Had a nightmare ride tonight from hell.

Last week, I had both the belt tensioner and belt pulley changed.

So here I am driving home on the turnpike from an appointment, and I hear a "tick tick" as is I ran over asphalt.
Next thing I know, I'm doing 70mph without a serpentine belt, a red-lined temp gauge, and then restricted mode. I had no place to stop.
It started snowing, and my phone was almost dead..
At that point, I decided to absorb my losses and keep going until it dies and blows up.

15 miles with a pinned temp gauge, I make it front of my home, and the little hose coming from the reservoir to the thermostat blows, and steam all over the place.
I shut down and call it a night.

I go back to inspect, and I see a shredded belt, and a melted hose.

 

Ouch!!!! Hopefully it's not that bad once inspected

 

Wondering how a new tensioner and pulley a week ago, could result in this?

Somebody messed up something

 

certainly seems like someone messed it up - I'd definitely be taking it up with the shop.

 

15 miles with no serpentine belt! That is bold of you.
Hopefully the ECU figured out how to get you home safely without greanading the motor.
I'd speak to the shop who changed the belt tensioner and belt pulley "last week" -- sounds like they forgot to tighten something up!
Wish you good luck!

 

I'm sick to my stomach, but ready to cut my losses as a bad experience.

 

Ouch, really sorry to hear that, you must be really upset, and I would be very angry. But hey ho, anger get's nowhere and at the end of the day you really want the car back running. When that's happened to me, I would shut the engine down to idle at 70mph and give it a little cool air to help the temp drop. But 15 miles, I would worry about the valve seats dropping out. Question is will it crank? If it's seized we use to drop hot oil down the plug and that would free it, but that's a long time ago.

 

It's likely the nikasil liners are damaged.

 

After a restless night, I decided to try to start the car at the crack of dawn.

It did start and did idle smooth. I didn't hear knocks or clangs.

Check engine light, and the obvious low coolant, battery not charging warning.

I'll pull a code, call a tow truck today and have it towed.

Not sure if this car can survive last night's ordeal.
if it's extensive, as I mentioned... it's time to move on.

What are some of the things that could have been damaged as a result of running so hot for so long?
How would I know besides the obvious?

 

Anthony,
Sorry to hear the bad news.

On the plus side, where there's steam there's water so it hadn't completely boiled dry, the 70 mph running wil have helped to keep things cooler, and the apparently OK idle.

Don't want to paint too rosy a picture as overheating is never good - particularly with aluminium motors. It may have warped head(s) dropped valve seats and the Nikasil may have suffered as RJ said.

For now you'll obviously need to replace the coolant & hose and rectify the shredded belt together with whatever caused the problem in the first place.

I imagine that a compression test will be next, but others will offer better guidance.

Good fortune in what you find. I have my fingers crossed for you.

Mike

 

Just pulled codes.
Only PO118 engine coolant

With regard to the above, how would I know if heads warped, or dropped valve seats and Nikasil damage?
Any obvious signs?
I ask because I'm concerned the mechanic that fixed my tensioner last week, will probably take the high road, change the belt and send me home feeling happy that my car is running.

 

I think a compression test will expose any of those.

Sounds as if you're not sure about the guy who did the previous work. I'd certainly want to know what caused this as a priority.

Is there someone you can trust who wil give you an independent opinion?

Mike

 

Do a compression test. Hook and obd scanner up and get a proper reading of the temperature of the coolant. If it's running above 220 and climbing I'd say something is wrong. My car usually runs at 198 200 it will get to 210 215 in the summer time here in FL where temperatures climb to in the high 90's and low 100's some days. I know exactly what my coolant temperature is with my scanner my fuel trims and many other useful readings from various sensors. You can use the scanner on any car so to me it was well worth the investment. I think it was around 250 but I'm sure you could find one much cheaper online. You could also do a blow by test. If there is air blowing out of the oil cap on the valve cover you're losing compression somewhere. Hope your jag is well. I know the feeling of shredding belts mine is squeaking like crazy and has been since winter started. It stops after about 20 minutes but I put a tiny spray of water on the pulley sides of the belt (don't know the correct term haven't finish my coffee) and the squeaking stopped but long story short I had a belt break and take out the tensioner but fortunately I was very close to home and it wasn't too hot. Im sick of this squeaking though people give me looks because they can hear it when I drive. :/

 

Decided to have the car towed to a different shop
The guy works exclusively on exotic cars. He knows the jags very well.
Would probably cost me double money for repairs, but he comes highly recommended

Calls himself the 12 volt doctor here in Staten Island, ny

 

Anthony,
Once you have the damaged parts replaced and the coolant replaced you'll be able to assess where things are.

Please let us know how it goes. That car of yours is just too dam' nice to be anywhere other than on the road.


Good luck,
Mike

 

Just got a call from the shop owner that repaired the belt tensioner and pulley. He's willing to provide a free tow to his shop, and tells me that his work was warranted and any damage related to the failure of his work performed would be covered as well. He offered to access the damage and put in a claim if necessary.
The company is a franchise chain and may have certain provisions for such incidents.

I politely told him that he better have an extra 5K laying around for a new engine if needed.
Already spoke to my attorney about suing him if I have to.

 

You may have a problem if the attorneys get involved. Once you made the decision to keep driving you left them an out.

 

On our way

 

Sounds like the shop is trying to do the right thing. I would leave the lawyers out of it for now.

 

Of course
I agree
I'm just pissed as hell right now