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1990 Ford Festiva, 4 cylinder aluminum engine, missing fan

Sent to Car Experts October 22 09:19 PM

1990 Ford Festiva, 4 cylinder aluminum engine, missing fan belt and empty radiator. What needs to be repaired and/or tested?

Optional Information: 1990 Ford Festiva 4 cyl aluminum
Already Tried:
Took it in. They screwed it up.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $20
Answer
October 23 12:18 AM (2 hours and 59 minutes and 10 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

You need to replace the belt, fill it with coolant, then do a pressure test on the cooling system. There is a pump that attaches at the raditor cap for this purpose. If it holds 13 to 15 lb of pressure the coolant system should be okay. One must wonder where the coolant went? Since the belt is missing it would seem it ran hot and lost the coolant. If this is the case I would worry about a warped head and/or cracked block on an aluminum engine.

Hope this helps, if so please accept.



If more information is needed, please ask me.

Hope this helps, an accept would be appreciated.
Firsthogman
Love them Harley's
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Firsthogman -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 300 Car Accepts
40 years as a mechanic on all type equipment.
Info Request
October 23 4:19 PM (16 hours and 1 minute and 16 seconds later)
         
I agree with the first technician
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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2716 Car Accepts
ASE Mastertech with Adv level Engine performance cert.
Reply
October 23 4:24 PM (4 minutes and 38 seconds later)
         
Thank you. That's what I thought. The mechinic I took it to only replaced the fan belt and filled the radiator before saying it was 'fixed' and sending it back out. When we took it out, it ran fine for a day and then stopped running again so I took it back and they replaced the head gasket, but when I picked it up the second time, it was blowing smoke horribly. Now they tell me I need a new engine because the warped head (and resulting problems) blew the rings and the mechanic refuses to accept any responsibility for his complicity in the additional damage.

I appreciate your input.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 23 4:29 PM (5 minutes and 10 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Yes, he should have caught that head gasket the first time and might have saved the engine. It wasn't smoking then. He's probably going to say you didn't shut it off when it got too hot but you stand your ground.
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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2716 Car Accepts
ASE Mastertech with Adv level Engine performance cert.
Reply
October 23 7:40 PM (3 hours and 11 minutes and 2 seconds later)
         
Reply to Hammer Time's Post: Thank you. That's what I needed to hear.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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