Hello, I hope that someone may be able to advise me on how best to proceed with a problem I've been having. I have only a basic understanding so would really appreciate being able to run this by some of the experts here.
My car had been in to the dealership twice before. First time was August 2007 at 47,152 miles. No problems with cooling system, no noises etc. Car has been running well since I purchased in April 2007 (it had done 40k when I purchased it). Have had no big repairs needed until recently.
I took the car in to dealership November 2008 reporting a gurgling noise, like running water, and loss of oil. They replaced an oil pump and they replaced the cylinder head gasket after detecting that this had failed ? causing the gurgling noise. They inspected the cylinder head as a matter of course, which appeared fine.
The fault never went away and after 200 miles I noticed coolant loss. The radiator had developed a leak causing this. I took the car back and the radiator leak was seen to be the cause of another head gasket failure. The head gasket was replaced and a new radiator was fitted. I expect that the cylinder head was inspected again and, seeming fine, this second failure was blamed on the radiator. I paid for new radiator but head gasket covered under warranty.
The gurgling noise never went away although no coolant was lost. Took the car back for verification of noise. Booked car in and although the air conditioning and heater matrix were checked no problems were found. Test showed the head gasket had failed again. I'm told this must mean that the cylinder head itself has a crack, although this cannot actually be seen
So I'm being told that the cylinder head developed a crack spontaneously - but this was never obvious. Had this been detected in November I would have had to pay for head gasket and cylinder head at that time. The radiator would have then failed and I would have had to have this replaced also. So I'm told that everything here is 'normal' but it seems odd to me. It has also been expensive and I've had to take the car back a number of times.
I'd appreciate advise on whether this is all feasible and I've just been unlucky. I don't really know enough to say whether the cylinder head could just have cracked one day and then caused all this. I need to get back to them by 19/01/08 about what to do next.
It's just that after 3 head gasket failures in three months I'd really appreciate some constructive input. Thank you.
Edited by Pugugly on 16/01/2009 at 19:05
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without seeing the head its difficult to comment but it sounds like the head had suffered a crack from the start causing air into the coolant creating the moisy circulation of water & air around the heater matrix. If the garage had of been prudent they would of had a crack test carried out whilst the head gasket was replaced.
cracks are not usually visable to the human eye!
Sounds like you have a combination of being unlucky & a garage that could of been more prudent in their diagnosis.
Whem i used to replace head gaskets I used to inspect the old gasket & if there was any doubt I would have a crack test carried out.
I Doc
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If it's an aluminium head, it will have warped. Has it been checked ?
Put bluntly after 2 failed HGs a semi competent garage would have inspected it very carefully.
Change your garage first.
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Thanks madf. I don't know what sort of head it is but will find out and be wary of it having warped if aluminium. They haven't specifically mentioned it being checked other than visually.
I have lost faith with this garage too. Yesterday was my 8th visit in 3 months during which time my car has been off the road for 14 days.
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Thanks for the help injection.doc. So it sounds like it is possible that, without over-heating or anything I noticed as out of the ordinary, the cylinder head could just have developed a crack - causing the first and subsequent HG failures.
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sadly heads are generally built to very poor quality & can crack at any time without overheating. there used to be a specialsit in north wales that specialised in head repairs for vauxhalls.I think with the garage repairing it three times they should offer to help as they clearly should know what they are doing as they are proffessional
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