Last night I was driving on a two lane highway when the temp gauge started climbing on my 2000 neon. I pulled over and luckily we had someone following us to where we were going and they took my family the rest of the way. I stayed with the car until it was cool enough to finish my 4 miles that I had left to go.

The back of the car was wet so I thought I had a leak in a hose and this morning I bought two new hoses and installed them. The fluid must have been from the overflow when the engine gets too hot?

Not the issue. I don't think I have any coolant moving in my car and I did not have any noises from the water pump.

Anyone have an idea? Can the water pump just puke without warning? And yes the belt is still on it. I don't remember if the fans kicked on, I will pay attention to that today when I look at it.

Thanks,

Len

 

I don't know if it will help, but did you check and make sure all your caps were sealed up real tight, and from my experience with past cars, yes, water pumps can die real quick.

 

Chances are if the car is still running it's probably your thermostat. When the water pump goes it'll use cause a lot of internal damage to the engine since the water pump failing has the same affect as your timing belt breaking.

I'd replace the thermostat if I were you. It almost sounds like it's not opening.

 

hmm, ever wanna look at yourself in a mirror and say idiot, I totally forget about the thermostat. Oh well, I been up way to long.

 

I shut it down before it got to the "H" on the gauge so I would hope the engine is OK. I'll pick up a thermostat in the morning and try that. Thanks.

 

good $10 try. if not you did try. Thermostat=$10, Motor=alot more, Praying to god it was the thermostat=$PRICELESS. LOL Good luck.

 

I thought I would share what resolved the problem. Freeze plug. A $6.85 part that cost $70 to install.

I have 35,000 miles on the engine and it happened to me. Hope this helps someone.

 

ouch that sux.

 

Dude you got raped on that frost plug, You shouldn't have had to pay much more the $1.50. But replacing them can be a real bitch.

 

Getting raped for $5.15 isn't that bad. And with labor rates at like $50 an hour thats not that bad wither, I would have done it myself, but some people don't know how.