I have a 1997 mazda 626 4cylinder. For a while now, my hot n cold gauge keeps wobbling back and forth. I was keeping water in it and it was fine. A week ago it went all the way to hot and started smoking. There is water gushing out right beside the pulleys. I'm not sure if it is the water pump or not. Now, my car won't crank. Someone told me that it was the rotor button, but i can't tell if it is bad. I don't really want to take it to a mechanic. Can someone help me?????
your water pump is bad if it leaks or whines. Sounds like yours leaked when you rcar overheated. I'd suggest that the overheating problem may have been caused by something else though, as you said that the water levels were not going down until it overheated. I would suggest you may have had a head gasket problem or thermostat or radiator problem. Now it sounds like you have done a lot of damage by allowing it to get so hot. You may have a ruined engine I'm afraid. It might have seized. Tip;- don't carry on driving when it keeps overheating. It does a lot more expensive damage if you do. Take your car to a professional to get it checked out. Expect the worse. Sorry to sound so gloomy, but I'm just trying to prepare you. I hope for your sake it isn't as bad as I think. Good Luck
Take it to a mechanic ! You have a serious problem.
Change water pump and thermostat immediately
That's what happens to water pumps, they start leaking and you loose coolant. When the gauge started acting weird that should have been your first clue. Unless you or someone you know can replace the pump you will need to take it to a mechanic. When you said it would not crank, did you mean the engine is seized up or just would not start, there is a difference.
I am not a mechanic, but I can tell you that I just got my car back this morning from a mechanic because I had an almost identical problem. I had a slow fluid leak for a couple days, and steam would come out from under hood when I parked (after only driving for 10 minutes). Four days into this I went to the pharmacy and when I left I noticed I left a very rusty puddle of water in the parking lot. On the way home temp was running higher than normal. Let the car sit until a mechanic picked it up. Something happened with the timing belt and it caused problems with the water pump and coolant got in my oil. Had to have an oil change, coolant flush, water pump replaced, and a timing cover/gasket/seal something or other. $400 later I am up and running, good as new. Hope this helps and I hope you can find a good mechanic like I did.
