Alright guys, so I pulled up to my buddy's house today and I started seeing smoke coming from the front of the car. I got out, and the bottom coolant hose was disconnected from the radiator and pouring out hot coolant everywhere.

I reconnected the hose and started driving home, looked down at my temp gauge and I was already overheating not even a mile down the road. I pulled over, took off my coolant reservoir cap and oil cap and smoke was coming from both orifices. Coolant was bubbling in the reservoir as well.

Checked the oil also, looked like it's low.

Anyone have ANY ideas what I should do before I start throwing money for parts? I'm guessing I should grab a quart of oil or two and throw em in of course but asides from that I was wondering if anyone knew these symptoms.

It's a 2000 Max SE with 199k on it also.

Thanks alot guys
-Spence'

 

First thing to do is fill the radiator and burp it properly. Then go from there.

Any idea why the lower hose came off?

 

When u reconnected the hose I assume you refilled with 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water, yes?

If not, refill. If u did not, then the little liquid in there remains hot since there aon't enough to cool the engine.

 

Like those above said, first refill the oil and coolant (50/50 mix). Then go from there. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

Also let us know how the engine sounds. If your engine was smoking (and not steaming) that's generally not a good sign. Like others have said your going to have to purge the system of air, via "burping" with the radiator cap off (theres a post on how to do it on the forums here).

 

+1 to both. When you refil, pour it in the rqdiqtor until it is full, keep the cap off and stqrt car. Let car run with heat on high, cap off radiator for about 30 minutes. you should see the coolant burp air out. After 30 minutes, put radiator cap back on and go for a test drive. Do all of this with the front of the car up In the air, like on jack stands which will help get the air out. Once you do this, report back.

 

Please say you refilled your radiator with at least water before you drove it again. When you checked the oil, what did it look like in terms of color and texture?

 

Awesome responses, I got underneath the car and noticed the retaining clip holding the lower hose on was not in the correct position to hold it on the radiator.

Fixed that, completely flushed out the system and refilled radiator. Had the car running for about 20 minutes and no overheating. About to take it on a test drive down the street and see how she holds up.

 

You burped the coolant like I described, yes?