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Ok....first things first. Relax. Not necessarily because the situation warrants, but because worry is bad for the heart and blood pressure.
After reading your story I would suspect that there is one of two main things going on here, and possibly a combination therein.
I have seen multiple engine accessories fail when a serpentine belt is mounted too tightly. The bearings of the various components...alternator, water pump, power steering...are under too much load from the belt and they wear out early.
But it is interesting to me that the A/C compressor "seized" rather soon after what happened with your wife. This strikes a particular note to me because a compressor can be ruined rather quickly if the electric fan which is supposed to pull not only radiator heat, but also sluff heat off of the condenser, should fail to operate.
That brings us to the common connect between the compressor failing and the car overheating. I believe that the car has been overheating all along, and not because of a bad thermo switch, but because the fan is not fully functioning. I say the switch is okay because the fan should come on independent of the switch when the AC is turned on. I'll bet the fan is either not working or has an iffy ground.
Now, as for damage to the car...overheating is never a good thing, especially with delicate aluminum heads. But, I have had cars overheat to the point of stopping, and the heads, block and head gasket survived. You may be in luck if you don't have oil and water mixing, don't see steam out the tail pipe...you know the drill.
For what it is worth, I doubt the dealer is letting it overheat very badly at all. I would imagine that is did so to a far greater extent whilst on the road. Perhaps the warning sender is bad or failed to trigger...perhaps is was hot but not hot enough to trigger the warning?
Hope this helps....just chill and maybe get an independent opinion from another mechanic after they finish.
-CRIB
posted by 68.186.144...
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