I am 90% sure I blew my engine yesterday on the highway. The starter cranks but the engine doesn't turn over-- and I noticed my alternator belt is gone (which I assume also drove the water pump).

I am evaluating options right now but assume the best path would be to have the engine swapped. Any advice is appreciated. Specifically, 1) Is this the best option, 2) Where can I get a good replacement engine? 3) Does anybody know good shops for this work in the Western MA area?

 

was there oil leakin all over the place?

 

Are you sure the water pump is driven by the same belt? Also, did you actually overheat the engine? If not, your engine should be fine... I'd definitely replace the belt, but without an overheat or as mentioned, oil going everywhere, the engine should be ok.

 

water pump and alt are same belt and ps and AC are same belt.


What were you doing when the engine died?

 

I was driving on the highway-- idiotic I know, but I thought I had a bad plug, which had happened before. I either did not notice the temp gauge or the reading was okay. No oil leaked, but my coolant reservoir definitely overflowed, and the engine won't turn over any more.

I am certain I drove quite a while with no water pump. Very bad.

 

almost sounds like that one thread of when the guys coolent came out his muffeler...

id try and get those belts on and see what it does..
if you already did, well......

 

soubnds like you lost the water pump, car overheated and blew the headgasket...coolant seeped into the combustion chamber and hydrolocked the motor.... sorry man.

 

LOL! That's possible?

 

sure is...it gets in the combustion chamber, spark can't ignite it, it goes into exhaust and out the tail pipe...

ever see a car with white smoke puring out the tailpipe and it stinks to high heaven?? thats a blown headgasket!

 

Yeah I've seen a few of those and I just thought that they were smokin' badly. I never knew that it was a blown headgasket. Then again, I don't know much about cars.

What kinda of damage can that cause to the car?

 

most likely the engine will rust enternally

 

Take the cylinder head off. Turn the crankshaft bolt and see if the engine block below shows the pistons moving up and down fine and no signs of the piston bore walls being damaged. If the lower block looks ok then take the cylinder head to a head rebuilding shop(called a machine shop) with a head gasket kit you buy at the auto parts store. They will check if it's warped. If it is they will shave/brush down the head until the curve the heat caused is flat again. That curve allows the compression to escape that doesn't let the car run. They will repair/replace any bad parts on the head. You then take it back home and re-install it. You will save a crapload of money by removing the cylinder head yourself. Just buy a Haynes manual. That's how I did it and have done the job about 4 or 5 times since. It's not rocket science. I would replace the timing belt with a new one while you're at it. The cylinder head repair is usually under $100 if you live in a big city and shop around. Obviously you will be buying a new water pump too just in case.