My disco died...

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Oct 30, 2018 | 09:03 AM

x2c.diamundz

Thread Starter

4wd High

Joined: Sep 2018

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

My disco died...

So today on my way to work, my battery light blinked on and I lost power steering. I got to work and when I parked, I noticed the engine had smoke pouring out of it and there was coolant all over the engine bay and on the ground. Any ideas? I got to work when it was dark and I haven't had time to really look at it yet so I don't know what it could be. Help would be appreciated, thank you .

Oct 30, 2018 | 09:36 AM

mln01

Camel Trophy

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 3,883

Likes: 951

From: Charlotte

Sounds likely to me that the serpentine belt broke, which would explain the battery light, loss of power steering, and the truck quickly overheating. What you saw was likely steam, not smoke. Check all the pulleys to see if any of them seized and caused the belt to fail. If the pulleys are all good, install a new belt, top up the coolant, and move on. The serp belt failed on my truck a little over a year ago, for no apparent reason, and the symptoms were the same as you describe.

Oct 30, 2018 | 09:40 AM

Frtpilot

Three Wheeling

Joined: Oct 2018

Posts: 55

Likes: 5

From: Arizona

Check these items

Quote:

Originally Posted by x2c.diamundz

First check your serpentine belt. Battery light, and loss of power steering indicate the belt may have broken. In regards to the coolant issue, the broken belt may have damaged your hose? Or, it could be an issue similar to my experience where the water pump seized and snapped my belt? Next question would be to investigate whether the water pump turns or is seized. Replace the belt, charge the battery, check hoses, refill coolant, and go down to your local auto store and borrow a test kit to check if you have a blown head gasket. After my mishap, I had to replace the head gaskets. Good luck!

Oct 30, 2018 | 07:42 PM

x2c.diamundz

Thread Starter

4wd High

Joined: Sep 2018

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

Thanks for the help guys, I was able to look it over and it's definitely a water pump failure; the battery light/power steering loss is because of the coolant spraying everywhere and is getting on the belt causing it to slip (as the light wasn't always on, it would turn on and off and power steering would come and go) how unfortunate for this to happen the day before my vacation ��

Nov 2, 2018 | 06:18 AM

shanechevelle

Pro Wrench

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 1,709

Likes: 137

From: NE PA

Heres what happened.

your belt broke.

loss all power, power steering and cooling.

you should have pulled over because you also overheated your truck perhaps damaging it.

Nov 2, 2018 | 05:07 PM

Llamasayswhat

Rock Crawling

Joined: Nov 2017

Posts: 450

Likes: 81

From: Kailua Kona, HI

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanechevelle

Heres what happened.

your belt broke.

loss all power, power steering and cooling.

you should have pulled over because you also overheated your truck perhaps damaging it.

What are you talking about? The belt is still on the vehicle and wasn't thrown off or broken. His water pump has failed and is pissing coolant on the belt causing it to slip.

Nov 3, 2018 | 08:32 AM

shanechevelle

Pro Wrench

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 1,709

Likes: 137

From: NE PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llamasayswhat

What are you talking about? The belt is still on the vehicle and wasn't thrown off or broken. His water pump has failed and is pissing coolant on the belt causing it to slip.

oops. I didnt read the whole thread. Happens when you're in a rush.