I must share my story and I need input!

[rwest!]

My X went out on the highway on me on the way home today! I bought my '92 Eddie Bauer (95,000) two months ago (October, 2001) and I have been riding with no problems, figured it was time I get it 'winterized' and all, just recently started hearing squeaking every time I would stop - I suspect either front and/or back brakes, no problem, I'll get it checked out.

Took it to my mechanic over the weekend for him to check and refill (if needed) all my fluids, check my brakes, battery, tires, etc. just want to make sure it can inspection. He did all of that, told me that I need front brakes really bad, the left pad are really wearing down into the rotors - no problem. He also mentions that I need ball joints, if I plan on keeping the truck (which I do) I should think about getting it done - no problem...BUT.......

He then mentions that my radiator was totally dry, no coolant, water, nothing, I started thinking about how sometimes my temp gauge would sometimes seem to near the H, but it would stay within the 'Normal' - I was thinking maybe I needed a radiator flush. Anyway, he ends up putting coolant it in, it's riding fine for the rest of the weekend. I made arrangements to drop off the truck after work today so he can replace the front brake pads. I went to work today (about 25 miles from home) and as soon as I park in the spot and shut off the truck, coolant pours (not leaks) from underneath. I'm a little annoyed, trying not to get too excited (you know how we woman can get!) so when I get to my office, I call him to tell him what happened. He told me he'd check it out when I brought it in.

I'm on my way home, not even 10 minutes from the job when I start to hear rattling and the truck slows down, I checked my temparture gauge, it's near the C, not the H which really surprised me, it wasn't overheating, it just totally shut down on me, I was able to pull to the shoulder, got a ride back to work, called my mechanic to come tow me home and to the shop...so he has the truck but I'm by me losing all my antifreeze (which has happened to me before, but I've never totally shut down) do you think it messed up my engine?.....the interesting thing was from the time I made it back to work to call my mechanic with the tow and when we made it back to my truck, would you believe, it started up?!!!! I'm probably the least experienced with Ford Explorers, but I need your input on what you think happened....damsel in distress....

 

[rwest!]

I don't want anyone to think I'm one of 'those women' who just rides and doesn't check out what's under my hood - since I've had the truck, I have check under the hood every other weekend to make sure my fluids were filled.....

 

[TPLYNCH]

You may have gotten lucky with the enging shutting down before any major damage could be done. Were you able to see where the coolant was leaking from?? Hopefully it's only a bad hose or water pump, and you don't have cracked or warped heads

 

[Triton46]

I would say your temp guage is wrong and the car overheated. No way it would be on Cold with no Antifreeze.

If it started back up, probably no real damage. The coolant 'pouring out' is just weird...unless that was the precise time one of the tubes or a crack in the radiator decided to give way.

 

[Anime]

maybe

Just a tip from someone who's been there-

The same thing happened to me on the highway one night- I got a ride and spent the next day replacing the water pump thinking thats what was going on. Nope.

Turns out the thermostat was just stuck shut. All the coolant leaks out because the overflow (coolant resevoir)...overflows.

Make sure your mechanic puts in a new thermostat. I would recommend a genuine Ford Motorcraft 'stat. They are super cheap. ($2-10)

I don't think a water pump replacement is in order, but if you just got the vehicle, its not a bad idea to have the coolant, hoses, and the serpentine belt replaced- these are all inexpensive items, but can be the source of a great headache if they fail.

Make sure when all the work is done that your mechanic lets the engine run for awhile to see if there is cracks or leaks somewhere else. Go ahead and check it yourself too before you just hop in and drive. Just open the hood and start it up...use a flashlight to peek around the engine and keep an eye on the ground to see if anythings dripping.

 

[rwest!]

I could see the coolant leaking it seemed behind where the radiator was not directly under the radiator and I swear the temp gauge never went to H, or near H as it's done in the past....I called my mechanic, the owner looked at the truck today and I'm waiting until the owner gets back and then I'll get the verdict. Crossing my fingers and hoping it's nothing serious!

I guess I just need to know if you lose that much coolant in such a short time, will that cause damage to the engine?

 

[rwest!]

Anime, just read your reply...thermostat huh? I hope that's the case, thanks for sharing your experience - I'll let you know what happens!

 

[Maniak]

Our 1992 XLT lost a waterpump at 220k+ miles.. When it went all of a sudden I started to smell something hot (hot motor) and lost all kinds of power.. and it started to ping bad.. I made it to the side of the road.. The temp guage showed at the C..

What happened was the seal in the water pump went.. The "weep" hole let all the coolant out.. (did it pretty fast). When there is not water in the cooling system the temp guage has nothing to read.. so it shows cold.

Our motor got hot enough to kill the A4ld Tranny.. not only did we burn the clutches it actually melted some hard parts.. (not good).. Also finished off the heads.. (this didn't break them.. just finished them off.. we had 4 valves that were recessed into the heads)..

I would have a compression check done after he fixes the leak.. make sure you didn't crack the heads..

btw.. when the water pump goes the water comes down from behind the engine fan.. and if you are lucky it only trickles.. if you aren't.. it gushes (like it did for us)

 

[Lemondrop]

I hate to say , but your temperature gauge is useless when you have a coolant leak .

Temp sensors read inside the engine coolant passage . The "bulb" that reads the temp ( actually reads resistance to ground but thats a different story) hangs down into the passage . If there is NO coolant , the bulb reads AIR . A temp gauge cant read air so your gauge shows C when its really 3 mile island H . Ive see truck engines that were so hot the sending unit for the coolant temp gauge MELTED (plastic insulator inside the sensor melted out ) and the driver said it never got hot . Thats because temp sensors can't read air .
The ping you heard was detonation . That is what we call bad . I myself have heard it before from the same situation , except I was climbing a mountain when I blasted a heater hose .
That sound comes from the engine being so hot that the sparkplug is no longer needed . The fuel / air mixture is lighting off from the heat of compression (and of the engine itself) . It drops in power because it fires before it is supposed to fire the cylinder due to the spark plug firing after the heat (detonation ) of compression fire .
Best case , you got lucky and nothing was damaged .
I wouldnt hold your breath though . If it shut off it's not good . There are a few reasons it shut off and none are good .
The pistons became so hot they lodged in the cylinder bores , which caused a engine seizure . The fuel in the rail vaporized from heat and "vapor locked" . Last case , it just blew itself out firing early .
If you saw a coolant leak , you should have called for a tow truck and saved yourself the extra expense of engine damage . If you get lucky and there is no damage , play the lotto
Hopefully the damage is minimal , or none at all . Keep us posted on whats going on .
PS , Im a mechanic so keep me filled in and I can tell you if your mechanic is pulling your chain .

 

[Anime]

leak

rwest!-

I'm not saying I know for sure that your problem will be the thermostat- just thats what mine was and there were similar symptoms.

A leak in the cooling system usually occurs when theres a blockage- with the buildup of pressure the fluid has to go somewhere- so whatevers the weakest part..leaks.

Everyone who has posted on this thread could be right-
you are best off having the entire cooling system checked out until a problem is found. I think what happened to your Explorer may be more similar to Maniak and Lemondrops' experience since you reported the temp gauge was at C. If the leak was from the water pump- there you go. (This would be obvious from the coolant residue around the hole and underneath)

Have your mechanic show you the problem or component at fault and explain what happened, and do not risk driving the vehicle until the source of the problem is found. I still say have a new thermostat put in anyway as well.

Now I'm glad I changed my water pump after what Maniak posted- gettin' up to that mileage mark.

 

[01EB5.0]

Wow! It is true that if there is a coolant leak the gauge will read cold. It sounds like you seriously overheated your engine. The 4.0L V-6 does not withstand heat very well and i hope you did not crack a head or anything because it will be $$$. i cant believe your radiator was dry when you brought it in last weekend?!?! Thats just wrong. you never noticed a leak before? Had you ever checked the fluid?
Good luck

 

[rwest!]

Lemondrop,

I just read your reply, thanks for your input - I just wanted to mention that when the tow guy came to pick me up and we back to get my truck, which was parked on the shoulder but still sticking out, he had to try to get close to the truck, I gave him the key and my truck started and he was able to drive it closer to the tow truck - I'm hoping it's not an engine thing...no way!

I'm going to find out sometime this morning and I will definitely you let you know. I appreciate everyone's input - at least I have some ideas of what could have happened!

Thanks again!

 

[01EB5.0]

Well, if the negine was able to start when the tow truck driver went to get it i'd say you might be not looking at quite as much repairs as I thought....

 

[Lemondrop]

The engine might start but if it was nuked , the damage might not show right away . One thing to have them check is the heater control valve . My 95 started leaking and only did it when the truck was cold . It could also leak when open or closed Im sure . The coolant is going somewhere . If it's not leaking then a head gasket or head itself could be damaged and letting compression into the cooling system . Once it is in the cooling system it will force the coolant out of the radiator overflow and into the coolant resivior . If the resivior overfills it will dump off the fluid . Once the engine cools a little it will suck the coolant in the resivior back into the engine/ radiator . I could find you problem within 24 hours . I hope the mechanics you have working on it can do the same .

 

[rwest!]

Update to my story - bad news!

I just spoke w/ my mechanic and he said the heads are cracked! Now, I feel like cracking my head!!!

I want to keep the truck for another year or so....what work is involved in fixing/replacing cracked heads, I'm thinking of just getting a rebuilt engine with a warranty.....

 

[Maniak]

I can't find it.. but somewhere I gave the prices that I had to pay for our heads.. I think it was $125 each IF our heads were good.. +$200 each head if they were bad.. Our were cracked but he gave us some money for one of the heads..

total cost in parts was close to $800.. that was heads and gasket set plus misc shop stuff.. It takes about 10 hours or so to do it.. (this was the 2nd time I''ve had the heads off so it wasn't so bad the 2nd time).. Installed by a shop, I think you are looking at about $1500ish to replace the heads.

According to the official book the book shop time is 9.8 hours. and the part number for the heads with valves (complete head) is F4TZ6049D.. price of $378.57 each (not sure if that is list or cost)

~Mark

 

[rwest!]

Cracked Heads

Thanks Mark! I will definitely look into this!