side or center of the dashboard area (but clearly from somewhere in the engine). When I open the hood, the noise of the engine drowns this sounds out, so I cannot quite locate it. I haven't seen any other symptoms but the coolant seems very low. I haven't been driving the car much since I got here, and it seems to drive just like before. Anything to worry about? Could these be timing belt symptoms? Head gasket?

The car has 207K on it, and I need to continue my trip soon... so I probably will have to take it to a mechanic. Any advice what the issue might be and what to expect? (cost, time to repair)

Thanks so much in advance!

 

Sounds like a vacuum leak?

"Service" light is nothing, comes automatically @ 5K miles, CEL could be triggered by the vacuum leak.

Some coolant loss may be normal. Refill it and keep an eye on it...
If the car has not overheated, there is no reason to worry about the Head Gasket, and if there are no symptoms and the car drives OK, I'd not worry about it.

But try and find the source of the vacuum leak if that is in fact what is causing the noise...

 

thanks, lev.
i'll try to check for a vacuum leak - is that something to worry about? any specific places to look for it? (hard to hear it when the engine is on and the hood is up)

as far as the coolant goes... i had the radiator replaced, along with some of the tubing, last winter. so i'm hoping that is all good. there hasn't been any sign of overheating at all.

i'll be in lots of middle-of-nowheres once i resume my journey, so i want to make sure it's nothing that can leave me stranded somewhere.

thanks!

 

Vacuum leaks sound like air hissing, escaping, etc. Usually, not so hard to locate with hood open and engine running... Is the idle speed steady? If so, then the leak is may be from the power brakes booster.