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help car engine may be frozen
I am hoping someone can help me as am having a nightmare of a day
DS bought a 53 plate peugeot 206 a few months ago, all has been good so far until yesterday.
We drove the car on Sunday and all was fine, however I now think the engine might be frozen. DS went out to start car on Wednesday night and it wouldnt start, it isnt the battery as radio etc works.
His dad had a look at it yesterday and says it didnt have much water in it and he doesnt know if it has antifreeze in it as pipes look frozen to him.
A blowy heater has been under the car all day as no snow here although it is bleeching down now. Engine is now wrapped in a duvet overnight.
Antifreeze is in car now and is draining away and the pipes seem to be defrosted.
However I am now frightened to start the care in case it doesnt start or I cause more damge.
Please can anyone advise what to do and if there is damage what it is likely to be, and cost if possible.
I am trying to keep calm but am worried sick, assumed car would have anti freeze in which I now know is stupid
thanks
DS bought a 53 plate peugeot 206 a few months ago, all has been good so far until yesterday.
We drove the car on Sunday and all was fine, however I now think the engine might be frozen. DS went out to start car on Wednesday night and it wouldnt start, it isnt the battery as radio etc works.
His dad had a look at it yesterday and says it didnt have much water in it and he doesnt know if it has antifreeze in it as pipes look frozen to him.
A blowy heater has been under the car all day as no snow here although it is bleeching down now. Engine is now wrapped in a duvet overnight.
Antifreeze is in car now and is draining away and the pipes seem to be defrosted.
However I am now frightened to start the care in case it doesnt start or I cause more damge.
Please can anyone advise what to do and if there is damage what it is likely to be, and cost if possible.
I am trying to keep calm but am worried sick, assumed car would have anti freeze in which I now know is stupid
thanks
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Comments
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I am hoping someone can help me as am having a nightmare of a day
DS bought a 53 plate peugeot 206 a few months ago, all has been good so far until yesterday.
We drove the car on Sunday and all was fine, however I now think the engine might be frozen. DS went out to start car on Wednesday night and it wouldnt start, it isnt the battery as radio etc works.
His dad had a look at it yesterday and says it didnt have much water in it and he doesnt know if it has antifreeze in it as pipes look frozen to him.
A blowy heater has been under the car all day as no snow here although it is bleeching down now. Engine is now wrapped in a duvet overnight.
Antifreeze is in car now and is draining away and the pipes seem to be defrosted.
However I am now frightened to start the care in case it doesnt start or I cause more damge.
Please can anyone advise what to do and if there is damage what it is likely to be, and cost if possible.
I am trying to keep calm but am worried sick, assumed car would have anti freeze in which I now know is stupid
thanks
Unless where you live has been at around -10 this week, i'd be very surprised if the engine was frozen.
Did you look at the water in the expansion tank? Is it frozen?0 -
stick it in 1st gear(engine off,handbrake off)
get someone to help rock the car forward to see if the engine turns
or hand turn it with a spanner if tools are available
if it turns fine. fire it up
when you say wouldn't start. in hat way?
turning over,not turning over?
the radio working doesnt mean the battery is fine
it takes a lot more grunt to start a car than run a radio0 -
i think it has been down to -7 this week but that was by our other car thermometer and dont know how accurate that was as other people said it was -4.
Thanks for your replies, car is on the drive so when snow melts in next few days we will push it off drive and try to start it as advised by custardy.
I have been worried that it is some massive damage that will cost a fortune0 -
Did you try gently tapping the solenoid on the starter?0
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DS went out to start car on Wednesday night and it wouldnt start, it isnt the battery as radio etc works.
Could still be the battery. The battery could have enough power to run lights/radio but not enough to turn the starter motor.
A friend and our next door neighbour have both had car batteries die this week.0 -
no, oh suggested tapping the starter but said as drive is on a downward slant that he cant get to it. I think he is going to try this when he has pushed it on to the road at the same time as trying custardy's suggestion0
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If the pipes are frozen (and they are usually the first bit to freeze) then they will feel like they will feel like a bag of rice if you give them a squeeze (the runner ones obviously, not the metal ones).
If you really think it's frozen, don't try to start it until you are sure its thawed. You won't manage to get antifreeze into everywhere if it's frozen.
Even if it is properly frozen, as long as it hasn't been run you'll most likely get away with it in my experience. Watch out for leaks (and water loss with no sign of an external leak) once you do get it running, if you are unlucky you might pop out a core plug (a plug put in after the engine block is cast, made of thin metal), but they are easy enough to replace if you can get to them.
Too late now maybe, but NEVER run a car without antifreeze, even in midsummer. It does more than just prevent freezing, it also improves engine cooling and prevents corrosion.0 -
i automatically assumed a car would have antifreeze in it already, I now know that is stupid and wont make the mistake again
We bought it from a garage it had just had an MOT etc so assumed that antifreeze would be there - not make that mistake again.
OH has put anitfreeze in today and it is draining away so think that at least it has some in now and the engine is insulated so shouldnt freeze tonight0 -
Dont try starting it until you have checked the coolant to see if its frozen. If its frozen you can wreck the engine.
Cambelt? Waterpump frozen solid it wont turn and the belt can snap.
Charge the battery also though. When the cold hits weak batteries soon start to show their problems.Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
no, oh suggested tapping the starter but said as drive is on a downward slant that he cant get to it. I think he is going to try this when he has pushed it on to the road at the same time as trying custardy's suggestion
If you turn the key and nothing happens that's the solenoid frozen OR some safety thing
(for example: My Honda won't start if the Vehicle Stability Assist doesn't check out.... even though you can turn the damn thing off - anyway point is this happens when the battery isn't strong enough .. you may have something similar) but it's basically like having the immobiliser on....
hmm.... do you have an immobiliser? (that might also explain it)
If you turn they key and you hear it trying to turn the engine over but it doesn't fire then the solenoid is OK...0
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