1996 Escort Problem Head Gasket/ Water Pump??

[panzees36]

I have a 1996 Ford Escort Wagon with 91K. Bought it several years ago with 47K. My son was driving today when he noticed a smell like something burning. He noticed what he called a clear smoke coming from the exhaust. As he pulled off the main road to a side road the car cut off and will not start. I checked the oil and it looked good. The antifreeze level was good also and I did not see anything leaking. He said that he didn't see any warning lights and that nothing was coming from under the hood. I just had the timing belt replaced in December. I had it towed to a repair shop but of course won't be able to find out anything until tomorrow. I was hoping someone could maybe tell me what might be the problem. Does it sound like something major?

[panzees36]

I forgot to add that the engine does turn over but that's it.

[Davescort97]

That white smoke coming out of the tailpipe is steam. Either the head is cracked or the head gasket is blown. Semi-major. Several hundred dollars.

[denisond3]

I will be interested to learn what it was. Its usually hard to tell if the white plume behind a car is coming from the exhaust, or just from under the car - unless someone outside the car saw it. The burning smell could be a number of things - rubber parts, oil on the exhaust manifold, etc. And if the oil looks good and there is coolant in the system, there would need to be some other reason for the engine not starting. If the air conditioner had freon in it, and popped a hose that drooped onto to the cat. converter, you would smell that; and the escaping freon would provide a nice cloud of moisture behind a moving car.
After an underhood inspection, I would start with a compression check, then a pressure check of the cooling system, and cranking the engine over before the plugs were put back in (in case pressurizing the cooling system put coolant into the combustion chambers). Its more trouble to get to the water pump and see if its still turning with the timing belt, and its pulley isnt wobbling (from a broken shaft or siezed bearing).
I hope we get feedback on this mystery...

[panzees36]

Well, here is the update so far. The mechanic called me this afternoon and told me that the timing belt was broken. He said that he isn't sure why it happened yet as I just had it replaced 8 months ago. Tomorrow he is going to check and see if the water pump may have failed or if a belt tensioner went bad and caused it. Something definitely went on besides the timing belt breaking. The white smoke happened first and then the car cut off. There had been an occasional rattling noise coming from under the hood but I hadn't had it checked out yet. Anyway, I guess I'll find out more tomorrow. I'll post back tomorrow with all the info.

[panzees36]

Well, my car is fixed. Turns out the tensioner locked up the timing belt kept spinning and broke. That was the smell my son said smelled like burning tires. The water pump quit working at the same time so that was the white smoke.
Anyway it's now fixed.

[Rickottman]

wow this is very intresting on my car i can smell somthing i think my antifreeze is boiling (after i drive in the city for a while) i think my water pump is shot because i replaced the thermostat and radiator

[mightymoose_22]

That is easy enough to check. Start the engine and feel for pressure at the upper radiator hose. If the thermostat is closed you shouldn't feel much, so let it warm up if cold. When it is warm and the thermostat is open the hose should be firm if the water pump is working.

[denisond3]

rickottman: I would do a pressure check of the cooling system, then do a compression check on the engine. We have a 92 Escort, and could smell antifreeze slightly under the hood for several months; though it hardly used any coolant from week to week. It was a head gasket leaking slightly - due to a broken head bolt. After it finally blew out, I rebuilt the engine. I also replaced the water pump. It had seemed to work fine, but when I was able to look at the weep hole in the bottom of the pump, it it was clear it had been seeping for a long time.

[Davescort97]

I've never heard of a water pump failing to "pump". As they wear out the seal will start to leak. As long as the impeller is moving it has to pump coolant. If it was so worn out that it wouldn't pump you would have lost all of your anti-freeze long before this happened.

[Rickottman]

i replaced the pump and sure enough the impeller was not the way it was supposed to be (very loose and not rotating right like the shaft was bent) but i replaced it and now my engine doesnt over heat but i still smell somthing like its burning would my head gasket be blown?

[Davescort97]

Check all the belts to see if one of the pullies like the tensioner and the idler pullies. The belts could be slipping which would cause them to heat up and smell like burning rubber. I'm afraid to give you any advice. I was wrong about the water pump. After you shut it off reach down there underneath the alternator and feel if the belt is hot to touch. Could be the headgasket, but that would smell like burnig oil instead of rubber.