This is the first time something is going wrong with my 1991 Ford Escort LX and I don't know what it is. I let the car cool off for five minutes, then it started up and then it died after 30s, then I let it cool off and it started again and I finally got home. What's up with it?
What does it mean when "Check Engine" and "Battery" light come on, your brakes lock and you can't step on gas???
- Thread starter LukFilm
- Start date
Oh, OK. Also my steering wheel suddenly stopped responding. I thought this was a sign of a standard problem or something...
noooo, it means you should start a diagnostic procedure, like pulling trouble codes, instead of blindly replacing parts.
well having check engine, battery light, brake failure, engine death and steering failure all at the same time isn't a 'standard problem'
if a belt broke that would account for the battery light, dying engine and steering failure. brakes though...
if a belt broke that would account for the battery light, dying engine and steering failure. brakes though...
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
well having check engine, battery light, brake failure, engine death and steering failure all at the same time isn't a 'standard problem'
if a belt broke that would account for the battery light, dying engine and steering failure. brakes though...
LOL, true. It seemed odd all happening at the same time... And I'm supposed to start moving tomorrow...
Evadman
Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
- Feb 18, 2001
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Your belt broke or came off. It will cause every one of those problems except for the "gas".
Check engine light: Water is not circulating, so it is running hot.
Battery light: Alternator no worky without a belt.
Can't step on gas: I am leaning towards your broken foot being a problem.
Stearing no worky: Power stearing pump powered off belt.
You belt will be a few bucks ( $40 max ) Installation time: 10 minutes.
Cost from a dealer: $200+
<edit>
Missed the brakes. I would guess that the belt took a vacuum hose with it, so you get no assist on the brakes.
Evadman hit it pretty dead on..
Adding to it:
Brakes are often powered by the belt too, and in-case they loose power, they will simply lock to stop the car safely.. Otherwise, without the belt powering them, you have no way to stop..
Adding to it:
Brakes are often powered by the belt too, and in-case they loose power, they will simply lock to stop the car safely.. Otherwise, without the belt powering them, you have no way to stop..
OK, cool, it shouldn't be too expensive to fix them. Would your theory also support the fact that I got it going twice after dying twice?
It takes a TON of juice to start a car, and keep it running, thats why you have an alternator.. because the belt snapped, theres no engine to turn it to create electricity to power the battery.. So it runs out of juice. No electricity to fire your spark plugs, no engine workie..
So you'll need to get your car boosted or battery charged most likely..
So you'll need to get your car boosted or battery charged most likely..
Originally posted by: DaZ
Evadman hit it pretty dead on..
Adding to it:
Brakes are often powered by the belt too, and in-case they loose power, they will simply lock to stop the car safely.. Otherwise, without the belt powering them, you have no way to stop..
NO, no ,no, no, no! The brakes on this car are operated by a vacuum booster.
The ONLY reason that the brakes would apply themselves in this car is from a malfunctioning booster, and those things almost never go bad.
While the solution may ultimately be simple, this sounds like a severe safety issue from your brief, non-technical description. If all this happened at the same time, I don?t even know what to think. Get it to a Ford dealership, or a very smart independent, non-chain mechanic, before you try to drive it anywhere else.
OK, thanks. I tried stepping on the brakes, but they weren't working, wheel wasn't turning, gas pedal wasn't bringing more gas... Could it be that I ran out of gas? I'm very low...
[mortal kombat voice] FATALITY [/mortal combat voice]
Wow, now I know who to PM when my car starts giving me problems...
With further reading, about the power steering, I think a belt broke, and then the car overheated. And by "brakes locking," you mean the pedal effort was very high. Does this car have ABS (anti-lock brakes)?
Maybe. If it took a vacuum hose out, especially the brake booster hose, it would cause severe driveability issues, like the gas pedal not responding correctly.
I think we're on to something here!
it means either:
a) Your car stalled (you'd notice that one)
b) You threw a belt.
If you drove it for 30 minutes w/ no belt on it, your best bet right now is likely going to be buying a new car.
a) Your car stalled (you'd notice that one)
b) You threw a belt.
If you drove it for 30 minutes w/ no belt on it, your best bet right now is likely going to be buying a new car.
Because it probably overheated without water circulation. But I would take the wait and see approach and just put a new belt on and drive it, because the car might be just fine.
I only drove it for less than 3 minutes with the problems. Fortunately, it happened near my house. I was supposed to go to my fiancee's house tonight, thank God I didn't! BTW, I've had the car for 15 months and this is the first time it's giving me trouble. Paid $700 for it, so I still made out in the end...
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