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engine won't start after power steering fire


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clappec
New User

Jan 19, 2012, 8:14 PM

Post #1 of 2 (1561 views)
engine won't start after power steering fire Sign In

we have a 2002 ford windstar 3.8l engine. at the end of oct. we experienced a power steering fluid leak while driving. the leak caused a fire under the hood. we immediately turned the van off and towed it to our mechanic. it sat for several weeks while checking to make sure there were no recall issues with ford that had not been addressed. after talking with our mechanic this week, we finally decided to replace the damaged parts with used ones from a junk yard- we do not have full coverage insurance and have only had the van since 6/2011. we had already replaced a computer part, battery and alternator. we do not want to put a ton of money into this thing. anyway, after they replaced the parts they felt needed to be addressed, they started it up and told us there was still a leak in another hose and it was sounding "funny" so they shut it off, replaced the hose and went to start it again but it will now do nothing. they checked the spark plugs and they were dry, he said the fan will not turn at all. they are saying that the engine is now frozen. I don't understand how it could start and now do nothing. he told us they can not do a compression test since it won't start at all. he said he could pull the oil pan and check gears. Could it really be the engine? is there something that they could be missing? any suggestions?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 19, 2012, 8:55 PM

Post #2 of 2 (1528 views)
Re: engine won't start after power steering fire Sign In

?? How bad a fire was it?

What's with the fan not turning meaning anything on a cold engine?

Pull oil pan and look for gears - I don't understand that one.

It shouldn't be seized if they had it running already unless that fan that won't turn is the electric fan for radiator and it was allowed to run unattended to very seriously overheat.

Mechanic should be trying to just turn crankshaft bolt by socket and large flex handle to see it the engine is in fact seized. Hard to say what fire did to what or how long. No real telling what was wrecked in the fire,

T







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