My Crappy Day, or, Pickaway County is Great

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I left my house today at 9:00 am. My plan was to drive to my former high school and carpool to college, like I do almost every day. I never got to the college. The drive was uneventful until I started hearing popping sounds coming from the engine. I looked down and saw that the engine temperature was OVER 260 degrees! I was out in the middle of nowhere, with no phone. I pulled my car into a stranger’s driveway, one of the 3 buildings I could see. The surrounding area was just farmland. It turned out to be my former math teacher’s house, her husband went out of his way to let me use his phone and help me get water for my radiator. After I poured in some water, the car wouldn’t start. Another total stranger drove me over to the high school. By that time, my carpool partner (Broys) was long gone, so I hung around with the network administrator and his student cronies for a few hours. We talked about my car and decided it was probably a problem with the thermostat valve, because the radiator was cool while the engine was hot. When Broys got back, he agreed to take me to my car. The car started up just fine, but when I was about half way home the engine was getting hot again, so I stopped at a gas station to let it cool off. Well, after it cooled the battery seemed to be dead. I thought this was because my car has an electric radiator fan that kicks on when the engine is hot. Of course it doesn’t help when the water isn’t flowing through the thing. I got a jump from another group of strangers. I was back on the road again and noticed that the battery meter was below 8 volts and dropping "OH SHIT”, I though aloud. About a mile later it quit, and the battery was 100% dead. I pushed the car into the nearest driveway, and knocked on the door. The old man that lives there offered to jump my car. When we were hooking up the cables, he noticed that one of the belts was GONE! My mechanic said the belts were fine a few weeks ago GRRR!! My car wouldn’t run without his car hooked up, so he gave me a ride home and said I could go back and get the car any time I want. I have no idea how I will get to class tomorrow. This has been a horrible day, but it reaffirmed my faith in humanity.

[/incomprehensible rambling]

So, how was your day?

2

One more thing, anyone have any idea how much it will cost to fix my car? Its an '88 Fiero Formula with a V6.

The problems are:
[ul]
[li]Coolant and water not getting to radiator[/li][li]Belt missing[/li][li]Battery not charging (hopefully just Because of the missing belt)[/li][li]Radiator over filled with partially dirty water[/li][/ul]

3

Here’s my best guess. The problem with your coolant system is that the water pump is not working.
I’m not familiar with your car, but if the belt that drives the alternator is the same belt that drives the water pump, your problem could be as simple as replacing the missing belt. Cost: $20.00 or so for the belt, possibly a scraped knuckle with cuss words, and $4.00 for beer.
However, you said you just had the belts checked. The worst case possibility is that the water pump locked up. This would explain the belt departing. You can check this by trying to turn the water pump pulley by hand. If you can’t turn it, there’s the problem. Cost: $100.00 or so for the pump, and a guaranteed scraped knuckle or two and serious cuss words. Estimate for the beer is up to you. If you have a garage do the job figure x2 (or so).
You mentioned Pickaway county. Would that be Ohio ? If so, get the water in the coolant system drained out as soon as possible. NOW would be good. Freezing your coolant system would probably scrap your car.
2 cents worth from a shade tree mechanic….

4

Yes it would, but there is plenty of anti-freeze in it. Its not going to be very cold this week, lows in the high 20s I think.

5

You just got perfect advice blackie.

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Oh yeah, I forgot to say thanks for the advice.

Blackie? hmm My first SDMB nickname :).

7

And just an extra word from a busybody - if your engine overheats, it’s a bad idea to put cold water into it while it’s still hot. If the temperature of the block is high enough, you could crack it with cold fluid. Open the hood and let it sit for 20 minutes or so before adding fluid.

8

So what did you find out Blackie, anything ?