my car was over heating so i turned on the heater and i thought we'd make it to the gas station ,car shut off

Question

so i added water and waited a few hours . then tryed to start it and it wouldnt start so i kept turning the key and pumping the gas cause it sounded like it wanted to start and i got it started but it over heated right away..its a 97 dodge neon

Answer 1

Check your engine oil, if it has water or coolant in with the oil you probably have a blown head gasket or a cracked block both are costly!!!!

Answer 2

I would check a few things. Number one, make sure that your coolant / water mix are within manufacturers limits. Two, make sure that your radiator cap will hold pressure. From chemistry, the combination of the pressure and the addition of coolant will allow the boiling point of the water to be raised beyond the normal 212deg at normal atmospheric pressure.

Check to make sure that the radiator isn't blocked with bugs and road debris. Check to make sure that there aren't a multitude of fins missing either - all those fins increase the surface area of the radiator allowing the air passing it to better cool it.

Check to make sure that you don't have a blocked or collapsed radiator hose, both on the inlet and outlet.

This one may require some work, but you need to also check that the thermostat is operating properly. Chances are that if your water level is right, and the engine is at normal operating temperature, your thermostat is working if you have heat coming out of the interior vents.

On a 97 Neon, which is fuel injected, you shouldn't need to pump the gas to make it start. Injected cars don't call for this as older carbureted models did.

Lastly, let the thing cool completely. Extreme heat can do a lot of damage to all sorts of parts. It could really take a number of hours to have that engine come back down to a reasonable temperature.

Hope any of this helps. I've been in this situation before, and it's no fun.

Answer 3

just like john 1 said check to see if threes water in your oil first and if there is probably going to be a head gasket it takes a lot to crack a block not saying its not possible but i doubt if that happen if you waited a few hours before trying to started it again and it didn't start which by then that moter had plenty of time to cool down so first see if your head casket is blown by looking at your oil to see if theres water present and if thats not the problem check to see if your head is warp because heat will also do that to the heads to check that do a compression check and if that doesnt solve your problem then check the block and if turns out the block is cracked go down to a junk yard and tell them you want a short block which comes with everything below the heads which means you get the block the pistons and oil pan it run about $125.00 to $175.00 at least thats what it runs here in az

Answer 4

honestly not secure. An oven is meant to apply a impressive form of gas to warmth up, and then turns the gas off till it desires to warmth up back. in case you take advantage of it to warmth up a room, it in no way receives as a lot as temperature and merely retains burning gas, screwing up the over and also filling your room with carbon monoxide. Your city must have a nasty landlord type you are able to call, they are required to provide warmth very almost each and every the position. try calling the police non-emergency type in case you are able to not discover all and sundry else to call. Worse case, purchase a small heater that's made for indoor use. the price of the electric powered heater shall be decrease than each and each and every of the gas you'd be using with your killer oven besides.

Answer 5

first off unless you car is a 1971 gremlin turning the heat on will not help or keep a newer car from over heating. Sounds like you have a few problems. Definately sounds like you need to check your coolant level, and make sure your fan is kickin on when the engine gets hot. Second if your car doesn't want to start or turn over you might have dirty fuel injectors.

Answer 6

Have you ever changed the oil? When did you change it last time?
If you kept on driving with the engine overheated until it shut off by itself it is very possible that you damaged the engine badly. I hope it is not the case, I've never driven a Dodge Neon, I'm just guessing here.

Answer 7

Turning the heater on was a good idea, it draws the heat from your engine block, into the car. You might have a bad thermostat, or a problem with your radiator. Check those items first.

Answer 8

If you added cold water to a hot engine you probably cracked your block.

You also could have damaged the water pump or radiator, which would also make it overheat immediately.

Don't try to start it again until you get a mechanic to inspect the engine block.

Answer 9

First of all, never, ever add water to an overheated engine. On the year and make of car you have the block is most likely made of aluminum and will either warp or crack.

Answer 10

Sounds like a coolant leak or a bad water pump. I would have it checked by a mechanic. Oil could also be empty.