Frozen Car

quietheart

Didn't use the car over the weekend and it wouldn't start this morning. Called the breakdown service out and at first thought it was the battery then said battery was fine but the car was frozen due to lack of antifreeze:o.....
How stupid, I know. It's recently been serviced and passed it's MOT so I assumed it would be fine.
They didn't think we could do anything until the weather improves but as that could be over a week I'm really concerned. DH has had to hire a car as he works a long way away. Such a waste of money.
Any genuine suggestions (ie non micky-taking ones!) that may help.
Thanks

Strider590

Well.... No anti-freeze would indicate it wasn't serviced properly (dealership per chance?).

It'll be hard to defrost/thaw without a garage to keep it in, but the ice may do serious damage to the engine if you don't defrost it right now.
Remember that ice expands and NOTHING man made, is strong enough to stop it.

The only alternative to a garage would be a very large car cover and a 2000w + heater placed under it, but it could take hours and I can't see that being overly effective if it's still -5 outside.

Once it's ok, you need to drain the coolant and refill it with the correct mix of water/AF.

It's all extremely simple, even a pencil pusher could do it.

Inactive

Contact the garage that serviced it last, and explain to them, assuming that you do not have an leaks in your cooling system.

Coolant is not checked during an MOT.

quietheart

So coolant should be checked at service then?
I'll get my husband to call them, they're never gonna accept responsiblity though are they.
So would a hairdryer be a waste of time then? Is it worth adding some antifreeze now? Or warm water hosepipe?
Nightmare.....

Flying-High_2

quietheart wrote: »

So would a hairdryer be a waste of time then?
Nightmare.....

Yeh I'm afraid so...

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

quietheart wrote: »

So coolant should be checked at service then?
I'll get my husband to call them, they're never gonna accept responsiblity though are they.
So would a hairdryer be a waste of time then? Is it worth adding some antifreeze now? Or warm water hosepipe?
Nightmare.....

I can guarantee that the garage will say "yes, we checked it and it was fine, are you sure you haven't been topping it up with water?"

Frozen water in an engine isn't good. Not the end of the world, but something to be very much avoided.

anotherbaldrick

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Frozen water in an engine isn't good. Not the end of the world, but something to be very much avoided.

It could be the end of the engine, as has been previously mentioned freezing water will split the head and the block. We are only a few days into the freeze and it may be that the engine has not totally frozen, but it will be soon if not got to the garage and thawed out..

But who says the engine is frozen ? how has this been determined ? have they taken the rad cap off and found solid ice ? The reason I ask is that a frozen cooling system will not normally cause the engine not to start. It usually starts but squealls as the fan belt slips against a frozen solid water pump or else after driving off the cooling system boils over.

mikey72

Might be ok, but what car is it?
When it didn't start, did it turn over, or was there nothing.
The water pump is driven by the cam belt, it's possible that if the pump is frozen, it won't turn, the starter may turn the crankshaft, and strip the cam belt.
Get the garage to trailer it away and defrost it and check it over if that's the case.
Don't try to turn it over again though.

Stigy

quietheart wrote: »

So coolant should be checked at service then?

Assuming it was either a full service or a major service, yes, all levels should have been checked. Garages usually check the strength of the anti-freeze, too, although this is often too much like hard work, so they merely top up the water level. Most large-ish garage chains have a service schedule set out. Alot of the time you can view these schedules online at their website.

Was there no water/anti-freeze in the header tank (resevoir)? Or was there just water and no anti-freeze?

Strider590

Do check whether the coolant is frozen or icing over, remove rad cap and poke a torch down it.

quietheart

Thanks for all the replies.
It's an 8 yr old Peug 206 1.6.
I don't know why the breakdown company didn't tow it away, they were incredibly busy (had to wait 3 hrs for call out) I wouldn't have thought leaving it on the road is gonna help matters. Maybe I should call them again.
When turning the ignition it judders and is noisy but doesn't continue.
Will have a look at the radiator etc and see if it's obviously frozen. Will update later.
Thanks everyone.