# 2003 ford escape **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 26, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape/86229 "2014-07-26T19:27:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Debbielynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@Debbielynn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Debbielynn)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape/86229/1 "2014-07-26T19:27:09Z")
on my way home from work traveling at 65 miles an hour, all of a sudden the oil light came on and i got steam or smoke coming from under my hood, and had to be towed home, after it was towed home I tried to start it and and the engine makes this whining sound now.it sounds as if it is trying to turn over but with less of a cranking sound. is the engine gone in it or could there be another issue? thanks for any help ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape/86229/2 "2014-07-26T19:37:06Z")
The presence of a lit-up oil warning light is…ominous. PLEASE do not attempt to start the engine, as this is analogous to asking somebody to run a marathon while experiencing chest pains–i.e–likely fatal. There are several possibilities, but none of them are cheap to fix. All I can suggest is that you have the car towed to a competent independent mechanic (NOT to a chain-run operation like AAMCO, Sears, Midas, Monro, Meineke, Pep Boys or a tire store), and tell them what you have described to us. Examination of the engine could reveal any of the following situations, and possibly more than one: > An engine that was heavily damaged by running it low on oil > An engine that overheated as a result of a coolant leak or a breached head gasket > A snapped timing belt (assuming that this engine utilizes a timing belt) Please report back to us when you get a diagnosis from the mechanic, and we can help you to decide on your options at that point. Sincere good luck to you! ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape/86229/3 "2014-07-26T19:38:38Z")
The engine is probably toast from running out of oil at high speed. But have a trusted local mechanic take a look. If the car is low miles you might want to have a used or rebult engine installed. But if the engine is in fact fried, I’d probably get rid of the car. An 11 year old Escape may not be worth saving.