Today when I was driving home about 20 miles away, my car had made a few thumping noises. Then I had no heat and my car was starting to get hot. My digital clock kept dimming, until I couldn't see it. I could not use my headlights, my charge kept falling until it was zero. Also, the steering wheel was very tight and hard to turn. Eventually, I made it on my street, turned on to my driveway, a beeping alarm went off and then a ticking.
Now I know I shouldn't have been driving that far with it that hot but I needed to get it closer to the garage I'm going to take it to. It also smelled like something was burning and it was smoking. ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT'S WRONG?
2007-12-09 10:27:16 · 5 answers · asked by ickythumpu 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Car is a 97 Taurus
2007-12-09 10:33:05 · update #1
The car starts right up now but I don't run it so I can make it to the mechanics. Everything is recharged for a short ride there. The steam was coming from where the water pump and belt are on passenger side.
2007-12-09 10:36:34 · update #2
The obvious cause is that you have a belt problem. It would be common to the cooling, charging and steering problems you mentioned because all are powered by the belts. (alternator, power steering pump, water pump and fan if not electric)
2007-12-09 10:35:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your fan belt came off. The fan belt on most new cars drives everything, the alternator (why your lights dimmed) the power steering (why it was hard to steer). So have it checked and I'm sure that's what your problem is.
2007-12-09 10:31:44 · answer #2 · answered by Iknowthisone 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's also possible that the bearing in your water pump totally let loose. If that happens, it will throw your belt and leak coolant quickly.
2007-12-09 11:53:43 · answer #3 · answered by Robert M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like you threw a accessory belt (thumping noise), hense why your car stopped circulating antifreeze to cool your car, your alt stopped charging your battery, and your powersteering stopped.
hope you didnt smoke your engine! you may have made a very costly mistake.
BTW, how are you going to get the car to the mechanics now? the battery is dead and it wont hold a charge to run to your shop.... sounds like a tow (which is prob what you shouldve done to begin with) to me
2007-12-09 10:30:49 · answer #4 · answered by Corey B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like belt broke
2007-12-10 07:27:17 · answer #5 · answered by oldschool69 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋