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Old Jul 4, 2005 | 11:05 PM
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big problem need help!

A few days ago my truck got a crack in the coolant tank and i replaced it and it was fine, but today all of a sudden the hand on the coolant temp started flickerin so i checked it and it was low again. i have no clue what the problem is? Also today it started actin like the starter was messin up i would turn the key and i would hear a big cank sound it it the starter or does it have somthin to do with the other?

thanks nick
 
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Old Jul 4, 2005 | 11:10 PM
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I'm not sure about the coolant tank but the big cank sounds like it could be your Air Conditioning compressor. It's normal for it to do that when you have the Air Conditioning in the ON position before starting. Try putting the AC in the OFF position and then start the motor and see if you hear it again.
 

Last edited by edub32; Jul 4, 2005 at 11:12 PM.
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Old Jul 4, 2005 | 11:15 PM
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it wouldnt start at all. it wouldnt even turn over
 
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Old Jul 4, 2005 | 11:22 PM
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Head gasket leaking coolant into the combustion chamber. Hydrolocking the engine and making the big "clank" sound when the engine refuses to turn over.
 
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Old Jul 4, 2005 | 11:25 PM
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It does not sound good, I think your engine might be hydrolocked(your lost coolant in a cylinder) can you put a breaker bar on the crank and turn the engine by hand? EDIT KWIK beat me to it
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 12:05 AM
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you might wanna pull the vc's and then pull glow plugs and see what's up!!! dont try to start it anymore. might burn starter up or do some other damage. if you tried to crank it then you should be able to find your problem cylinder really fast!!!
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 12:24 AM
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it is weird b/c it will start if i let it cool for a while? i was at a buddy of mines house and it wouldnt start so we took his truck and went fishin when we got back after 3 or four tries it fired right up. you think all it is a blown head gasket? how long will it take a mechanic to fix it?
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 12:55 AM
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Originally Posted by bldr018
it is weird b/c it will start if i let it cool for a while? i was at a buddy of mines house and it wouldnt start so we took his truck and went fishin when we got back after 3 or four tries it fired right up. you think all it is a blown head gasket? how long will it take a mechanic to fix it?
Did it crank over very sluggishly and then suddenly "free up" and go? Those are classic symptoms of borderline hydrolocking. Watch out for broken piston rings, crushed ring lands, bent connecting rods, all the expensive stuff.
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 01:24 AM
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sluggishly. what kind of money am i lookin at? should i take it to a dealer or a diesel mechanic?
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 01:26 AM
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also what do u think caused it to do this?
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 02:37 AM
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i wouldn't start this thing anymore!!!!!! you are asking for it. a blown head gasket gets my vote. are you still under 100k? if so take it to the dealer(tow it in) on their expense and let them blow it up not you. also your truck probably has pmr's which will go pretty easily. if over 100k and you can wrench i wouldn't pay a mechanic for this. it is gonna cost quite a bit i would think to pull the head. i think the going rate is something like $75 dollars an hour or so right kwik?
 

Last edited by 1997F-350; Jul 5, 2005 at 02:40 AM.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 02:41 AM
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Could it also be possible the little o rings in the oil cooler that run in conjunction with the engine coolant have leaked? Pull dipstick and look for mud oil?
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 02:47 AM
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or it could be oil from a bad injector o ring. any serious smoke or antifreeze coming out of exhaust? you can ask mr bass about a bad oring on an injector.
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 04:19 PM
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no there isnt anything comin out of the exhaust nor is it smoking terribly. there is some white smoke once i get it to fire after screwing with it for a while though.
 
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 04:51 PM
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does the smoke have a sweet smell to it --- maybe like antifreeze? If it were the oil cooler, you would find oil in the radiator. the oil has greater pressure than the water. You did state that you had to replace the overflow bottle ... perhaps before the gasket took the deep dive, you were experiencing compression pressure into the cooling system and that cracked the bottle.
 
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