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Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

47K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  pontoon  
#1 ·
Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

Hello, I really need you guys help...

I have a 03 HSE that i have had for only about 6 months. Two days ago i left the Range running at the gas station and while i spoke with someone, and when i returned to the car I noticed that the battery light was on and the temp gauge seemed to be climbing... At the time i thought the car had just turned off but then realized that it was still on.. I then turned the car off and back on and everything immediately went back to normal, even the Temp......

Fast forward to yesterday, No running issues but i did smell what seemed like Antifreeze for about 30 seconds or so (i would say this happened maybe 3 times), I did check the temp gauge whenever i smelled antifreeze but there was no sign of overheating... so as a result I kind of blew it off as possibly being some other vehicle that i may have been catching fumes from.

Then tonight, As I was just about to pull into a driveway when i felt the power steering get very stiff, I then noticed that the Battery light was on and the engine was starting to overheat... I checked for any kind of fluid leak coming from under the truck (nothing), but i could clearly smell the antifreeze when i opened the hood.. I just couldnt see where it was coming from, and sense there was no leak from the bottom i couldnt tell what really was going on... I then let it cool off for maybe a half hour and still didnt notice any leak...

I then started the Range and noticed that the battery light and power steering was still failing.. So I thought id take it around the block before i called a tow truck just to see if it would correct itself like at the gas station... I then got maybe one block before the power steering came back to normal and the battery light when out (they seem to fail or work together).

Then after about a mile,.... you guested it... the Range started smoking from under the hood and i could clearly tell it was that antifreeze on the engine type of smoke. I then pulled over and noticed that it had finally sprung a leak, but I still couldnt tell exactly where it was leaking from, If i had to guess i would say the lower passenger side of the vehicle sense that is where the flow seemed to be leaking from. I then let it cool and added Antifreeze which allowed me to be able to make it home (battery never died).

I am really new to these vehicles, but i suspect that a hose has blow or something similar, But im puzzled to why the power steering and battery light would come on... My best guest tells me that maybe the Serpentine Belt had gotten wet from the leak which caused the Belt to slip which in turn caused the Battery and Power Steering to malfunction.

A major Range issue is the last thing i need in my life right now.
 
#3 ·
Re: Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

If you are not mechanically minded, then take Mrmerlin advice and take it to a shop right now!

You have a coolant leak which is spraying coolant onto the serpentine belt or one of the pulleys causing the belt to slip, which will stop the alternator, power steering pump, water pump and your AC compressor from turning. Now that you have seen the leak, find out where it is coming from and get to work.

You are lucky that you caught the temperature gauge before the thing siezed. The owner before this guy did not

Do not drive it or even start it until you have fixed this, because you will cause damage if that engine gets up to temperature and the coolant is not moving!
 
#4 ·
Re: Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

Thanks gyro, Yea i took it in this morning and they said it was the water pump... The mechanic said that the pulley seized causing the Serp Belt to finally snap...

But Ive been wondering why the fluid was still leaking... Maybe its leaking through the water pump.. or maybe its bubbled up from the heat.. Im having the serpentine belt and water pump replaced in the morn, but im still wondering if there is possibly a hose or something that may have ruptured.
 
#5 ·
Re: Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

hopefully you have a competent mechanic assisting your repair,
you have to be careful about wondering when you see coolant leaking m
as during this time of wonderment you can damage the engine by overheating it
 
#11 ·
Re: Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

Kgunn I didnt mean to make you feel like I was bustin your shoes,
But your description and how you handled it,
makes me think you dont have much experience as a DIY owner/ mechanic.

Thus suggesting that you look carefully for a leaking subsystem,
might not be the best advice I could suggest for you.

At any rate I never saw any update to your issue,
till the post you made a full year and week later.

Glad you got the truck fixed,
and thanks for updating the post with a solution.
 
#12 ·
Re: Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

Thanks Guys,


My original post was a night-time panic post, and i was unable to see what the issue was at that point.

I have mechanics who work on vehicles i sale, but i do all the work on my personal vehicles, always have.. (mostly..lol)

And the comments were not a big deal, I just wanted to point out how most people who come to these type forums are really looking for help. Most dont come often, but we do come when in need of specific help.. (panic Mode)

Certainly not to fall victim to "Forum Post Veteran Chatter" ...oO(did i start a new forum word) lol.. Although i do understand how a post that late could be considered funny.... But lets not assume a users knowledge of a subject is limited to the number of posts they have logged, and just try helping them whenever we can.

Happy Holidays to ALL.

and stop the F.P.V.C... all copyrights reserved 2013 ......LOL


KG
 
#13 ·
Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

Hello, I really need you guys help...

I have a 03 HSE that i have had for only about 6 months. Two days ago i left the Range running at the gas station and while i spoke with someone, and when i returned to the car I noticed that the battery light was on and the temp gauge seemed to be climbing... At the time i thought the car had just turned off but then realized that it was still on.. I then turned the car off and back on and everything immediately went back to normal, even the Temp......

Fast forward to yesterday, No running issues but i did smell what seemed like Antifreeze for about 30 seconds or so (i would say this happened maybe 3 times), I did check the temp gauge whenever i smelled antifreeze but there was no sign of overheating... so as a result I kind of blew it off as possibly being some other vehicle that i may have been catching fumes from.

Then tonight, As I was just about to pull into a driveway when i felt the power steering get very stiff, I then noticed that the Battery light was on and the engine was starting to overheat... I checked for any kind of fluid leak coming from under the truck (nothing), but i could clearly smell the antifreeze when i opened the hood.. I just couldnt see where it was coming from, and sense there was no leak from the bottom i couldnt tell what really was going on... I then let it cool off for maybe a half hour and still didnt notice any leak...

I then started the Range and noticed that the battery light and power steering was still failing.. So I thought id take it around the block before i called a tow truck just to see if it would correct itself like at the gas station... I then got maybe one block before the power steering came back to normal and the battery light when out (they seem to fail or work together).

Then after about a mile,.... you guested it... the Range started smoking from under the hood and i could clearly tell it was that antifreeze on the engine type of smoke. I then pulled over and noticed that it had finally sprung a leak, but I still couldnt tell exactly where it was leaking from, If i had to guess i would say the lower passenger side of the vehicle sense that is where the flow seemed to be leaking from. I then let it cool and added Antifreeze which allowed me to be able to make it home (battery never died).

I am really new to these vehicles, but i suspect that a hose has blow or something similar, But im puzzled to why the power steering and battery light would come on... My best guest tells me that maybe the Serpentine Belt had gotten wet from the leak which caused the Belt to slip which in turn caused the Battery and Power Steering to malfunction.

A major Range issue is the last thing i need in my life right now.
 
#14 ·
Same thing happened to me last night. 2001 discovery 2. It began with dimming of headlights and battery light coming on. It was scary because it was dark cold and windy and I was on the interstate with lots of headlight behind me. Because of the dimming of the headlights I had trouble seeing the road. I looked for a place to pull over but there was only a very narrow shoulder or guardrail. Unable to find a safe place to pull over I had to keep driving to find a place. I was terrified I would break down in traffic. And it was very dark. I finally found a weigh station. Good thing I didn’t hit the barrels because it was closed down. Upon pulling over noticed the temp gauge was on high. Shut off the engine and noticed leaking of fluid near the coolant reservoir. The tank looked empty. It was good 2 hours earlier. When the tow guy came I was able to start car to move it but ps was out. It’s in the shop now. After reading this forum it must be the serpentine belt either slipping or broke. Seized water pump? We shall see. I’m lucky to be alive. I’m not sure how far you can drive with no alternator. It was very scary.
 
#15 ·
Coolant leak, Battery light and power steering failure All At Once

Hello, I really need you guys help...

I have a 03 HSE that i have had for only about 6 months. Two days ago i left the Range running at the gas station and while i spoke with someone, and when i returned to the car I noticed that the battery light was on and the temp gauge seemed to be climbing... At the time i thought the car had just turned off but then realized that it was still on.. I then turned the car off and back on and everything immediately went back to normal, even the Temp......

Fast forward to yesterday, No running issues but i did smell what seemed like Antifreeze for about 30 seconds or so (i would say this happened maybe 3 times), I did check the temp gauge whenever i smelled antifreeze but there was no sign of overheating... so as a result I kind of blew it off as possibly being some other vehicle that i may have been catching fumes from.

Then tonight, As I was just about to pull into a driveway when i felt the power steering get very stiff, I then noticed that the Battery light was on and the engine was starting to overheat... I checked for any kind of fluid leak coming from under the truck (nothing), but i could clearly smell the antifreeze when i opened the hood.. I just couldnt see where it was coming from, and sense there was no leak from the bottom i couldnt tell what really was going on... I then let it cool off for maybe a half hour and still didnt notice any leak...

I then started the Range and noticed that the battery light and power steering was still failing.. So I thought id take it around the block before i called a tow truck just to see if it would correct itself like at the gas station... I then got maybe one block before the power steering came back to normal and the battery light when out (they seem to fail or work together).

Then after about a mile,.... you guested it... the Range started smoking from under the hood and i could clearly tell it was that antifreeze on the engine type of smoke. I then pulled over and noticed that it had finally sprung a leak, but I still couldnt tell exactly where it was leaking from, If i had to guess i would say the lower passenger side of the vehicle sense that is where the flow seemed to be leaking from. I then let it cool and added Antifreeze which allowed me to be able to make it home (battery never died).

I am really new to these vehicles, but i suspect that a hose has blow or something similar, But im puzzled to why the power steering and battery light would come on... My best guest tells me that maybe the Serpentine Belt had gotten wet from the leak which caused the Belt to slip which in turn caused the Battery and Power Steering to malfunction.

A major Range issue is the last thing i need in my life right now.
YUP if you are not a DIY guy take it to a shop asap... the loss of coolant is bad news to your alternator which is liquid cooled , your trnsmission ,also liquid cooled and your engine... if you keep driving it you will have all three fail catastrophically due to overheating thus killing your car in one ell swoop.