No Coolant and now I think Ive gotta scrap my baby.

[mafadecay]

Hi Guys, I got a pretty big problem and I do not know where to post my question so here goes.

I got not one but 2 MX3's. Both red V6. My first needed too much work for the MOT Test. I needed new sills, new discs and pads (Mostly on here you call them rotors) and an ABS sensor. Total work was gonna cost me £1000 so I got a 2nd car and swapped my exhaust and other bits for £800. My 1st was I think 1991 Pre cat but 2nd is 1992 and has a cat. I hate cats of all descriptions! I figured I would keep them both and use the 1st one for spares.

Basically 2-3 weeks ago It got down to -7 Degrees (I live in Wales in the UK) I started my car and only ran for about 10 seconds before the power steering belt squeeled like a pig and split then steam flooded out my engine bay. My belt squeeled previously when on lock to the left but only slight. I knew I would need to replace this sooner or later but worse I discovered I had a very weak mix of coolant (I never drained it only topped up with half a litre thinking the mix was good to start with) The previous owner must only have used water. My whole system was a block of ice.

My radiator bottom hose popped off and when defrosted emptied the rad. Careful inspection and this went back on with no leaks. 4 days later the block defrosted and drained. I started to try and bleed the coolant system like the manual says. I could not get the fan to kick in and my temp guage was norm but the water was boiling and filling my expansion tank and emptying out the overflow or breather pipe on the bottle. I thought all air was out but dont think it is. I was simply gonna wire the fan to a switch that I could flip from inside car when I had stated which would cool the rad.

I was showing a friend and he noticed steam coming from the top end of the rad filler neck. I checked the hose here and cleaned up all fitment and replaced filler cap and the black plastic part the filler cap screws onto and fitted new clamps. All seemed pretty air tight. I tried to bleed again but there was no compression when cap off and and sam ething was happening. Also when the choke drops the revs they idle really wierd. Like high revs for 3 seconds then low for 3 seconds which keeps happening. I figure this is steam in one of my sensors. Basically I think I have cracked my block as there is still steam escaping from under the filler neck looks like coming from deep in engine from the metal part not the hoses or pipes. The more I rev the more it steams.

Any Ideas?

I forgot to mention my other MX3 with serious body probs but engine is fine. Ideally I think an engine swap would do the job a treat but I dont think I can do it and I don't have lifting gear. Can't afford a mechanic to do the swap although I quite fancy the 2.5 litre engine but can not afford. Am I screwed? Is there anything else I can do to save my baby. Can I bleed the system another way and maybe the steam will stop when no air in there and the fan starts working again. Basically if this one is dead I cant get another as this is already my second and the missus hated me getting it in the first place. She is saying scrap them both or atleast sell for spares. I cant bare to do it. The car is impractical for our family but I love it and the drivability is ace when working.

Please help me keep my MX3. Does it sound as bad as I think? I can even live without power stearing for a while I can fix this at a later date.

PLEASE HELP!

[WRENCHRASH]

Hi mate have you got any further with sorting your MX3 out?
You should hire a engine hoist/lifter for a weekend from HSS tool hire £45 and take the engine out of your scrap MOT failure.
Get a mate to help you and you should get it done over a weekend.
Remove the bumper, front panel and radiator from the cars, this will make it much easier to remove the engine and gearbox in one go and getting to all the bolts.
You can then split engine from gearbox when its out of the car and use the best condition clutch from the two units.
All information on removing the engine is in the online workshop manual that is found on the home page of this MX-3.com site.
Sell all parts from scrap car on ebay to get some cash to help you get the good car back on the road.
Keep us all informed on what you do with them.

[tehbrookzorz]

Did you put a belt back on the water pump? Did it spin freely? It sounds like the bearings seized in it and its not working, but I could be very wrong.