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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 11
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 11 |
I have a Contour V6SE with about 71500 miles on it. Still original waterpump. When I drove it tonight, after about 10 minutes I noticed the needle was way past the red. No lights came on, no warning sounds..?! I was lucky I noticed it. I had to drive for about another half mile then pulled over to look under the hood. The coolant was boiling and spilled over a bit. From reading the posts and FAQs on this forum (very helpful!) I'm thinking it's the waterpump. But I'm a bit thick and so am asking a few more questions to get things clarified before I take it to the mechanic tomorrow.
1) The engine was very clean. No sign of coolant anywhere except boiling over a bit. Could this still be waterpump failure? I had a broken hose once, coolant everywhere, and it made mechanics think it was the waterpump.
2) If it IS the waterpump, is it better to replace it with one that has a metal impeller? Some posts say yes, but the FAQ seemed to imply that it doesn't make a big difference. (would a dealer be willing to do this, or do they only use Ford parts?)
3) For the time that I did drive it overheated (maximum of 10 minutes or 4 miles), could I have damaged anything else in the engine?
Unfortunately, I didn't check the air out of the heater (not near car now), but I did check that the fan came on after a minute of starting the car, but not sure what that means other than that the fan seems to work.
Thank you for any input!
1997 Contour SE
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714
Scourge of the Master Debaters
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Scourge of the Master Debaters
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,714 |
Originally posted by tnt:
1) The engine was very clean. No sign of coolant anywhere except boiling over a bit. Could this still be waterpump failure? I had a broken hose once, coolant everywhere, and it made mechanics think it was the waterpump.
2) If it IS the waterpump, is it better to replace it with one that has a metal impeller? Some posts say yes, but the FAQ seemed to imply that it doesn't make a big difference. (would a dealer be willing to do this, or do they only use Ford parts?)
3) For the time that I did drive it overheated (maximum of 10 minutes or 4 miles), could I have damaged anything else in the engine?
Unfortunately, I didn't check the air out of the heater (not near car now),
1.) Yes... As you mentioned you didn't check the heater, which is probably the best indicator of waterpump failure without actually taking out the pump. When the pump fails, it just stops moving the water, which begins to heat way past the boiling point (even with the higher boiling point of the antifreeze) which looks like what happened to you.
2.) Absolutely. That's something that should be done before a failure, but most people like yourself don't know about it until its too late. Dealers will only put in a Ford waterpump, and the newer revised pump is also plastic, but so far there haven't been many problems with them. Best bet is to go to http://www.spmotorsports.com or your local Napa store and get the metal pump. Expect to pay about $70.
3.) Yes, the heads might have warped or the block might have cracked, but if it's caught soon enough you'll be ok. You could try replacing the pump and see what happens; if the engine is damaged you're pretty much SOL. Time to look at a 3L conversion in that case 
Beer is my Gatorade.
Hooray Beer.
'98 "Sport" Pacific Green
'98 E0 SVT Silver Frost
Pictures
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 212
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Changed mine last weekend, got the NAPA 'Dura Pro' (metal impeller) part # 125-1910.
1999 Toreador Red SVT, DOB 4/22/99, 2005 Of 2760.
"Many posted questions are answered by farm boys"
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,960
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Dec 2000
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Originally posted by Porgieanne316:
No need for that please. The guy is in a spot of bother and is looking for help. Would uyou like it if you had a problem and all you got was someone playing violin ??
Didn't think so.
Bless our servicemen & women overseas.
L.Cpl Ian Malone, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, R.I.P.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 284
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 284 |
The violinists are never far away. I heard them this week for my own car problems.
Speaking of the upgraded water pump...I presume that this is the only one Ford would be using now. Any one know otherwise. I have had 3 pumps go in as many years...which I presume to be the 'upgrade' pump. Anyone have a part number for the 2 pumps?
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,881
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,881 |
Originally posted by stickyjazz:
The violinists are never far away. I heard them this week for my own car problems.
Speaking of the upgraded water pump...I presume that this is the only one Ford would be using now. Any one know otherwise. I have had 3 pumps go in as many years...which I presume to be the 'upgrade' pump. Anyone have a part number for the 2 pumps?
The pump Ford installs has a white plastic blade which is supposedly more durable than the black POS in most cars up to '99.
But metal is the best for durablility.
1998 T-Red SVT #957
Born 5/14/1997
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,322
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,322 |
I wouldn't bother with the Ford parts. The NAPA pump is a good piece. The pump I just replaced was the white plastic and I didn't see any cracks. From reading the posts I understand the white plastic impeller is the new, more durable one.
I believe the metal impeller is the way to go.
There is also an electric water pump available from BAT, I may go with that for the SVT. Anybody have any details on the electric?
1999 Toreador Red SVT, DOB 4/22/99, 2005 Of 2760.
"Many posted questions are answered by farm boys"
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by Porgieanne316:
Can you believe this guy? He has the nerve to put up a violin. Has anyone read any of his previous posts? I'd like to shove that violin............. 
Vinny 2000 T-RED CSVT
MODS: 18" REV model 2 ST200 struts/Roush springs
CTA intake Pipe/K&N Filter
Dtec Heatshield
Optimized TB
True Duals w/ magnaflow mufflers/resonators
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 284
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 284 |
and he can't play either!!! 
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