Laubamabar
New CEG'er
So I've had an overheating problem for a number of months because the cooling fan won't start on my 95 Contour (2.0 liter, manual, if that matters), and I haven't gotten around to getting it fixed. Now after the biggest overheat of its car life, I can't get it to start at all.
My grandfather looked at it Sunday and I guess rerouted some electrical wires from the fan to god knows what to bypass a switch, but the fan still wouldn't work. I don't know if that's relevant. Anyway, he gave me a radiator flush, too, since there was sludge everywhere in the coolant tank.
Like an idiot, I forgot to put the cap back on the coolant tank after filling it. My engine NEVER overheated when going 60-70 mph before, and it went really high, really fast - and there was an intermittent slinky-ish sound, like a long length of coiled wire being thrown around. I pulled over 10-15 minutes after it first got really hot, and it was spewing smoke/steam. I checked the coolant levels, which actually looked higher (and browner) than it did 45 minutes before.
Of course, I replaced the cap at this point.
Moved again after giving it some time, thermostat went into its normal range, but my heater was blowing cold air on all settings. It stalled coming up to a tollbooth, and there was quite a bit of smoke / steam coming from everywhere under the hood, and still the slinky sound. When I tried the ignition it would either come on and idle extremely, extremely low for 15 or 20 seconds and go to normal, or I would get a flickering oil light and it wouldn't turn on, though my oil level was fine.
My grandfather said it was coolant burning off and I should be okay getting back, so I gave it one more go. Still blowing cold air, still stalled coming up to a tollbooth but got it going right away. By this time my car looked like it was on fire and the slinky sound had turned into a rattling. Definitely got it towed at this point. Three hours later the engine was still hot and the coolant was very low. That's supposed to explain the heater blowing cold air, but the level had increased after the first overheat.
There was a puddle today when I went to fill up the coolant, but I can't find any leaks, so I'm guessing it was just coolant that blew over from Sunday. But the car won't start at all now - I can't describe it, so here's a Youtube video.
Does it sound like I've some some seriously expensive damage to the car running it while overheating? Where do I even begin to tell the mechanic what's wrong when I take it in?
I'm sorry about the length. Thanks a bunch if you were able to finish this and can offer any advice, though. I just don't know where to start when I take it to a shop.
My grandfather looked at it Sunday and I guess rerouted some electrical wires from the fan to god knows what to bypass a switch, but the fan still wouldn't work. I don't know if that's relevant. Anyway, he gave me a radiator flush, too, since there was sludge everywhere in the coolant tank.
Like an idiot, I forgot to put the cap back on the coolant tank after filling it. My engine NEVER overheated when going 60-70 mph before, and it went really high, really fast - and there was an intermittent slinky-ish sound, like a long length of coiled wire being thrown around. I pulled over 10-15 minutes after it first got really hot, and it was spewing smoke/steam. I checked the coolant levels, which actually looked higher (and browner) than it did 45 minutes before.
Of course, I replaced the cap at this point.
Moved again after giving it some time, thermostat went into its normal range, but my heater was blowing cold air on all settings. It stalled coming up to a tollbooth, and there was quite a bit of smoke / steam coming from everywhere under the hood, and still the slinky sound. When I tried the ignition it would either come on and idle extremely, extremely low for 15 or 20 seconds and go to normal, or I would get a flickering oil light and it wouldn't turn on, though my oil level was fine.
My grandfather said it was coolant burning off and I should be okay getting back, so I gave it one more go. Still blowing cold air, still stalled coming up to a tollbooth but got it going right away. By this time my car looked like it was on fire and the slinky sound had turned into a rattling. Definitely got it towed at this point. Three hours later the engine was still hot and the coolant was very low. That's supposed to explain the heater blowing cold air, but the level had increased after the first overheat.
There was a puddle today when I went to fill up the coolant, but I can't find any leaks, so I'm guessing it was just coolant that blew over from Sunday. But the car won't start at all now - I can't describe it, so here's a Youtube video.
Does it sound like I've some some seriously expensive damage to the car running it while overheating? Where do I even begin to tell the mechanic what's wrong when I take it in?
I'm sorry about the length. Thanks a bunch if you were able to finish this and can offer any advice, though. I just don't know where to start when I take it to a shop.