Broke down in Lake Havasu City, help please

[Headache]

Hi all. I'm broke down at the Lowe's in Lake Havasu City and if you're in the area and can help me out me love you long time.  

I'm assuming it's at least one of several issues:

It appears my temp gauge is going.  Yesterday it looked normal but my van was acting up a little.  Today I left HD and it shot up to the red line pretty quickly.  Lowes was the closest place I could dive into.  I'm also assuming I'm low on coolant.  There has been a really small leak somewhere but I couldn't smell it and never saw anything. 

There's a possibility the thermostat has stuck closed. 

The idle air control needs replaced and I haven't had it done yet.  It's affects idling though but could have contributed to the way it ran yesterday. 

After I dived into Lowe's I tried to start it again.  It just clicked.   I popped the hood and the positive terminal has corrosion on it. 

Unfortunately I wrassled with some plywood so I'm unable to pop the radiator cap or do much of anything at this point.  Thanks in advance.

 

[WanderingRose]

Bummer.

May help arrive soon.

 

[Headache]

It's Sunday in a high falutin' resort town. All the help clocks in tomorrow. Lol

Lowes was kind enough to allow me to spend the night.

 

[Homeless in Canada]

Try posting the make/engine of your vehicle that'll help a lot.

If the thermostat's stuck closed try taking it out and see if it runs better. Is the van cycling on? Replacing the temp sensor is another easy fix.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

Just get that rad cap off and top up your fluid if you have had a small leak it may just be empty now. Make sure engine is cold take off cap or get someone passing by to assist you to get it off, fill it up, a slow leak can go for many miles, as long as you keep topping it up. I had one all the up and down the Alaska highway and back east before I replaced the leaking water pump so you can go a long way if it just a drip.

 

[jimindenver]

abnorm is on his way up

 

[Headache]

Yep! A knight upon his white...van will be here shortly.

 

[ckelly78z]

-You'll want to remove, and clean the battery terminals, and the posts on the battery first, and re-tighten
-If cooled down, remove the radiator cap while holding it with a rag to prevent any spray, fill a 50/50 mix of water/coolant, and have an extra gallon of mixture for the road. You may also have a coolant reservoir tank that needs partially filled with the same mixture.
-You can lightly tap on the thermostat housing with a hammer handle (wood end) to possibly release it from being stuck.
-Pull your oil dipstick, and check your oil and stick for a milky looking substance (possible head gasket).
-Run the engine for a few minutes to see if you can find any leaks underneath with a flashlight, this should also burp any air bubbles, so you can check fluid levels when you shut it off again, and let it cool.
-

 

[Homeless in Canada]

Should remove or replace the thermostat before you top up more fluid.

 

[abnorm]

I'm NOT a mechanic......

Engine won't start...…..Loud click/clunk near battery (solenoid ?)……normal dash lights...….tried a SmartCharger/50A engine start....NO help


Bright headlights...…Oil is NOT foamy first glance.......Radiator full...….added 2 gallons into the overflow jug ?rear heater leaks someplace


It's dark and late...…..I'm an old FAT man...….


I plan on "tapping" the starter tomorrow with my FORD Wrench (hammer)...….check solenoid...……and Then ???????????



It's a '92 Ford extended van...…..5.8 engine


Recent history includes  new radiator....water pump...….belt....hoses......oil pump......PCM...…..throttle position sensor.....timing cover and replaced gear


No mechanic has taken "ownership"...…..just addressing problems as they occur...……HELP...…."You're my Brain Trust"

 

[Headache]

Try posting the make/engine of your vehicle that'll help a lot.

The reason I didn't post that info at first was because I was looking for hands on assistance locally.  I'd talk to them about the details and what the code reader produces.  It's too iffy to diagnose anything online and I get easily frustrated.  I used to be a mechanic but I'm no longer physically able to do it.

However, abnorm is here now and is capable of doing some physical things.  I'm going to throw the reader on tomorrow and see what pops up. 

He's making a post so I don't want to repeat what he's posting.  I do know that the battery appears to be working as it should which for a 3 year old 2 year battery I'm very pleased.   I'm not hearing any noise below leading me to consider the starter but this is electrical.  Anything goes. 

I'm definitely going to need to have some testing done to the temp sensors, sending unit and gauge if it's not a stuck thermostat.  It didn't overheat, it wasn't that "hot", no steam was coming from anywhere and there was definitely coolant in the radiator.  I watch that gauge frequently.  This is something that came up suddenly this morning.

 

[user 2252]

I'm in Parker, perhaps I can help.

 

[abnorm]

Hiya Mike...…………….PM sent

 

[ckelly78z]

I had a 94 F250 with the same motor. One day, it refused to start, or even make a noise, but the battery was good, and the headlights shown. It turned out to be the ECM computer control module (fairly common problem). These are not necessarily cheap, but can be found in just about any junkyard used. See what the scanner says.

This will be a silver box about 4"x4"x1" usually found on the inner fender well, or the firewall....you may try "tapping" on it with your Ford wrench as well. Aslo pull the connector off of this box, and inspect the leads, clean if necessary, and then make sure it gets plugged back in fully to make good contact.

 

[RoamerRV428]

hope all comes out ok for ya....sounds like guys are helping a lot at this point so you seem good to go....fingers crossed it is all easy fix for you guys!!

 

[RoamerRV428]

funny Guy....a hammer I so get that tho LOL

 

[Cammalu]

Crap Robin. I’m just reading this. I noticed you hadn’t arrived back in camp. So glad Doug is there to help.

Hope you get back to YARC Camp soon.

 

[highdesertranger]

dang girl you got some bad luck with that van. highdesertranger

 

[Wabbit]

Be nice if it was something easy like a starter. Thinking positive thoughts for you Headache(and Abnorm!)

 

[B and C]

Be nicer if it was just the corroded battery terminal. Hopefully filling the radiator and reservoir takes car of the temp problem too.