I think my Explorer just died

[Relix]

Was on the highway... suddenly I saw temps go up. I stopped, shut the car off, checked all hoses and reservoir water level. All was fine. I waited 20 minutes, turned it on... once more the temperature started going up. I stopped, repeated procedure, moved. By the third time I decided to check the fan. I could stop the spin with just my hand so I figured the clutch was busted. After a little bit of tinkering the fan started working full speed. This time I continued and saw the temperature stay steady and normal.

I was close to my house so after 4 minutes or so I started hearing a metal clanking sound. At first I didn't know whose car it was but a little later I figured it was mine. Temperature was fine though and car was showing no problems at all. Seeing as I was barely 1 minute away from my house I continued on steadily at about 35mph. All out of the sudden... it shut itself off. I moved to the curb, tried to start it once, it didn't work. So I called a friend, towed the car to my house... and there it is.

As I said... temperature was showing up just fine. Oil was only 2 months old too. I am waiting for it to cool a little more but I fear I killed the motor. =(

 

[earnbud]

I had a somewhat similiar situation , except mine was with a 94 ranger and somehow the upper radiator house ripped and so all the radiator fluid leaked out and of course my temp went up fast

Short story is that i started hearing a clanking sound in the engine , but i was like 2 hours from home and i was no were near a shop or anything so i kept driving and i started losing power and then the engine finally just decided to shut off

Found out it was that i blew my head gasket , but then when delving into it more i found scaring on the cylinders that seemed to already be there , so i ended up replacing the engine

 

[Relix]

Hey! Thanks for the reply. Mechanic came over. We turned the car on and though it hesitated at first it was a smooth ride afterward. I accelerated it a bit and felt no power loss or anything weird. We did notice a weird clanking metal sound every 10 seconds or so but that went away. After some investigation we found what we believe was the main culprit, since the fan was working fine at the moment.

One of the hoses from the radiator to the motor got separated, and it seems a valve went out with it. Its attached to a bigger piece that I couldn't identify. This piece is by the transmission fluid check tube, this is the valve/piece that seemed to go out:

 

[drdoom]

I think that is a control for the cabin heat.

 

[Relix]

The hose was connected to that valve, and one of the plastic parts melted or cracked under the heat. The valve was also making a funny noise as well.

 

[Relix]

I think that is a control for the cabin heat.

Oh thanks! This is it! What's the function of this valve? I mean.... the actual name is HVAC Heater Control Valve in case anyone wants to know.

 

[jeff spahn]

Oh thanks! This is it! What's the function of this valve? I mean.... the actual name is HVAC Heater Control Valve in case anyone wants to know.

The name says it all. It controls the coolant flow into the heater. No worky no heaty

 

[Relix]

I had forgotten to reply!

Yes, indeed that valve was the problem. Changed it and its been perfect. In fact the water leak it had has stopped tremendously. I had to pour in water whenever I used the car, so I didn't bother with coolant. After the change the water reservoir decline has gotten way better, enough that I am considering perhaps the levels are dropping because the water is evaporating.

A new problem has popped up though. The car, even after the overheat, has been working perfectly. It accelerates, it runs as fast, no weird noises, etc. There's one new thing that popped up.... the car hesitates when being started. It takes a few seconds of a little struggle and then it starts up, but this didn't happen before. Could have something gotten damaged? I fear its gonna kill my starter or battery one day so I am using the car less and less, but I really like my Explorer for going around in long trips.

 

[jeff spahn]

. . .snip.... the car hesitates when being started. It takes a few seconds of a little struggle and then it starts up, but this didn't happen before. Could have something gotten damaged? . . snip . .

Did you disturb anything in the ignition system or intake when you changed the heater valve. If not, they are not related issues. If so, you need to check your MAF connection. Also, you could have a vacuum leak somewhere if you disturbed a vacuum hose.

Run a few bottles of sea foam (one at a a time) through the vehicle to clean up your injectors and see if that helps. Pour one bottle into each full tank of fuel, run the ex empty and then fill up and add another bottle. See if this helps.

Also, is your check engine light on? You may have an EGR valve that is going bad.

 

[yavapaires]

By hesitating when starting, what do you mean? Is it not cranking over? Is it cranking, but not starting? Does it try to crank, stop, and then starts spinning over? If this is the symptom, I'll bet you are getting water in one of the cylinders when the engine is stopped, especially if you are adding water every so often.

 

[Relix]

By hesitating when starting, what do you mean? Is it not cranking over? Is it cranking, but not starting? Does it try to crank, stop, and then starts spinning over? If this is the symptom, I'll bet you are getting water in one of the cylinders when the engine is stopped, especially if you are adding water every so often.

It cranks, stops and then starts and the car runs without issues. Its possible water is getting into the cylinders as the car did overheat. There's no white smoke coming from the muffler though, but I will check to see if there's water when I start the car up.

I am also having a weird issue that may be related to this. My battery meter swings up and down. The battery level is usually at least around half the gauge. When I drive at night, with all lights on, radio, AC on and fog lights I can see the battery level dropping. It used to do this since I bought the car but I paid no attention seeing as nothing happened. Lately when switching gears or just lowering my driver window I see the battery level dropping a lot and the lights dimming. Last night while driving the car almost shut itself off. Radio turned off, AC Fan spinned down a bit and lights dimmed though the car continued without a hitch a second afterwards. What can be causing this? Its been happening since that overheat.

 

[russosborne]

Your battery is likely dying. Why is another question. Check all the connections to it and the starter and grounds. If they are ok, cables not corroding apart, etc, I would have the alternator checked out, as well as the battery. When you turn something on like the power window, it is increasing the load (draw) on the battery, and there isn't enough there to handle it, which is causing the dimming and meter swing.
It could also just be your serpentine belt. Have your mechanic friend check it out for you.
It is something you need to deal with right away, or else you may end up stranded somewhere.

Russ