97 Tahoe LS 4x4 help!

[Schurkey]

Red wire appears to go to the knock sensor. The connector will spin on the knock sensor--not a problem.

IDK about the yellow wire. Maybe goes to the starter, but I'd have expected that wire to be pink/purple.

I'd have expected both to be wrapped with heat-shielding of some sort. I think someone has already dicked with them.

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

How do I make sure it's not them leaking can it be my waterpump that's going bad?

Well, if there's oil spots on the ground, you can be sure it's not the waterpump...

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

Clean all around the oil covered areas with Engine Degreaser.
Then run the engine and look for new leaks.
Another idea is to fill the engine oil and power steering to proper level and drive for 500 miles or so. Then see which fluid is low.

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

Lastly, you can pour a small amount of dye in either the engine or power steering. Again after a thorough degrease, and after driving for 500 or so, look all over with a UV light for the leak

 

[1998_K1500_Sub]

Building on remarks from @Schurkey...

I marked-up the picture (attached).

First: What's that funky connection on the red wire (see arrow on picture)? That wire doesn't look original to me, and I don't remember seeing on like it on my Suburban. Yeah, it looks like it it's electrically conected to a knock sensor via the grungy wire, but otherwise the red wire just looks "wrong" to me.

Second: What's the "device" to which the yellow wire connects (see arrow on picture)?

Third: The red and yellow wire aren't protected in any way, that's odd and makes them seem "user-installed".

Fourth: Why isn't the engine more plainly visible? Is there a rock guard underneath (the grey thing at the right side of the image)? I can see the transmission cooler lines, the "NVH" rod, the kick-out in the block where the dipstick goes, the exhaust pipe and O2 sensor, and the foil-wrapped battery cables, but...

 

[Schurkey]

Second: What's the "device" to which the yellow wire connects (see arrow on picture)?

I "think" that's just the end of the black-plastic wire loom.

Third: The red and yellow wire aren't protected in any way, that's odd and makes them seem "user-installed".

Yup.

 

[Rebel511]

I studied your pictures a little more on my laptop (bigger image there) and it looks like you've got a oil all over the starter (yes?). That's IMHO due to a leaking valve cover gasket.

You may find a similar situation on the driver's side.

The "yuk" on the brake caliper / knuckle is almost certainly grease from a cracked CV joint seal. You may need to give the brake rotor an inspection (and perhaps a good cleaning) with Brakleen, if the grease has found its way onto it.

Your engine is supposedly quite "new", but regardless...

During your investigations, if you happen to see antifreeze on the either side of the engine block, take a picture and report it here... as you might have a leaking freeze plug. It's not a common problem but it's not rare either.

In general, always keep an eye on the coolant level in the "puke tank". If it starts dropping over time, you may have a leaking intake gasket (a common problem). Another symptom of the leaking intake gasket is the engine oil level will "rise" on the dipstick, and / or the engine oil may look like melted chocolate ice cream on the dipstick.

It seems like water I took a pic of my oil which does seem to be rising and there's a little puddle of water under the metal part those goes into the pump.the part that is connected to the fan wobbles when running and makes a screeching noise

 

[Rebel511]

The tank is empty should I fill it with water?Also does anyone know what this is and where it goes just seems to be hanging there

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

The tank is empty should I fill it with water?Also does anyone know what this is and where it goes just seems to be hanging there

1st pic is possibly the inside of the coolant reservoir. Dont use water. Clean out the bugs or paper or whatever that is in the bottom, and fill it to the "Full Cold" line with 50/50 mixed Dexcool (or equivalent). Its pretty common for it to be low and dirty. Dexcool evaporates...

2nd pic is a vacuum apply/vent solenoid. It's part of the EVAP system. Leave it alone.

 

[Schurkey]

1st pic is possibly the inside of the coolant reservoir. Dont use water. Clean out the bugs or paper or whatever that is in the bottom, and fill it to the "Full Cold" line with 50/50 mixed Dexcool (or equivalent). Its pretty common for it to be low and dirty.

I've been known to remove the coolant reservoir, flush it with hot water to remove the big pieces...then add a cup of playground sand, three drops of Dawn dish detergent, and some HOT water--a cup or two.

Shake vigorously, so the sand can scrub the dreck off the inside of the plastic.

Dump and flush until all the sand and detergent is gone.