Strange 1998 Intrepid issue
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Strange 1998 Intrepid issue
This one stumped me: Last week I was driving my 1998 Intrepid in a highway construction zone (no shoulder, no place to pull over, stop the car and block hundreds of other cars). Suddenly, I heard a loud crunch then a constant grind from the engine compartment. I've heard water pumps go out before, and this was no different. The strange thing was how the car responded. I couldn't stop because of where I was and I knew the construction zone was finished in a mile or mile and a half so I decided to push it. As I continued, I noticed a significant loss of thrust. Also, if I let the RPM's drop too far, the oil light came on and the engine loped. When I finaly made it out of the construction zone and was turning to get out of the road, I couldn't prevent the RPM's from dropping and the engine died. And, after a couple hours of cooling, it wouldn't re-start.
The next morning the engine started and I allowed it to run a few moments with the now familiar sound of the ruined water pump. There were no visible signs of a blown head gasket that I was expecting. So, I assumed that the reason the car died the day before would have been extra drag on the serpentine belt from the water pump pulley, but when I pulled the belt, the pulley turned perfectly.
This brought up a couple of questions: Is there a sensor in the Intrepid's computer that forces the engine to shut down in over-heating conditions that resets whent he engine cools? Am I looking at another situation all together that needs to be addressed before I try to drive this car again when the water pump is replaced?
Any input?
The next morning the engine started and I allowed it to run a few moments with the now familiar sound of the ruined water pump. There were no visible signs of a blown head gasket that I was expecting. So, I assumed that the reason the car died the day before would have been extra drag on the serpentine belt from the water pump pulley, but when I pulled the belt, the pulley turned perfectly.
This brought up a couple of questions: Is there a sensor in the Intrepid's computer that forces the engine to shut down in over-heating conditions that resets whent he engine cools? Am I looking at another situation all together that needs to be addressed before I try to drive this car again when the water pump is replaced?
Any input?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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RE: Strange 1998 Intrepid issue
well...the water pump on a 98 intrepid with a 3.5 liter and (I believe) 3.3 liter engines is driven by the timing belt, so if you didnt get past the 2 belts in front of the timing belt houseing cover, you didnt get to the water pump...
the fact is...that no matter how easy you go on a car with a busted water pump..its going to overheat, and youre going to cook the oil. you might waht to invest in some dealership time, and a engine flush while your there
the fact is...that no matter how easy you go on a car with a busted water pump..its going to overheat, and youre going to cook the oil. you might waht to invest in some dealership time, and a engine flush while your there