Brake noise check led to > low oil > overheating
First of all, what started out as the brakes making a noise after applying the brake at the end of a stop, turned into my daughter's car overheating, today.
I had my son-in-law show my daughter how to check her brake and other fluids in the car, just to be sure it didn't need any brake fluid. He showed her how to check the brake fluid and it was fine.
He then checked the brakes and said it needed new brake pads.
He showed her where and how to check the oil, and where to add it. When checking it, he said it was almost out of oil and that there was barely ANY oil on the dipstick. He told her she needed to get some oil in it immediately.
He then showed her to check the coolant level by looking at the overflow resevoir and that you can add coolant there, he looked for the radiator cap and it wasn't on the radiator, he said there was a cap on the engine and removed it and was curious, I guess, and stuck his finger inside and felt around, then put the cap back on.
So my daughter told me she needed oil. Went to autozone and bought some oil and put in 1 quart, she was then going to go get the oil changed.
On her way the car began to overheat, it went into the red and overheated. My son-in-law told her to put another quart of oil in it, which she did and drove it back home, where it was still hot.
He said he looked and the resevoir was overfull and that he thought the thermostat or water pump might be bad.
Now, I'm not sure where to start. Could the water pump just have gone out with no warning and without any noise? Could my son-in-law sticking his finger and feeling around the thermostat cause it to malfunction, or just removing the cap?
Why would the oil be so low when there's no sign of leaking or of smoking?
Too many questions, I know, but I'm bedbound from neuromuscular disease and I don't have a lot of resources, now I have my 17 year old driving my wheelchair van, which is terrible on gas. If anyone has any answers, I'd really appreciate your help, thank you & God bless you, Lisa
I had my son-in-law show my daughter how to check her brake and other fluids in the car, just to be sure it didn't need any brake fluid. He showed her how to check the brake fluid and it was fine.
He then checked the brakes and said it needed new brake pads.
He showed her where and how to check the oil, and where to add it. When checking it, he said it was almost out of oil and that there was barely ANY oil on the dipstick. He told her she needed to get some oil in it immediately.
He then showed her to check the coolant level by looking at the overflow resevoir and that you can add coolant there, he looked for the radiator cap and it wasn't on the radiator, he said there was a cap on the engine and removed it and was curious, I guess, and stuck his finger inside and felt around, then put the cap back on.
So my daughter told me she needed oil. Went to autozone and bought some oil and put in 1 quart, she was then going to go get the oil changed.
On her way the car began to overheat, it went into the red and overheated. My son-in-law told her to put another quart of oil in it, which she did and drove it back home, where it was still hot.
He said he looked and the resevoir was overfull and that he thought the thermostat or water pump might be bad.
Now, I'm not sure where to start. Could the water pump just have gone out with no warning and without any noise? Could my son-in-law sticking his finger and feeling around the thermostat cause it to malfunction, or just removing the cap?
Why would the oil be so low when there's no sign of leaking or of smoking?
Too many questions, I know, but I'm bedbound from neuromuscular disease and I don't have a lot of resources, now I have my 17 year old driving my wheelchair van, which is terrible on gas. If anyone has any answers, I'd really appreciate your help, thank you & God bless you, Lisa
Cars & Trucks - Plymouth - Breeze - 1998 Plymouth Breeze
Answers & Comments
I do believe it is odd,that it does this right after the front brakes have been replaced,Make sure the calipers,are not holding the front wheels,so they do not move,if they are,then the vehicle will have a hard time moving,and put a strain on the engine,therefore causing the overheating.I do not think he did anything to it to cause the problem,the oil loss,could just be from oil burning,in a long period of time,of course the oil loss,can cause the engine to overheat too,along with other things.
Try taking it in for a service at-least once a year, It is very important to be safe on the road.
First of all sorry to hear about your disability. No body should be handicap in my book
The radiator is filled up through the cap your son in law removed. Putting his finger in it did not hurt the car one bit. There is no cap on the radiator
The problem with little or no oil is a low coolant problem. It will just burn up internally if the engine gets too hot.
The coolant level seems to have gone down slowly since both oil and coolant was lost. I suggest tl fill the radiator with water only after the engine gets an oil change and search for the leak which should expose itself. Upon finding the leak have it repaired and the engine should run alot better