Triubles in Africa - lost all collant

[drmcw]

I am conducting a WhatsApp conversation with a friend in Zimbabwe who has suffered the calamity of a split coolant hose and dumping all his coolant while driving - and it is rather hot.

My understanding is

Driving a petrol Avensis of some age
Hose splits coolant lost
Stops in some control - he didn't say there was any awful noise
Tries to restart and cannot

Recovered to a hotel owned by his Mother In Law
Now the starter will spin but is clearly does not turn the engine over
Basically that's it

I suggested he let it cool off completely which he did overnight as I suspected when he stopped moving he lost air cooling and once the engine was off it seriously over heated and seized while stationery. So let it cool off, it is now stone cold.

He doesn't have the tools to get the plugs out which might tell him something

He is currently rounding up some guys to push it in gear just to see if the engine can turn over at all.

Any suggestions?

A trusted mechanic is on his way which is good but he's drunk by 3 pm which isn't so great. They are roughly the same time as us.

ETA It's an auto so bump start doesn't work - right?

Edited by drmcw on Sunday 13th October 08:04

[colin_p]

Will the mechanic be looking at it before or after 3pm ?

[drmcw]

Good question. In principle real soon now but it's Africa. Time is very flexible.

[Leptons]

If it’s lost coolant and now won’t turn over his best bet is to join the mechanic at 3pm. The car is goosed.

[drmcw]

I have to say it does sound that way but ever hopeful.

How can the starter spin but not engage though?

I'm more used to older cars but I assume the starter works the same way engaging with the flywheel so unless the crank has snapped then it ought to at least try.

[OldGermanHeaps]

is he maybe describing it poorly? maybe turning over with no compression so the sound is different.

[drmcw]

That also is possible. But he's no mug and has been around cars for years but I don't think he's had oily hands for some years as he tends to buy rather nice BMW's and Mercs in the UK usually from new. Almost in the PH powerfully built company director mould but a bit slight in build to qualify.

[colin_p]

drmcw said:

That also is possible. But he's no mug and has been around cars for years but I don't think he's had oily hands for some years as he tends to buy rather nice BMW's and Mercs in the UK usually from new. Almost in the PH powerfully built company director mould but a bit slight in build to qualify.

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a (drunk mechanic or) hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the (after 3pm) rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

[citizensm1th]

colin_p said:

drmcw said:

That also is possible. But he's no mug and has been around cars for years but I don't think he's had oily hands for some years as he tends to buy rather nice BMW's and Mercs in the UK usually from new. Almost in the PH powerfully built company director mould but a bit slight in build to qualify.

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a (drunk mechanic or) hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the (after 3pm) rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

In the jungle the mighty jungle
The Avensis sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The Avensis sleeps tonight

A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh

[Mr E]

citizensm1th said:

colin_p said:

drmcw said:

That also is possible. But he's no mug and has been around cars for years but I don't think he's had oily hands for some years as he tends to buy rather nice BMW's and Mercs in the UK usually from new. Almost in the PH powerfully built company director mould but a bit slight in build to qualify.

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a (drunk mechanic or) hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the (after 3pm) rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

In the jungle the mighty jungle
The Avensis sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The Avensis sleeps tonight

A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh

I love this place sometimes.

[citizensm1th]

drmcw said:

He doesn't have the tools to get the plugs out which might tell him something

Edited by drmcw on Sunday 13th October 08:04

That they are a tight fit?

[OldGermanHeaps]

when my mrs roasted my 7 series after a coolant pipe split it would turn over really quickly and high pitched without any resistance or the usual rhythm, the block and head were so warped there was zero compression.

[drmcw]

And there we have it - or so the beer laden (yes he arrived beer in hand) mechanic thinks.

He thinks the head warped, no compression so the starter is spinning freely. He will skim head and rebuild.

Could be a whole lot worse and of course may yet be.

[Who me ?]

A few years in the Zimbabwean bush taught me that it's not good practice to top up a idle engine with coolant- that leads to cracked blocks. Far better to stop the engine, remove rad cap etc ( CAREFULLY) and then start engine again to top up, but slowly and watch out for hot water out. ( Tip from the old colonials)

[Chozza]

citizensm1th said:

A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh

Needs a new fan belt as well