My wife was driving our `98 Disco this morning and called me to tell me that she had parked it in a lot because she couldn't steer it, there was coolant pouring out, and the belt was hanging out of the bottom of the car. I met her and took a look and I think that the coolant was coming out of the top of the reservoir. She said that the temp gauge was in the middle, but I think it was overheating. The serp belt didn't break, but was off the rollers.

Has anyone had this happen to them? Could the coolant come out of the reservoir without overheating?

 

Sounds to me like your water pump or belt tensioner is done. The bearings wear out and excessive play develops. I had a similar problem a few months ago where my water pump fell apart and exploded my fan, overheated, blew the heads. Disasterous. Check for excessive play in all thepulleys and water pump. Especially the belt tensioner too.I bet what happened was one of the pulleys has taken a crap, threw the belt, preventing the water pump from pumping, overheated, spewed coolant out. I dont know how long she ran it after the belt was thrown, but I bet your bottom dollar it overheated. Pressure test your coolant system too. I really hope she didn't wind up blowing the heads. They warp very very easy upon overheating. get back to us...[sm=smiley11.gif]Mine is a 98 too...

 

Oh ya. Typically the only time your resevoir leaks is when the cap is worn out or it overheated. It's designed to take only so much pressure, then it blows...

 

I had our local Christian Brother Automotive take it in and they're going to pressure test the coolant system and check the tensioners. I think that you're right and the tensioner went. I spoke with our neighbor and she said that she saw "something" hanging from below the truck last night. I bet that was the belt. I amazed my wife made it the 10 miles that she did before having a major problem! I'll let you know what the shop says about the repairs.

 

Good luck dude, may the force be with you!!![sm=vader.gif]

 

Make sure when you replace the tensioner that you do the idler pulley also. Inspect the water pump, replace the belt and pressure test the coolant system.
Mike