My son's 98 1.6 Zetec - engined escort has overheated today. I bought it for him just over a month ago and one of the jobs I did on it was to
replace the thermostat as it was underheating (never went much up from the 'C' on the temp gauge). - The new thermostat seemed to work well
- temp was steady in the middle.
The car has covered about 500 miles since then.
Well, a couple of days ago he reported that the heater wasn't working, and today he drove it about 30 miles, and it stopped and conked out with
steam coming out the bonnet. The AA patrol guy looked at it and the water leak seemed to be coming from the thermostat housing even though all 3
bolts were tight. When he removed it, he said it didn't look like it was the right one - didn't seem to seal at all!
My son has also told me that the engine has been giving out a 'rattling' on acceleration over the last couple of days. The AA guy says
there is almost no compression on the cylinders, but on removing the spark plugs, he said there is no sign of moisture on them.
I live quite a way from him, so its not easy for me to go and have a look.
Any thoughts on the diagnosis?
Headgasket ?
Sounds like he's cooked it. Headgasket gone at best due to it losing coolant. If the heater has gone cold it means there is no coolant in the matrix and if there is no coolant there how much is in the rest of the system.
I would say:
Rattling on acceleration = pinking when already very hot.
The water has leaked out by the thermostat housing, heater stopped working as the level dropped then he has carried on driving it until it has
overheated big time. partial siezure that he has not confessed leading to broken rings and lost compression.
That's my opinion anyway having purchased a couple of cars for my daughter 
+1
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
I would say:
Rattling on acceleration = pinking when already very hot.
The water has leaked out by the thermostat housing, heater stopped working as the level dropped then he has carried on driving it until it has overheated big time. partial siezure that he has not confessed leading to broken rings and lost compression.
That's my opinion anyway having purchased a couple of cars for my daughter
2+ if has go that hot the piston rings will have lost their heat treatment so even if you fix the head gasket and all seems well 3 months down the
line it will be blowing oil out.
quote]Originally posted by ash_hammond
+1
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
I would say:
Rattling on acceleration = pinking when already very hot.
The water has leaked out by the thermostat housing, heater stopped working as the level dropped then he has carried on driving it until it has overheated big time. partial siezure that he has not confessed leading to broken rings and lost compression.
That's my opinion anyway having purchased a couple of cars for my daughter
My dad cooked his zetec untill it stoped when the spider hose split.
All the valve seats fell out of the head leaving the valves open and the engine with no compresion.
Well, you guys have pretty much confirmed (and put into words my first guess - its GOOSED ! ) Thanks for your time, lads.
Such a shame - it seemed such a great buy (£175 - British Car Auctions) and the body is almost mint.
pick up another engine and change it
Engine = £200 max
quote:
Originally posted by tomgregory2000
pick up another engine and change it
Engine = £200 max
I don't know how fragile these new engines are, but why don't you try fill it up with coolant and see whether it runs or not? Doesn't
cost much to pour some water into it (even if the thermostat housing is leaking, just top it up whilst it's running around). if it still makes
noises/smokes etc. then it's a goner, otherwise I'd just replace the thermostat, seal it up and run it. For a £175 car I'd run it till
it dies (over and over).
Reason i say this is my mini (good old A-series cast iron lump) ran into over 125 deg C, and I had to drive it like that 20 miles or so. Was in the
middle of nowhere in Cyprus so no chance of recovery! It was pinking and rattling like crazy and billowing steam. But after it cooled down eventually,
it ran fine ever since (for over 15k miles till I sold it). No headgasket damage etc.
quote:
Originally posted by PSpirine
I don't know how fragile these new engines are, but why don't you try fill it up with coolant and see whether it runs or not? Doesn't cost much to pour some water into it (even if the thermostat housing is leaking, just top it up whilst it's running around). if it still makes noises/smokes etc. then it's a goner, otherwise I'd just replace the thermostat, seal it up and run it. For a £175 car I'd run it till it dies (over and over).
Reason i say this is my mini (good old A-series cast iron lump) ran into over 125 deg C, and I had to drive it like that 20 miles or so. Was in the middle of nowhere in Cyprus so no chance of recovery! It was pinking and rattling like crazy and billowing steam. But after it cooled down eventually, it ran fine ever since (for over 15k miles till I sold it). No headgasket damage etc.
Reading between the lines it had a major cooling problem before it was sent to auction.
It takes an awful lot of overheating especially at this time of year for an engine to stop due to overheat.
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Reading between the lines it had a major cooling problem before it was sent to auction.
It takes an awful lot of overheating especially at this time of year for an engine to stop due to overheat.
The bottom spider hose rubs on the chassis and dumps the coolant.
Fill it with water and see if it leaks.
when modern engines such as these alloy block units are run without water till they stop they are usually fubar, some focus engines are the same,check engine code to be sure ,stamped on front of block near clutch 3 letters,,
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
The bottom spider hose rubs on the chassis and dumps the coolant.
Fill it with water and see if it leaks.
quote:
Originally posted by phil clegg
when modern engines such as these alloy block units are run without water till they stop they are usually fubar, some focus engines are the same,check engine code to be sure ,stamped on front of block near clutch 3 letters,,