Could my day get any worse???????

[lorenambrose]

Driving down the road, zipping along about 65-70 on my way to work my day was about to take a turn for the worse. It was mildly foggy and just after dawn. I crested a hill and the lil ranger started clanking and loosing power. I pulled of at an off ramp and the truck just died. As I slowed down I then noticed the plume of steam from under the hood. I coasted in to a parking spot and lifted the hood. To my utter dismay the upper radiator hose had just come off the thermostat housing. There was no clamp to be found anywhere. All the coolant was left out on the highway. After a cool down I filled the coolant up and attached a clamp and finally got her started. The engine would not idle at all. It chugged and puked and I now began to notice oil in the tail pipe. I was able to drive it to the dealer. It drove fine at highway speed, it just would not idle at all. I never got a warning light or high temp before it cut loose. Probably because there was no coolant to get hot. So now she sits at the dealership. I hope that it can be fixed. Then agian, it is under warranty so if the engine is torched I get a brand new one.

Here is the kicker. The dealership just serviced the cooling system 4 months ago.

Needless to say, I AM BUMMED.

 

[7.5L_STX]

what a buzzkill.

 

[lorenambrose]

what a buzzkill.

double kicker...................It only had 52000 miles on it.

 

[Beef52751]

your day could get worse, you said the trucks still got a warranty, alot of other people would be SOL if that happened to them. Still sucks though

 

[driverx]

Considering that they had just serviced the cooling system, and considering the oil in the tailpipe I think you should insist on the new engine--or they've seriously got some 'splainin to do.

I recently had a similar experience--but I'm a long ways out of warrenty. I lost the lower hose, and as you said, without coolant, the temp gauge doesn't exactly work right. Fortunately, I think I got through it without any permanent damage... keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[oldfordman]

Sounds like the tech was in a hurry and either didn't tighten or properly position the clamp so the hose walked off after a bunch of cold/hot cycles. I'm disapointed in most dealers, techs get paid by the job, so there is major incentive for them to do a quick job instead of a correct job. Be prepared for a fight with the dealer, after 4 months they are going to claim it was not their fault. Like the quick lube places claiming the oil filter falling off didn't fry the engine, it was the driver that didn't watch the fluid level. I agree with driverX, unfortunately it sounds like the engine has major damage.

 

[lorenambrose]

Well I got some news from the dealership today. It may not be as bad as I thought. The mechanic says so far it looks like it will be head gaskets. He said the heads were not warped or cracked and the cylinder walls look great. If this holds up, I really lucked out. It looks like the dealership is going to pick up the whole tab. FINGERS CROSSED.

 

[96Greenster]

Well I got some news from the dealership today. It may not be as bad as I thought. The mechanic says so far it looks like it will be head gaskets. He said the heads were not warped or cracked and the cylinder walls look great. If this holds up, I really lucked out. It looks like the dealership is going to pick up the whole tab. FINGERS CROSSED.

KNOCK ON WOOD....

Good Luck man.

 

[wvfarmboy]

sounds like you have good dealer

 

[lorenambrose]

Well just a little update. Th heasd arrived back at the dealer from the machine shop. They were cleaned, inspected for cracks. None found. The shop machined them and had to replace 2 or 3 valves. The dealer said they will begin assembling them this afternoon. So, I may have her back tomorrow afternoon. FINGERS CROSSED. The dealer also removed the water pump and inspected everything there.

 

[lorenambrose]

The Dealer just called and said the truck was done. So I am off this afternoon to pick it up. Here's to hoping that everything turns out well.

 

[lorenambrose]

YAAAAHHHH. I got it back this afternoon. It does run real good. I am ecstatic to have the Ranger in the driveway again. Heads worked at the machine shop, all new gaskets, a few new valves, new coolant, oil and filter.