95 Windstar serpentine belt snapped - won't start after replacement

Although everything points in other directions, pull the spark plugs and see if it will crank. Maybe it's hydro-locked.

Bill

Why aren't you running the correct mix of coolant?

Did you check all the pullies to make sure they were free?

running the correct mix of coolant?

As some may already know regarding these 3.8s, they have big problems with head and front engine cover gaskets. My head gaskets were blown/replaced 45K miles ago and there is a very small ongoing leak from the front engine cover gasket - small enough where if I top off the reservior every 2 weeks or so, it can be managed. Of course, this leads to a very diluted coolant mix which isn't a big problem except for maybe 20 days a year in TX - this cool snap snuck up on me :-(.

All pullies move although there is some resistance with the steering pump pulley - not sure if that is normal or not. When cranking, the belt moves all pullies. Think there may be enough resistance to keep from turning over?

PC

--------QUOTE------------ When cranking the pulleys turn

next

engine not turning over

---------Unquote-----------

What is it

Doesn't crank/turn over or doesn't start ????????

There is a big difference

If it cranks but doesn't start check the crank sensor, maybe the belt snapped it or damage the connector

Being that I am not a mechanic, I had to research "hyrodlocked" and I now have a pretty good understanding that I would have to have a considerable amount of water in the combustion chamber to get that condition and would most likely have issues cranking. This engine cranks fine - just doesn't start (I thought "turnover" meant "start" but I have been seemingly corrected in this thread).

Funny thing is, your suggestion jogged my memory on another term - Vapor-locked. I know that VL mostly happens in non fuel-injection vehicles but I thought that some way, some how, VL might also be a consideration considering my clean cranking. I figured that if I crank enough, it should clear out the fuel line eventually if in fact I have a vapor lock situation.

Well, I went out and cranked it this morning (48 degrees outside), and it started! Pretty rough at first but it all smoothed out after 2 minutes. No coolant out of the tailpipe at all! No leaks under the engine! I think I may have dodged a major bullet.

Next, going out to drain the system and fill with coolant - somebody up there is cutting me some slack!

PC

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@79g2000cws.googlegroups.com...

Actually, it was almost a problem for a lot more than 20 days - including the days it would have taken to get your engine fixed.

Sounds like you really need to fix that front engine cover gasket. It will save you in the long run. Plus, having coolant leak all over Texas is not good for the environment, unless you can park it outside a particular ranch in Crawford, in which case I don't care.

Not to mention, that, in the long run, you will save enough money on antifreeze to cover the front engine gasket repair.

Jeff

I appreciate your concern regarding the environment and for the most part, I am equally concerned. In this case, the leak is so slight that it actually slides down the engine cover and drips on a heat shield over the exhaust manifold - immediately evaporating on contact. As such, none (or next to none) of it ever hits Texas ground (air is another matter).

As far as the economics, I have done extensive research regarding my situation and it is clearly NOT a good (financial) idea to repair the engine cover gasket. I'm guessing that you never worked on a '95 Windstar? The engine cover gasket, like many engine-related repairs on this vehicle, requires an engine pull - and I have had it quoted at $1000+ (I do not have the equipment for an engine pull). A gallon of coolant costs ~$7 and at the current leak rate, I will generously say it would require 1 gallon a month. That's $72 per year and even after

PC

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

it was almost a problem for a lot more than 20 days - including

Actually, $84 per year - it's late and I'm tired...

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

:-(.Actually, it was almost a problem for a lot more than 20 days - including

running the correct mix of coolant?

You can get pre-mixed coolant at any car store. I would get that if I were you. I once had an old taurus and did the same thing. KEpt adding tap water. at one point the radiator was complety clogged due to all the minerals form the tap water I kept adding. Do yourself a favor and get a gallon of pre-mixed stuff.

Buying the pre-mixed Antifreeze Coolant doesn't in any way guarantee they used distilled water in making the mix...

Go buy a case or two of distilled water and keep it in the garage. Then you can be 100% sure of what you have.

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