2003 Dodge Stratus Car running HOt

I would almost bet you my cinnamon rolls for breakfast in the morning that you have a blown head gasket or a cracked head. Or both. The air in the system is combustion from the cylinder. Just because there's no oil in the water, or vice versa, doesn't mean the head gasket isn't blown. But that's what's happened here. Now it won't start because it's just gotten so bad that there's either no compression, or the plugs have coolant on them. If one of the cylinders fill up with coolant, and you try to start it, it'll sound like it's locked up and won't spin over. This could also bend a rod and cause more problems. Pull the spark plugs and look at them and see if there's coolant on any of them.

Sure, its worth fixing. It's only 6 or 7 years old. It's got a lot of miles on it but it's not dead. You've spent a lot of money on it because you didn't actually start at the source of the problem. Nobody's fault. That just happens. But, nevertheless, the car is worth fixing, in my opinion. If it was mine, I would. Chances are, the lower end isn't hurt. That being the crankshaft, rods, pistons, etc. UNLESS, there's a problem with the block/Cylinder walls. You can't determine that until you get the head off. You're mechanic that does the job will be able to tell if the block is hurt. It just depends on HOW HOT it got. If you noticed it getting hot, and shut it off, you should be fine. If you let it run hot til it got SO HOT it died on it's own, then the chances slightly diminish. But, even still, it may not be hurt. If it got hot enough, the pistons could have galded the cylinder walls and caused problems there. Then you would need an overhaul or new/used motor. Having said all that, I would do the head gasket job and have the head 'checked' by a good machine shop. Have them re-surface it, too. If the block looks ok, put it back together and drive it like you stole it. OR. Another option to maybe get some of your money back, would be to fix it like you were going to drive it and sell it. That's not a 'mechanical' question though. You can decide that once you get it going. It may cost you another grand to get it going but it'll be good to go. And paid for! That's worth a lot these days. If I can be of any more help, feel free to holler.

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