I was running errands with my SC430. After I stopped at first errand, I started car and drove it about one block when I noticed the VSC/VSC OFF, Check engine and windshield fluid lights on instrument panel remained on. I proceeded to drive home ,10 miles. When I was 2 blocks from home I heard what sounded like a rat a tat noise only when I accelerated. One hundred feet from my driveway, car stalled and smoke was coming from under the hood and smelled as if a hose had burst.
After pushing car in driveway, I opened the hood and some type of fluid was all over engine and car would not start.
I have not tried starting car today fearing I would cause more damage than already exists.
Has anyone had a similar problem?
Thanks,
Len

 

Sounds like you popped either a hose or the radiator and the engine ran hot. Don't drive it anymore until you get that seen to as these engines don't fare well if run overheated.

 

Check the water pump.

 

Could you tell us more about the fluid? Like what color is it? (Green/Red/Brown/Clear)


Was there any other lights on the dash? Did you happen to see what your temperature was when this happened?

 

maybe it was a water pump failure. first, the timing jumped, and you got the CEL + VSC. then, you heard the pump whining. finally, the pump gave and the engine stalled.

if lucky, with a pump replacement the engine will run fine again.

I'm no mechanic, so I could be totally wrong.

 

Actually I would be surprised if the OP, LenMar shows up again.

From his description, it sounds bad, really bad. He either had a broken water pump or a cracked radiator, the radiator is more common, from my observations. We don't know how many miles are on his car.

The car overheated and his description of rat a tat when he accelerated was likely valve clatter, plus the smoke, all bad signs.

His biggest mistake was to continue driving the car for another 10 miles without stopping to look over the engine.
If he would have stopped, he may seen the fluid on the engine and could have called a tow truck.

My wife knows to stop the car immediately if anything like this happens when she out in the car. Then to call me using FaceTime, so I can look over the situation.

We all have seen the threads of people driving these cars with no coolant and the result is usually not good.

 

I think your analysis is spot on.

His windshield washer light was on, so maybe something funny with the radiator also took out that tank.

Cars should all beep when the lights come on. We don't know for how long those lights had been on because this car seems not to make any sound.

 

Also, he could've mistaken the coolant low light for the windshield washer light. Easy to mistake if you aren't used to the car. I agree with you guys. Not sounding good at all...

 

You sure pegged that one! I also think your diagnosis make sense.

Less likely, but somewhat consistent with the symptoms, is that he had no oil. There are some "fun" YouTube videos where the oil is drained from a car and they run it until it seizes, which takes a surprisingly long time, like ten minutes. Shortly before seizure, you get rat-a-tat and some smoke.