broken down.

[jamiewr]

I own a ford escort 1.6si, R reg. The other day I broke down. I was doing around 75mph on the motorway when suddenly the power to the car was decreasing. I pulled over and smoke was coming from under the bonnet. I checked and noticed the cat housing was glowing red and that there was no water in the tank? We added more water but that leaked out but cannot source the leak? The day before I noticed the heating wasn't warm and the car was actually jolting when driving over 3rpm's? The car wont start but sounds like it wants to. I'm weary of trying incase I do any damage or more! I have only owned this car for a month and it was supposed to be a cheap run around for work. It's a really lovely car and has been looked after. I just hope it can be fixed cheaply.
Hope someone can help.

Many Thanks

Jamie.

[PhilLew]

The heating not working is a sign of the car losing water. the heater matrix is at the top of the cooling system and so as the level drops there is no water to conduct the heat to the inside of the car, it's one of the first things you notice when you lose water.

The loss could be due to somthing simple like a burst radiator or pipe but could also be as a result of a blown head gasket, cracked head or even a cracked block.

It sounds like you have also overheated the engine and caused other damage.

Unles you are able to do it yourself (which sounds unlikley or you wouldn't have posted on here) then it will probably be cheaper to replace a car of that age, than pay a garage for a rebuild or fit an other engine. But get an expeienced mechanic to have a look at it first just to confirm the extent of the damage. You might be lucky.

[happyharry31]

sounds like you may need a new water pump

[griff488]

I agree with phil the lack of heating is due to the water leak.
Check the oil filler cap for signs of a white sludge. If its clear then the head gaskets ok. If there is sludge there you will need to replace the head gasket.
As for the car not starting this is probably not caused by the water leak (unless head gasket has gone then you could have got water in the cylinder which means the engine is scrap) .
As you said the cat was glowing red then it sounds like the internals of the cat may have collapsed (common on escorts) preventing the engine from getting rid of exhaust gases and therefore choking it.
I'm sorry to say it sounds like you have bought a lemon! Probably better off scrapping it but get a mechanic to look at it first.

[TheWinner]

If the heater isn't working, it sounds like the head gaskets gone.

[david1702198]

sludge on the oil filer cap isnt a sign that the head gasket is ok!!if the engine has lost al its water when the car was on the motorway there is a chance that the head gasket will be gone but there wont be any sludge on the oil cap as there is no water in the engine to mix with the oil and emulsify. the fact that it wont start suggest to me the engine has been roasted and has damaged the piston rings causing a lack of compression hence the car wont start.