Car Troubles

[baker250r]

Hey, I got a 1998 Ford Contour that when U start it up and drive it, the temp gage just climbs untill its in the red. doesnt come back down or anything. We changed the thermostat, and flushed the radiator, and still the same thing. When ya drive it, the coolant runs out... of corse. We talked to a few mechanics and they said head gasket... but I dont know how a head gasket could cause this, seein as there is no white smoke comin out the exhaust.. is there any mechanics in here that coulds help me???

[jmc400ex02]

I had a grand am do that once and it was a pluged heater core!!!

[300exOH]

Check your water pump. It should have a weep hole that will leak coolant if the pump is bad. You will also have no circulation in the radiator when it gets hot if the water pump is bad. I just replaced mine on my 2000 monte and it was basically dong the same thing. Good luck.

[BadAss03]

If your head gasket is blown to the outside it will not smoke. It will not be burning the coolant just spiting it out. You need to pinpoint the leak to fix it.


Tim

[red2004 TRX450R]

Sounds like a head gasket to me!!!!

Take it to a good radiator shop and have them test the oil tested for coolant!!

The head gasket seals in oil, coolant, cylinder pressure, gas, air, and exzust.

If its not the head gasket and u heat the motor up one more time the head gasket will go out any ways!!!!!

There are water jackets that go around the cylinder and in to the head to cool the motor. If the gasket is leaking the pressure form the combustion will not the coolant flow right and get burnt up in the composition chamber. (Something like that)

[baker250r]

hmmm.... so many things... the sucky part, is this car is a 2.5 v6 so i dont know wut head it would be... if it is the head gasket. ill try the water pump tho first.

[Trevor]

Sound's like a head gasket. There is 3 places it can be going. 1 in the cylender and being burnt off you will see white smoke.
2 leaking to the outside of the head and evaporating off the block due to the heat.
3 this one is the worst hope you dont have this one. The water goes into the oil and you tear the bottom end bearrings out. so pull the dip stick and hope you don't see milky oil or watter bubbles.

[baker250r]

how would i be able to tell wich head it would be?

[duke416ex]

Have you checked thoil to see if it is milky looking, if it is then the water is going to the oil. If you are loosing that much water and it is in the oil then I would say the motor will ock up before long, also if it is coming out the weep hole, you should see puddles on the ground where you park. Start it and let it run a minute and see if any water is on the ground.

[duke416ex]

As far as which one it is, I would check to see how much it is to just replace both gaskets, if it isn't much more, and it shouldn't be since they will already have it most of the way apart, I would get both done at the same time that way the other one won't blow after you get it fixed.

[baker250r]

checked the oil, its good. and i guess the mechanic checked the water pump too, and its good.

[baker250r]

yea, i know. i will do both at same time. but its a biatch seein as its DOHC v-6

[duke416ex]

How hard are the plugs to get out, a lot of times if the cylinders are getting water in them you can take the plugs out and the one with water in it will come out the plug hole. Have you checked the ehater core like the other guy mentioned, the floor board isn't wet is it?

[baker250r]

floorboards arent wet, and the plugs are hard to get out, actually i cant crack them. and im fraid to, cuz its got 110,000 miles on it, and these are still factory plugs. my friend had a cavelier that he pulled the threads out of the spark plug and ruined his head

[duke416ex]

Nice, my next suggestion is fill it up with water, hot wire the fan to run when the key is on and trade it in on something, then leave teh lot very very fast!

[baker250r]

yea... but its a contour.... fords biggest flop of a car. its only worth about 1000 in tip top runnign shape.

[wtz400]

sounds like a head gasket to me. look on the block and see if there is any coolant dripping or dryed on there if there is it is definatley you head gasket.
-josh