I'm thinking I've got the cause down to one last thing: The water pump.

I'd like to clarify though.

I have replaced:

Coolant Temperature Sensor
Thermostat
Radiator Cap
Radiator bleedoff line
Radiator Fan Relay

I was getting 180 degree heat coming out of the heater, so I figured that problem was fixed. But NOW I have coolant splashing all over the place in the engine compartment that is coming from nowhere obvious.

That tells me my water pump blew.

Also, it seems my passenger side radiator fan is dead. So I'm thinking I'm going to be replacing the motor.

Is anyone opposed to my diagnosis?
I can pick up a new pump for $61 at rockauto right now.

 

Nevermind. Head gasket blew too. Oil level mysteriously multiplied itself by 5 or 6 times.

 

Is it possible that the waterpump blew up and THAT put all of that coolant in my engine?

Because there was no coolant in the oil before I fixed the thermostat....

 

I'm not sure that a waterpump can blow up putting coolant in the engine oil, but IMO your headgasket was probably bad from the radiator fan not working properly. The reason why you didn't notice that before was because your thermostat was also bad. When you changed the thermostat, the HG problem arises. Again, I'm not sure if this is exactly what happened to your car, just what I am thinking from putting all the info together.

 

I'm still going back and forth on whether or not I'm going to rebuild it.

I've priced all the parts out at about $420 from Rockauto. I love the car. I've got $2800 in it, and only had it a year. To me that amount of money says "must get two years out of it". IF I fix it, I might be able to turn around and sell it for $2500. Which is more than I paid for it.

 

can't you get a new engine for about 500$?

 

Where?

 

I've searched online for a rebuilt/remanufactured engine for my '99 TL. The cheapest I've seen was about mid $500-$1500. Heavily thinking of getting one.

 

Head gasket blew if oil doubled possible cause was that bad fan