98 Explorer Sport - replaced radiator after overheat, won't start

[morafamily]

Hi all, new to forums and I am at a loss. I am not a mechanic, but a daughter of a mechanic and know a little bit about general auto repair. I'm hoping you can direct me to the next step.

My 98 overheated about 11 months ago. I had a mechanic look at it at that time and he said the heads were probably warped and I needed to have the heads redone, etc. and was going to cost me $2200. Needless to say, I didn't have that kind of money at the time so it sat in my driveway for the last 11 months.

The radiator was shot as it was gushing water from the bottom right side of the radiator so I knew it needed to be replaced, but there was no water in my engine from what I could tell as my oil was not milky and looks fine.

We finally decided to fix it up so we replaced the radiator, hoses and thermostat to start. Battery was dead so we tried to jump start it, no luck. It turns over (barely) but will not start.

Check engine light is still on on the dash. Any ideas where I should check next?

Thanks for your time and any direction you can point me to. Having just one working car is not the business, we really need to get this car going as I am getting ready to go back to work and really need a car.

 

[bill06447]

Start (pun intended) with a good battery. Might be the extent of the problem.

Bill

 

[shadowless127]

New Battery would be the first thing I'd do.

 

[morafamily]

Start (pun intended) with a good battery. Might be the extent of the problem.

Bill

Thanks. I was thinking that after I posted and had a "duh" moment. Will try that when i get home.

 

[morafamily]

Start (pun intended) with a good battery. Might be the extent of the problem.

Bill

It was the battery. Started right up when I switched it with the battery from my other explorer. Had a bit of a rough idle after warming up but no unusual noises coming from engine. There was white puffs of smoke and a bit of dirty condensation coming from tail pipe. Hoping it's just condensation from engine/muffler from sitting so long??

Unfortunately, still overheating after allowing it to run about 10 minutes...only visible coolant leak was small leak from upper hose that feeds into thermostat housing, but very small. Going to readjust hose and tighten clamp.

Any suggestions as to what else I can look into regarding overheat?

 

[bill06447]

6 cylinder I assume? If it's anything like the rest of Ford's V6's it's a **** to get the air out of the cooling system so it cools correctly. Someone else might have a good way to burp these engines?

Bill

 

[SoHK_alumni]

I think I'd be looking to replace the thermostat but given your symptoms, I think I'd go even further and pull the water pump.

To overheat and blow the radiator and after radiator replacement, to overheat in 10 min suggests a deeper problem.

If a fresh t'stat and burping the cooling system does not do the trick, I think there's a good chance the water pump impeller has failed or corrosion has gotten to the water pump or front cover and killed the water flow.

 

[morafamily]

I've come to the conclusion its a blown head gasket. White smoke from tailpipe and coolant shoots up from radiator at startup with cap off radiator.

I just can't catch a break!! UGH!

Not sure I want to invest another couple grand in this car, as ir has over 210k miles.

I definitely am not up to task of replacing head gasket plus if heads are warped. I'd definitely would need to take into a shop.

I dont trust those sealants in a can, especially since i just put in a new radiator, would hate to ruin it.

 

[jacksonh18]

I just replaced my heads, rocker arms, pushrods, lifters, thermostat.... Plugs, wires.... Because my 2000 had blown head gasket. I'm still having problems and I'm about to replace the radiator, egr gasket, bolts etc...

I'm about 1800 into it and I'm still having problems. It's frustrating but new cars are expensive. If you can't do the work yourself you may be better off parting the car out cause I couldn't even sell mine for the cost a mechanic would have charged to fix all that.

 

[SoHK_alumni]

I've come to the conclusion its a blown head gasket. White smoke from tailpipe and coolant shoots up from radiator at startup with cap off radiator.

I just can't catch a break!! UGH!

Not sure I want to invest another couple grand in this car, as ir has over 210k miles.

I definitely am not up to task of replacing head gasket plus if heads are warped. I'd definitely would need to take into a shop.

I dont trust those sealants in a can, especially since i just put in a new radiator, would hate to ruin it.

Good chance of it. White smoke (steam) and blowing coolant on startup are pretty classic symptoms of a blown head gasket.

If on a tight budget, consider having a local community collage tech training center do the work to either repair or replace the engine.