My car overheated and now will not start. I believe I have a water pump issue and possibly a blown gasket.
My car overheated today so I drove it to a parking spot and shut it off. After that, the car would not turn back on. The engine cranks but the engine will not start. I believe it could be a water pump and head gasket issue. Will the water pump alone cause the car to not start?
My car has 115000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
A faulty water pump will not cause a failure to start. If the water pump is not working, all that will happen is after you start the car, the engine will overheat. If the head gasket has failed and coolant has leaked into the combustion chambers, that could cause a no start condition. I recommend you request an engine cooling system leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will see if there is an external or internal coolant leak. If there is no internal leak, for example at the head gasket, the cylinder compression should be tested. If compression is OK and there is no coolant in the cylinders, the only way to pinpoint the fault causing the no start is to perform a no start diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your car overheats and now won`t start, the problem is almost certainly a leaking coolant hose or radiator. The engine overheating may be either the direct or indirect outcome of the coolant leak. A coolant leak might be brought on by worn hoses, a broken radiator, or loose hose clamps.
A damaged fuel system is the most common reason an overheated engine may not start. A faulty system can cause the motor to get hot and produce heat and vapor, which creates difficulty for the fuel to circulate in the engine. Blown head gasket. A blown head gasket could also be a significant cause of overheating.
Regardless of the cause, an overheating BMW could result in serious and even permanent damage to your car. If you continue driving an overheated vehicle, you risk blowing a head gasket, damaging your exhaust system, busting a hose, your engine components melting and warping your cylinder heads.
The most common reasons a BMW 525i is overheating are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat. Coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.)
Wait until the engine completely cools — at least 30 minutes. You might be able to speed up the cooling process if you can pop the hood with a latch located inside the car cabin. But, do not touch or attempt to open the hood until the engine is completely cool. Check the coolant/antifreeze reservoir.
Coolant has nothing to do with your car`s ability to start. Most cars can be started with the water pump not even running (not for long, mind you, as it will overheat).
When your coolant is running low, the engine can overheat or even seize up. If the metal gets hot enough, a piston can weld itself into the cylinder. If this happens, your engine is likely destroyed.
That said, a severely overheating engine can cause the cylinder walls or the pistons themselves to warp, bend and deform. This will cause the perfect seal between the piston and the rest of the engine to lose integrity. Oil could be forced past the piston rings and into the engine, where it will burn the oil.
The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose. Regardless of the problem`s source, an overheating engine isn`t something you want to let linger. Your engine could sustain serious, if not permanent, damage.
Damage Your Radiator
Your radiator is likely already damaged, but in the early stages of overheating, it can be repaired. The more you drive on it, the more you`re likely to see burst hoses burst, failed radiator stems, and exploding cooling systems.
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.
Frozen fluid may prevent your car from starting on cold winter mornings. It is important to make sure that you have enough coolant in your vehicle at all times to stave off premature coolant system corrosion, as well.
Yes, a lack of coolant can prevent a car from starting. The coolant plays an important role in the functioning of a car`s engine. It helps to regulate the temperature of the engine and prevent it from overheating. If there is not enough coolant in the system, the engine can become too hot and cause damage.
Loud popping, knocking, and stuttering noises from the hood of your vehicle are cause for concern, and could be a sign of major engine damage.
Sign 1: Temperature Gauge
While you might be tempted to think this reflects the outdoor temperature (some cars have this feature, too) the temperature gauge reflects how hot your engine is. When you see it rising towards the red temperature indicator, your engine is overheating.
As temperature of an engine exceeds 230 degrees Fahrenheit, the engine is overheated. Above 245 degrees Fahrenheit, damage may occur. As heat continues to increase, the different rates of thermal expansion cause metal to distort.
Overheating is one of the primary reasons piston rings fail.
How long can a car overheat before damage occurs? It only takes 30-60 seconds of overheating for permanent damage to infiltrate a vehicle. As soon as you notice signs of overheating, you need to act. Failure to do so might result in troubles like coolant leaks, damaged radiator caps, and a faulty cooling fan.
A failed water pump will not only cause your car to overheat, but it can also cause additional engine damage such as cracked cylinder heads and head gaskets, for example. The longer you drive without the engine being cooled down, the more significant damage is done.
While you can drive the car for a short time using water in place of the coolant, it won`t effectively protect your engine. This means its essential to get the problem that caused a low coolant level fixed as soon as possible, and the radiator filled with a 50/50 ratio of coolant to water.
Most of the time, excess coolant is expelled from an overflow hose. You`ll likely see a puddle of coolant beneath your car if this has happened. In worst case scenarios, overfilling your antifreeze tank can lead to electrical damage if overflow comes into contact with engine wiring.
A damaged fuel system is the most common reason an overheated engine may not start. A faulty system can cause the motor to get hot and produce heat and vapor, which creates difficulty for the fuel to circulate in the engine. Blown head gasket. A blown head gasket could also be a significant cause of overheating.
Yes, the heat in the Summer months can also be draining on your vehicle battery. We often think Winter is the season when batteries go dead but excessive heat and overcharging shorten the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then causes internal damage.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car overheated and now will not start. I believe I have a water pump issue and possibly a blown gasket.
ANSWER : A faulty water pump will not cause a failure to start. If the water pump is not working, all that will happen is after you start the car, the engine will overheat. If the head gasket has failed and coolant has leaked into the combustion chambers, that could cause a no start condition. I recommend you request an engine cooling system leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will see if there is an external or internal coolant leak. If there is no internal leak, for example at the head gasket, the cylinder compression should be tested. If compression is OK and there is no coolant in the cylinders, the only way to pinpoint the fault causing the no start is to perform a no start diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
car is overheating and leaking water and anti freeze
ANSWER : Coolant leaks can occur because of cracked hoses, leaking gaskets, faulty water pumps, or damaged radiators. When the coolant level goes low, the engine will start to overheat due to the low coolant level. I would first recommend giving the cooling system a visual look over. If it is not obvious where the coolant leak is coming from, I would recommed having the cooling system pressure tested in order to determine the leak source. If you would like to have your cooling system pressure testedcoolant is leaking inspection, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to your home or office to inspect your cooling system.
My car stutter starts, but only after driving it for a few minutes.
ANSWER : Hey there. This may also be caused by what is called the fuel pressure regulator. This is a unit that helps to maintain the fuel pressure at the proper level. When this is not working properly, the fuel pump may be pumping properly, but the fuel may not arrive at the fuel injectors at the proper psi. When this happens, this can cause a lean fuel condition which may cause the car to hesitate, misfire, or stall. If you would like to have an expert pinpoint the issue, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the hard start problem and confirm which repairs are needed.
Water was spilled in the trunk which soaked the car battery. Car won’t start now. Does water destroy a car battery?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in about the concern with the BMW 320i. If the battery was submerged in water then it’s completely possible for the battery to short out and die. Your friend will need to have the battery replaced. Also be sure to get all of the water out of the trunk. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, help you guys out if you need assistance with replacing the battery. Good luck.
My car stutters after driving it for a few minutes – 2002 Toyota
ANSWER : This may also be caused by what is called the fuel pressure regulator. This is a unit that helps to maintain the fuel pressure at the proper level. When this is not working properly, the fuel pump may be pumping properly, but the fuel may not arrive at the fuel injectors at the proper psi. When this happens, this can cause a lean fuel condition which may cause the car to hesitate, misfire or stall. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your fuel pressure.
I put the wrong key in my car and a few weeks later my car just shut down and it will not start I believe it’s the computer but…
ANSWER : Hi there. What had happened is the wrong key set the security to the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle from starting with the wrong keys. Try removing the battery cables (+) and (-) for 13 minutes. During that time, put the original key in the ignition and turn it on. Activate everything in the car even though there is no power. Then remove the key and hook up the battery cables. The computer should have reset and reset the security. If the security is still being tripped, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you
believe i have a bad power steering pump, how much does that job cost usually? now my car is having trouble starting, any relation
ANSWER : You will need to have the engine checked to see if it was a starter drive that was stuck and you burned up the starter. It may be the starter that was making the noise. I recommend having this checked by a certified mechanic to diagnose the no start, and then see if the power steering is still noisy.
