My current DD a 1987 Ford Taurass broke down on me a few minutes ago. I was on my way to work when I noticed the check engine light turn on and a burning type smell from the vents. I didn't have my heater on. I put her in neutral and I proceeded to coast her downhill to my work exit. A few seconds after I had put her in neutral, my engine died. I didn't try to restart it.

I stopped at my exit and there was smoke coming from my engine compartment, not a lot, but I attempted to restart the car to no avail. It didn't crank.

My co-worker and I pushed it to a local bank parking lot. I noticed water coming out of the lower radiator hose in the amount of a drop every two seconds or so. I checked the battery connections and everything looked fine. I check the oil level and it was down to about a centimeter high from the bottom dipstick. I had check the oil level before I left the house and it was a little lower than the half way mark.

The temp gauge did not go above the half way mark.

I know my information is limited, but I was wondering if anyone else had a similar problem. I want to see if I could try a temporary fix before I resort to calling a tow truck.

Am I screwed? Should I be looking for a new civic for a DD now?

Thanks.

wow... that sucks.

If it didn't crank, my guess is your just fucked.

maybe a wire just melted / might have had a short. did it try to crank at all or just act like it had a dead battery?

wow... that sucks.

If it didn't crank, my guess is your just fucked.
That's what I figured. I just spent a few minutes trying to get a quote from a Vietnamese tow truck driver.

80 bucks for approx 30 miles. Not bad.
Tripple A was charging $150.00.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.

maybe a wire just melted / might have had a short. did it try to crank at all or just act like it had a dead battery?

You hear a slight turn when you try to crank it but that's it. It sorta feels like a drained battery. Everything else works on the car. Lights hazzards and radio.

I'll look for a melted wire. Thanks.

Sounds like the battery grounded out. Hope you didn't fry the ecu.

Sounds like the battery grounded out. Hope you didn't fry the ecu.
How do I check for that?

There might be some melted lead on the battery cable ends.Some times if the battery is loose it will slide around and ground out on the hood or fender.It cold also be a faulty battery cable.

thanks.

You know you might want to test your alternator. It may of fried on your way to work and you might of been running on the battery power only.

I'll check for that as well, but why was there smoke coming from under the exhaust manifold? I could have had a leak of somesort that fried a wire perhaps?

+ starter wire may have grounded. i dont know shit about a taurus other than my gf drives one and when i press the gas hard it smokes like hell.

There goes my Sunday.

Try to jump it first of all... That would be a good starting pt.

Try to jump it first of all... That would be a good starting pt.
Unless there is a short in the electrical then you might damage the car you are jumping with.

before you do any kind of cranking, pull the spark plugs and shine a light in the cylinders. see any liquids?

how does your coolant look?

I'm going to check the coolant when I leave work. I'll pull the spark plugs if needed when I get home.

If it's anything other than a gasket or wire, I'm going to buy a new car for a DD. I'm tired of stuff breaking down on this thing.

All of those suggestions dealing with the power didn't take into account the oil issue...

+1 for what poops said.

Unless there is a short in the electrical then you might damage the car you are jumping with.

1) the electrical system on the other car is still working but in diminished form
2) if you see huge sparks it is pretty obvious something is wrong.

I'd figure out the power issue before anything else. You can't really do a good check for the other things until you have eliminated power as the problem.

Do you live in the midwest?

I can hook you up with a fine pre-owned unit if you are so inclined>