S13 overheated, now won't start

[240SXy]

I saw the temp gauge going up so I pulled off the highway, but the engine died as I was pulling in to a parking spot. The radiator was cracked, so I patched it, and we push started the car. A few miles later it started getting hot again, so I pulled over and shut it off myself. The radiator was cracked in another place, so I replaced it after having the car towed to my dad's house, but now the car won't start. I haven't tried to push start it again. There is gas in the tank, the plugs have spark, and the engine turns. It just won't start. The car was fine before. I have a93 240SXKA24DE111K miles5spdPlease help, and yes I did search first.

:help

[EZcheese15]

Try pulling your spark plugs out and looking at them. Also, look down into the combustion chambers as well. It is possible that by overheating the car, you blew your head gasket. If so, then the spark plugs may not be firing because they are wet (covered in coolant). And as long as the combustion chambers aren't full, the car will still turn over (if they are full of coolant then you have hydrolocked the engine, and it won't be turning over).

So check for coolant on the spark plugs, and also down inside the combustion chambers. Let us know what you find.

[240SXy]

It looked like there might have been some coolant in the 3rd and 4th chambers, maybe mixed with oil, but just a drop on each of those spark plugs. I couldn't tell if it was just light oil or what. How much coolant would there be if the head gasket was the problem? They're definitely not full. Does the fact that we were able to push start it mean anything? It ran fine then, but still got hot. Thanks for the reply, anyone else?

[EZcheese15]

It looked like there might have been some coolant in the 3rd and 4th chambers, maybe mixed with oil, but just a drop on each of those spark plugs. I couldn't tell if it was just light oil or what. How much coolant would there be if the head gasket was the problem? They're definitely not full. Does the fact that we were able to push start it mean anything? It ran fine then, but still got hot. Thanks for the reply, anyone else?

Well, there should be no coolant or oil on any of the spark plugs.

Being able to push start it really does not make sense if you said the motor turns over. Because the only difference between a push start and turning the key, is one method uses the starter while the other does not. If it is turning over, then the starter is working.

Will it run right now if you push start it again? Or has it completely stopped running? Also, how do you know you have spark? What method did you use to determine you still have spark?

[EZcheese15]

Oh, also, when the car is getting hot, are u loosing coolant at all? I mean after it cools, and you check the coolant, does the level go down? Or no?

[240SXy]

Okay, To check spark, my dad watched the plug after we pulled it out and reconnected it to the wire, while I turned the motor over.I haven't tried to push start it, but this morning I decided to use my brain (and nose), and smell the liquid on the plugs. Not only was there more there, but it was coolant. I was losing coolant, but it was mostly through the crack on top of the radiator. With the strong smell of coolant on my plugs, I don't think any diagnosis will be better than replacement of the head gasket. Thanks for your help EZCheese. I'll be driving my dad's truck for a while, I guess.