[Rotorman]

Originally Posted by Fordina

We have a '98, 3.8 Windstar. We replaced the battery within the last year. Today, husband was out and about and van worked fine. Came to an errand stop-off, turned the engine off for 5 minutes, came back and battery was dead. Got it jumped, drove it home, tried to restart it, battery again dead. Got it jumped at the neighbors, 10 minutes later would start up again on its own accord after being off for those 10 minutes. Now husband is under the hood and says coolant level seems low in the radiator and engine seems abnormally hot (but not showing anything on the dashboard as far as being too hot when he had the engine on previously). Doesn't seem normal, but we're not professionals. Any thoughts? He really needs to get to work tomorrow in this thing! If the engine is too hot, will that cause the battery to go flat or the car not to start or what's the deal here? HELP!!

Hello fordina, It sounds like the alternator. If your husband is mechaniclly inclind have him remove the alternator an take it to autozone or AdvanceAuto for a free test. D'ont jumpstart any more you can do a lot more damage. While youre there check the battery also. Good luck