QuestionQUESTION: Car starting having trouble 12/17/10. Blew a # 3 coil repaired and also changed out all 6 plugs. Week later oil change. Week later Coil # 2 blew/repalaced. Now car is overheating to the max so that the car won't start and the radiator is dry. When filled with coolant it does show signs of leaking from the bottom left and right. Took top cover off to check hoses all were fine. ps. about 6 months ago my heater quit working and blows only cold air now. During the summer my a/c went out and I refilled it myself. Should I just drive it off a cliff? Need help on a strict budget, am knowledgable with working on cars, but this one is to compacted to figure out.
ANSWER: Hi Christina,
If you get coolant leakage from two points on the radiator then your choice is to replace the radiator or if the leaks were really small to try some cooling system sealer (a good one is Bar's Leak).
Do you see water coming from the front of the engine after you refill it? If so then that would mean the water pump is leaking too, and that is a fairly costly replacement. I hope not.
The coils (I assume you mean spark plug individual coils) are not related to you cooling system problem. The heater won't work when the coolant level drops so much as to allow air to be trapped in the cooling system. What is the year/model/engine of the vehicle?
I hope that you didn't drive it very far with no coolant/temp at H/steam coming out, as that could really run the risk of a major crack in the engine somewhere.
When you say "the car won't start" it makes me worry that something serious has happened. Try using the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window to see if the mileage reading changes to show any 4-digit number preceded by a P which may tell us something about why it won't start. Let me know.
Anyother reason that it might not start, such as low on gas or battery worn down?
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer, and where you see the question about a nomination for 'volunteer of the month' please consider a 'yes' answer. Thank you
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QUESTION: Do you see water coming from the front of the engine after you refill it? I do not have water comming from the front.
What is the year/model/engine of the vehicle?
2000 Concorde LXI 3.2 liter bought it used and have no history.
The car does not start only after having heated up. I am assuming a car thing so no extra damage occurs. If the car is cold it will start just fine and runs until it reaches the max temp. It shuts itself off. Battery is new and it has gas.
ANSWER: Hi Christina,
Have you tried the fault code readout using the ignition key? That may tell us why it is shutting down when it is warmed up. But don't run it without coolant in the system in any case.
It probably involves something fairly simple that effects the modification of the fuel/air ratio (called 'mixture') that is not happening when it needs to. But see if there are any fault codes as I can only guess.
Thanks for the details.
Roland
PS Thanks for the rating and nomination.
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QUESTION: Thank you I will have to get back to you on that as my car right now is 40 miles away from my home.
AnswerYou are welcome and I will await news. Thanks again for the rating and nomination.
By the way when you say is dies when it heats up, do you mean when it reaches normal operation temp or goes full scale to the "H". If only the latter, then we have to deal with that leaky radiator situation as that may be the cause...so it doesn't get to 'H'. Let me know after you get the any fault codes. No need to reply now.
Roland
