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Author Topic: head gasket?  (Read 1435 times)

Offline Tom mk2

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head gasket?
« on: 12 February 2009, 18:51 »
hello all! I asked about my heater not working on here about a week or 2 ago and got the usual responses - heater matrix, diverter valves, water pump etc. Decided to get it checked out by a garage to see what they thought and they said they think it's the head gasket.

Only I haven't noticed any symptoms of this  :huh: the car hasn't been heating up quickly, always takes a good few minutes to get upto temp and doesn't overheat, the water level is still at the top; i haven't put any in and it's done around 500 miles since I've had it. So could they be wrong?

Thanks
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Offline Conker

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Re: head gasket?
« Reply #1 on: 12 February 2009, 20:54 »
Quote from: Tom mk2 on 12 February 2009, 18:51
So could they be wrong?


Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.


Garages seem to love saying "its the headgasket", it must give them the horn or something. Did they compression test it, or did they just scratch their arses while they read the Daily Sport? Probably the latter.


If it takes ages to warm up, with no eventual overheating, perhaps the thermostat is stuck open, so the engine's circualting too much coolant round the radiator, giving the exact symptoms you describe.

It could be other [cheap to fix] things too.
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Offline JC

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Re: head gasket?
« Reply #2 on: 12 February 2009, 20:59 »
where you at tom, might be someone on here local that could have a look for ya  :wink:
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Offline Tom mk2

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Re: head gasket?
« Reply #3 on: 12 February 2009, 21:02 »
I'm in staffordshire, stoke-on-trent to be exact!  :smiley:

the thermostat was replaced by the bloke a couple of weeks before I bought it (3 weeks ago) so shouldn't be that he did say it had just had new coolant in it so possibility he hasn't bled it through and theres an airlock?
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Offline Tom mk2

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Re: head gasket?
« Reply #4 on: 12 February 2009, 21:04 »
oh and no I dont think they did compression test it, i was only in for about 10 mins - only managed one v.quick flcik through this months PVW!
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Offline RnP

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Re: head gasket?
« Reply #5 on: 12 February 2009, 21:14 »
was it a new thermostat or a 2nd hand one that was put in it ?
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Offline Tom mk2

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Re: head gasket?
« Reply #6 on: 12 February 2009, 23:17 »
yes as far as I know it was a new thermostat
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Offline Tom mk2

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Re: head gasket?
« Reply #7 on: 13 February 2009, 14:13 »
had the coolant tested today and it came back clear, garage said that showed there was a 99% chance it wasn't the head gasket which is good :D meaning that it's probably the heater matrix orr diverter valves as the pipes are all getting warm so thermostat must be working.
thanks people!
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