Somebody Please Help me-1995 Q45

[Dannylam16]

Heres the StoryMy parents gave me their 1995 q45 last year. This winter the heat started to die out until the point where all it blew was solid ICE cold air. Obviously i knew their was some sort of problem to say the least but since i dont drive this car to often i figured i would suck it up for a couple drives a week.

On Christmas the car started to overheat to the point where the needle looked like it was going to break off, yet still no warm air in the car. When i noticed the car was overheating I pulled over and let it cool off then tried to make it home. A few blocks from home smoke started releasing from the engine, as I pulled into my drive way the car then SHUT DOWN completely and I heard a loud pop followed by tons of smoke.

I pushed it into the garage and let it sit for a few days. Once i examined the engine(which still starts and drives- only 10 feet i took it) I noticed close to the Fan white grease splattered as if something blew but couldnt pin point where it actually came from.

At this point Im guessing it was the mix door that blocked the heat from coming through. I still have no idea why the car over heated, where the white grease came from and if the car is salvagable at all. Any help would be great, Thank you. Happy New Year

Dan Lam

[qship96]

defective waterpump? stuck thermostat? engine is most likely permanently damaged.

[Raxephon]

As soon as the temp gauge started pegging 3/4 on the gauge you should have parked the car and started fixing the problem.

If it looks like your radiator has gravy/white grease in it, then you've blown a head gasket.

At this point it sounds like the motor might be fubar.

[RAP]

At this point Im guessing it was the mix door that blocked the heat from coming through. I still have no idea why the car over heated, where the white grease came from and if the car is salvagable at all.

If the car has the viscous cooling fan clutch the "white grease" would probably be coming from there. That clutch is the type with an aluminum hub with fins, at the center of the fan. That hub is filled with a "grease" which expands when hot thus dragging the fan into play. I think that they can become defective and sling out the "viscous" substance although I've not seen one do this. At least they are for sale at the parts houses so...

The engine cooling fan was probably not turning if that was the case. That would cause your overheating, possibly. Maybe the damage is not as bad as you think depending how long you ran the car "hot". I would try and find a junkyard replacement, complete fan with clutch, since an "OEM" will set you back a bundle. Or, better yet, borrow one from a friend if available. Just ensure that the replacement does not have any signs of grease around it. Make sure that the cooling system/rad is full and crank 'er up. If you did any damage by running the car "hot" it's done, and will soon show it's ugly self.

Disclaimer. Not having been under the hood of your year model Q45 I can't state the above for sure. My 2000 Q45 does have the viscous fan clutch. My '91 GMC P/U is also equipped with same.

Good luck,

Jack

[superuber]

This one's mine Brian, Here goes, What are you an idiot? When your needle goes up that far you get your car REPAIRED! Newbie or not that's like common sense! My 10 year old knows that. Listen this is what happened- you had no heat because the level dropped below core. You should have checked your levels and adjusted accordingly!Now it's trash........if it shut down it's junk!

[Q451990]

Is what you're describing as white grease really greasy, or more crusty? It could be residue from your coolant leak. Time to fill everything up and find your leak. Yes, you did damage to your engine in the overheat, but you don't know for sure that it's toast until you go through the diagnostic process. What is the condition of the oil on the dipstick? If it looks weird and milky then you blew a head gasket for sure...

Some pictures would help us a lot.

Heath

[Q45tech]

An overheat and subsequent ecu shut down almost always means a trashed engine [and 50/50 on transmission from conducted heat into unit].

When the oil turns to hardened volcanic lava chunks. Even then head gaskets rarely fail [coolant into oil]. Because there is no coolant [only steam] by the time the engine overheats. Filling back with coolant after a cool down may be the coup d' grasse. We try to add coolant during the overheat to slowly bring the temp down evenly [dangerous careful].

Why you periodically change radiator, hoses, and water pump and belts. And check coolant levels when you fill with gasoline [look in overflow bottle].

[Rex]

It's dead and done for, this car won't operate normally again without several thousand dollars, or a cheap engine/transmission set and a ton of labor.

Your best bet, is to get out the tool box (and search function here in NICO) identify the valuable parts that weren't trashed with the over heat and start parting that puppy out. If the interior and body is in GOOD shape, you may be able to get $1,000 out of the parts, but it'll take a lot of your time and labor.

[maxnix]

If your car still turns over, run a compression check to see if it is not totalled.

Report back and we'll go from there. It might be possible to find a JDM take out and install it after rehabilitation.

Also, while it is a little late, a summary of the car's maintenance history would be most helpful to see what and for how long maintenance was deferred on the car's various systems.

Ask you parents about the consequences of overheating all alloy engines. If the answer is unsatisfactory or incomplete, start your own education using the interenet and the library. It is time for you to learn things your parents don't know. It's part of becoming an adult. Good luck!

Welcome to NICO. There is a lot for you to learn here, even if you never drive a Q45 again.

[Dannylam16]

When I check the oil it still looks thick and rich like oil from the bottle. The White grease is more of a grease and is not crusty at all. The Thermostat only over heated for maybe a minute. By the time it went from totally cold to overheated was maybe a 3-5 minute window. The car still turns on and drives although I haven't driven it, I put it into gear and it did respond.

Thanks for all your guys help. Even the ones who think Im a dumb ***. If you were here for the exact situation you would understand.

Let me know if this info gave you anymore ideas, and let me know if there is anything else I can check out.

Dan
Modified by Dannylam16 at 12:34 PM 1/18/2008

[jamesmost]

When I check the oil it still looks thick and rich like oil from the bottle. The White grease is more of a grease and is not crusty at all. The Thermostat only over heated for maybe a minute. By the time it went from totally cold to overheated was maybe a 3-5 minute window. The car still turns on and drives although I havnty driven it, I put it into gear and it did respond.

Thanks for all your guys help. Even the ones who think Im a dumd ***. If you were here for the exact situation you would understand.

Let me know if this info gave you anymore ideas, and let me know if there is anything else I can check out.

Dan

danny, my mechanic is in Hewlett - i suggest u tow it to him and say James sent you. call me if u want i will take a look over the weekendJames 917-826-8113bty we are all dumba**es here. no offense intended

[maxnix]

Let me know if this info gave you anymore ideas, and let me know if there is anything else I can check out.

Dan

Maintenance history?

This might be moved to IOM fourm if you don't find it here since this is a mechanical/operational problem.

[RAP]

Did you bother to check on my suggestion about the cooling fan clutch? If the cooling fan does not turn the engine will get hot.

[VJ1]

WOW.... cool role reversal. Rick blasting away and Brian not pounding on the keyboard.

[maxnix]

i suggest u tow it to him...

Never tow, always flatbed!

[Q451990]

Never tow, always flatbed!

Or at a minimum make sure that it's towed front wheels down. Not ideal for the rear subframe, but should be fine for a short distance.

Heath