Engine problem!

[mrjezza]

Today on my drive home my temperature kept rising and rising and rising until the temp guage got into the red section. While I was driving the battery, brake pad and park brake lights were dimly lit when it was idling and when I took off again they would go out.

When I stopped, steam or possibly white smoke was coming out from the bottom of the engine and I let it rest for a couple of hours before I checked the coolant. It was brown. Like "coffee with a touch of milk" brown.

Does anyone know what's happened? Head gasket failure maybe?

[dino245]

Didi you check the belts. It sounds like your water pump/alternator belt went south

[mrjezza]

Thanks dino245, I forgot to mention as I was driving a really loud squeaking noise (obviously some kind of belt) would happen and it wouldnt go away until I shifted up a gear.

What do I need to check regarding the belts? Also, is the brown in the coolant system actually oil or the coolant cooking and changing colour?

[2002maniac]

You should have stopped the car as soon as you realized something was wrong :(

Doing so may have made the difference between a cracked/warped head and a simple belt change.

If the belt is not missing altogether check the tension on it.

Cross your fingers and hope you didnt do any permanent damage.

[m42 fan]

+1 on the belt. If the old one's been on there for a while, then just get yourself a new one. Cheep insurance against future problems. Changing them out is simple, just take your time if you haven't done it before.

Brian

[silverblades181]

Today on my drive home my temperature kept rising and rising and rising until the temp guage got into the red section. While I was driving the battery, brake pad and park brake lights were dimly lit when it was idling and when I took off again they would go out.

When I stopped, steam or possibly white smoke was coming out from the bottom of the engine and I let it rest for a couple of hours before I checked the coolant. It was brown. Like "coffee with a touch of milk" brown.

Does anyone know what's happened? Head gasket failure maybe?

Actually sounds very much like a head gasket (read profile gasket) to me. How long has it been since it's been changed? and +1 on stopping your car at the first sign of trouble...theres nothing worse then an overheating engine.

[RED IS 91]

Maybe the water pump seized causing the belt to slip ?? that would account for the lights getting dim .If you kept driving and overheated the engine then you could have warped the head or blew the head gasket .:eek:
either is not good
Hopefully everything works out but it doesn't sound good

[mrjezza]

Update - water pump was the problem. The end with the rotor bit sheared off apparently! Obviously the reason it was overheating was because no water was being pumped. Our friend is checking it out to see if there's any collateral damage as a result of the overheating.

Fingers crossed!