First some background - this is a 3.8 engine, 1995 Windstar with a
heavily diluted antifreeze (mostly water) in North Texas. This Windstar
3.8 engine already had the head gaskets replaced 45K miles ago.
One recent morning, with the temperature (an unusually cold for Texas)
26 degrees, I started the Windstar to warm it up before I took off to
work. Immediately the car started as usual but I could hear a loud
screeching like belts rubbing which within seconds was accompanied by a
ton of white smoke coming from the engine compartment. I popped the
hood to check but the smoke was too great to see anything - the
screeching/whining continued. Within a minute I heard a snap and the
engine seemed to relax as the white smoke started to dissipate. I shut
off the engine anticipating that I had just snapped the serpentine
belt. Sure enough the belt had shredded and melted the idler pulley.
Later during the day, with the temperature in the 40s, a closer
inspection revealed a small amount of the belt material on the water
pump pulley with signs of friction on the pulley as well - at this
time, the water pump pulley turned freely. It doesn't take a seasoned
mechanic to hypothesize that the water pump has siezed probably due to
ice overnight which caused the whole belt shredding fiasco. All other
pulleys turned relatively freely.
I went to the parts place, got a new belt and idler pulley and
installed. The starter turns but now the engine will not turnover. I
inspected under the engine for and signs of antifreeze/water leakage as
well as out of the tailpipe as I continued to try to turn the engine
over - no signs of antifreeze or water leakage. The Windstar serpentine
belt drives the alternator, power steering pump, A/C and water pump so
I do not see any connection to the timing belt which could cause a no
turnover. Any ideas?
PC
phaeton - 03 Dec 2006 21:04 GMT
> The starter turns but now the engine will not turnover.
Just to be specific-
When you turn the key, you hear the starter turn, but the engine itself
does not turn? I.e., does it sound as if the starter is not engaging?
Or
The starter turns, the enginer cranks, but it doesn't fire?
-ph
sdlomi2 - 04 Dec 2006 00:28 GMT
> First some background - this is a 3.8 engine, 1995 Windstar with a
> heavily diluted antifreeze (mostly water) in North Texas. This Windstar
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> PC
Looks like surest thing now is remove the belt & determine what is
locked up & if engine will then spin. Feel sure anyone would know where to
go then. HTH, s
Steve W. - 04 Dec 2006 20:43 GMT
> First some background - this is a 3.8 engine, 1995 Windstar with a
> heavily diluted antifreeze (mostly water) in North Texas. This Windstar
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> PC
Pull the plugs and see if you have a cylinder full of water. Freezing
water creates a lot of pressure. Could have done major damage to the
head or block.

Signature
Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York