Leaking coolant and car will not start

119 MILES • 2.5L • 4 CYL • AUTOMATIC
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MAJOLIE TCHOUMI
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My car is the LX model. My car overheated about two months back I went to AutoZone and the mechanic checked it out and seen that I had low coolant. So we waited for the car to cool down and we added coolant and then it started properly and the mechanic I went to said it was a thermostat problem and a hose problem. I had those both fixed and the car was okay. About less than a week ago I noticed the AC and the heater were not working properly, the heat would take a long time to start and would be going on and off and the AC was blowing just air. Yesterday I was driving the car and I noticed that it overheated as the needle was at H. I drove a min to my destination and parked the car. I noticed it had no coolant and the radiator was completely drained and then I noticed it was leaking coolant. So I added coolant when the car was cool and tried to start the car but it would not start. The car just clicked. I had my car towed to a mechanic and explained it all to him and he is telling me that he needs to change the starter for $350.00 (parts and labor) first because he needs the car to start to see what the issue is. I am not car savvy but this did not make sense to me so I started to do research and I did not see how it connected. Please anything would be helpful.
Oct 1, 2018 at 12:41 AM
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ASEMASTER6371
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning.

Before your guy changes the starter, ask him if the engine turns free. If the engine will not turn, if it does not turn, then ask him to remove the spark plugs and see if it turns. If the starter is not the problem you will be spending money on something that is not the issue.

From your description, it sounds like you may have an issue with a failed head gasket from overheating. That is when coolant gets into a cylinder and it would emit white smoke when running or may not start at all.

Your guy can pressure test the cooling system with the engine running to determine the coolant leak. He should know that.

Roy

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Oct 3, 2020 at 3:57 AM
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