mediatechnology wrote: ↑Fri Feb 01, 2019 5:15 am
No sign of leaks or a bad front bearing that pump?
No evidence of leaks, and in hindsight I have heard some belt slippage noise at start-up over several months. An old mechanic trick to listen for water pump bearing noise is to get an old straw broom... hold the straw part up to you ear and touch the running motor near where you want to listen with the wood broom handle. You can hear a lot of mechanical noise that way (maybe this weekend while I'm messing with it.)
With over 100k on the motor a water pump failing is not out of the question. I find the coincidence of low coolant level immediately after the elevated temperature from driving across town without a fan belt (water pump), too much to ignore.
The starter motor failed years before it's time, and that brings up another story about poor dealer service. Since I was snake bit by the Ford dealership, and was busy with a life consuming day job, I took my bad starter motor to the local lincoln/mercury dealer. The owner was also involved in the local sports car racing scene so I was optimistic. The engine room in my car is so cramped you have to unbolt the motor mounts and jack up the motor just to access the starter motor, maybe drop one exhaust manifold too, so not a trivial driveway repair, for a busy guy.
When I pulled up to the lincoln/mercury service department doorway, they ASSumed I didn't know what I was talking about and said I probably just had a bad battery. I told them if I turned it off for them to test the battery, it would not start again. They said trust me... yadda yadda...
Of course the battery tested good and it did not start again, then they started accepting my diagnosis.
Luckily their driveway was on a slight hill so I was able to jump start it again and leave it running for them.
The fun and games occurred about a week later when I arrived to pick up my repaired car. I paid my bill but the service department could not find my keys.
We chased them down to a kid working in the parts department who had "borrowed" them to test drive my car.
This is why I was so pleasantly surprised by my unexpected good service experience Wednesday.
Back on topic I have a new set of radiator hoses on order, since 20+ years is probably beyond the expected service life for the original hoses.
This weekend I will drain out some of the old (acidic) antifreeze and freshen up with some new anti-freeze (that also claims anti-corrosion additives).
I could afford to replace this car but don't find modern cars that appealing.
JR