Car probs.

[Amelie]

I drove dahhhn saff at the weekend, say it was about a 600 mile trip- i didn't check the water or anything. When we got back, well the day after the water heater thingy light came on, and as we were about 3 miles from home i just carried on driving. When i stopped the car and got out, it smelled really hot, and the fan took ages to go off. This morn Jonno put some water in, but when i tried to start it, it does tick over but won't actually get going. Also, loads of rusty coloured water is running out from around the driver side. Is it shagged?

 

[blue jammer]

Are you in the AA?

If not, pm me for discounted membership

 

[Elev8/Levit8]

hrm... dodgy un this.
When you did yer big trip was the temp gauge in the red?
Was there any evidence of water leaking oot the engine before Jonno topped it up?
When you say "it doesn't get going"... does it actually start & run but just sound all lumpy & mis-firing & sheet?
Can you see where the water's leaking from?
Is it from a hose, or from, like, the main bit of the engine?
As you pour water into the rad, does it just run straight out underneath somewhere?

I'd "guess" at one of these...

1) Knackered hose - causing water to leak & overheating (simple job)
2) Knackered radiator - causing the same things (bit more of a pain)
3) Cylinder head gasket - even more of a pain, engine in bits job.
4) Possibly a duff water pump - less of a worry, but wouldn't explain such a bad leak.

 

[Amelie]

hrm... dodgy un this.
When you did yer big trip was the temp gauge in the red?
Was there any evidence of water leaking oot the engine before Jonno topped it up?
When you say "it doesn't get going"... does it actually start & run but just sound all lumpy & mis-firing & sheet?
Can you see where the water's leaking from?
Is it from a hose, or from, like, the main bit of the engine?
As you pour water into the rad, does it just run straight out underneath somewhere?

I'd "guess" at one of these...

1) Knackered hose - causing water to leak & overheating (simple job)
2) Knackered radiator - causing the same things (bit more of a pain)
3) Cylinder head gasket - even more of a pain, engine in bits job.
4) Possibly a duff water pump - less of a worry, but wouldn't explain such a bad leak.

The red light only came on right at the end, and we only drove it for say 5 mins after it came on. I have had no probs with the light before, nor any water leaking. It coming from the driver side underneath, like mid way between the steering wheel and the bumper. I will have a play with water and try and suss it out. It sorta starts, but the engine won't run. It just won't actually get power sort of to go, so it feels like its going to but won't. Its only an old car, and i don't want to take it to a garage if its dead anyway, might as well just get rid.

 

[Amelie]

Right i have the lid propped up on the stick. To the left at the top is the only orifice for water i can find, what throws me is that it has a pic of like the windscreen on, so i reck that this is actually for the washer wipe thing. When i put water in this, it pisses straight out over the wheel. The only other things with removable lids (that don't need some kind of Snap On tool selection to actaully get off) is the oil thing. Is the radiator and washer thing one of the same thing? The rusty water is coming from more a central location then the water that i have now made run out. In my last car, which again i totally damaged it was deffo a seperate water thing.

 

[Amelie]

Ha! I have used my noggin and i have read the manual, i now know where you put the water in for the engine. I do not, repeat, do not require any help from a man what so frigging ever.

 

[MizzDeedz]

if you have a friend or family member in the RAC they can use one of their calls outs (so long as they are with the vehicle when the patrol attends - and its a individual based membership)
The RAC can then advise you what is wrong with with veh and may recover it to a garage for you.
(Individual membership covers you as a driver or passenger in any car.)

 

[Elev8/Levit8]

...It's possibly not starting just because it's wet from all the water which has leaked out. Be worth mucking around with it cos if it's just a hose off that'll only be pennies to fix.

If it's the water pump then that'll be money, likewise if it's the head gasket.
If the radiator itself has a hole in it (can happen... rust, or sharp stones flying up etc.) then that'll also be money as it's quite a big part.

Assuming you've not got a friendly mechanic who'll come over & have a quick butchers, then my advice would be either...

1) Let it dry out completely (use a rag inside the engine compartment, especially on the electrics, and leave it standing - overnight if you can) then try starting it again. Even if there's no water in it, it should fire & run. don't let it run for long though.
If it still doesn't go, then it may be the gasket gone & you may have water in the oil & sheet like that which can be nightmarish. Cetainly it's non-trivial.

or

2) Keep lobbing water in till you find where it's leaking from. Hopefully you'll see a loose or busted hose & it'll be job done.

What sort of car & what age is it?

 

[Amelie]

if you have a friend or family member in the RAC they can use one of their calls outs (so long as they are with the vehicle when the patrol attends - and its a individual based membership)
The RAC can then advise you what is wrong with with veh and may recover it to a garage for you.
(Individual membership covers you as a driver or passenger in any car.)

I think its just dead to be honest. I just put water in and it pissed striagt back out. When i tried to start it it made v.v.v sad gurgling noises and started to gasp like it was being strangled. I have killed yet another car. I have had about 20 cars so far, and i feel really bad because i promised to look after this one, wash it, put oil and stuff in it. Thanks God there is no assosiation like the R.S.P.C.A for cars or i would be shot.

 

[Amelie]

...It's possibly not starting just because it's wet from all the water which has leaked out. Be worth mucking around with it cos if it's just a hose off that'll only be pennies to fix.

If it's the water pump then that'll be money, likewise if it's the head gasket.
If the radiator itself has a hole in it (can happen... rust, or sharp stones flying up etc.) then that'll also be money as it's quite a big part.

Assuming you've not got a friendly mechanic who'll come over & have a quick butchers, then my advice would be either...

1) Let it dry out completely (use a rag inside the engine compartment, especially on the electrics, and leave it standing - overnight if you can) then try starting it again. Even if there's no water in it, it should fire & run. don't let it run for long though.
If it still doesn't go, then it may be the gasket gone & you may have water in the oil & sheet like that which can be nightmarish. Cetainly it's non-trivial.

or

2) Keep lobbing water in till you find where it's leaking from. Hopefully you'll see a loose or busted hose & it'll be job done.

What sort of car & what age is it?

Aye, i know how to check if the gaskets gone, the inside should look any mayo-ish. I only know this cos its happend to me before. I will leave it overnight, then if nowt is happening i will give RAC a ring as Jonno is in that, they should tell me if its worth taking to a garage or not.

Thnaks all for your help.

 

[Elev8/Levit8]

oh... and by the way... to find the leak you may have to crawl on yer back underneath the car looking up through the engine as it's dripping water on you... obviously that carries with it all of the associated hair issues etc. just thought I'd better mention that

 

[Amelie]

oh... and by the way... to find the leak you may have to crawl on yer back underneath the car looking up through the engine as it's dripping water on you... obviously that carries with it all of the associated hair issues etc. just thought I'd better mention that

No worries, i look a state anyway today- i am dressed like a combo of a geog teacher/ beach bum/ mechanic. Plus i am coverd in engine shit, and my hair is fucking huge today for some reason. I have ariels in hair form standing up all round my face, must be static from somewhere. I am soooo hot its scary.

 

[Str33tb0y]

could be just the thermostat Hun...would explain why the light came on when u got to home nearly, same thing happened to me in me last car. Thing is when ur travelling at speed the air will keep the engine cool when ur not going very fast this doesnt happen so it might just be that in qhich case it will be fairly cheap to sort.

 

[Shooms]

That Geordie perv comes to the rescue again

There's not a lot he doesn't seem to know about cars...must be that mispent youth TWOC'ing cars round Gateshead

 

[Amelie]

Also, for a while before the light came on, no heat would come out of the blowy heat things, i forgot about that. Jonno asked why i had them on hot, when in actual fact cold air was coming out.

 

[Elev8/Levit8]

TBH your RAC plan sounds like the best idea.
It takes a certain type of billy-no-mates sad bastard :$ to go pissing about with engines on a hot day like this.