al4x Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 sounds like the best bet, Its unlikely it was done when the clutch was done so bearing in mind the recent weather it could have frozen which is very bad news and may not just have popped out the core plugs or it is a leak but thats one hell of a leak and you'd see fluid peeing out of it when its hot or its head gasket related. Bearing in mind its recently bought with a knackered clutch I'd hate to bet against the previous owner flogging it on with a just starting HG problem. Does it start on the button or take a bit of turning over to get it to go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 This bloke / place you bought the motor, did it have big windows ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Have you got the address? Sound like **** in a jiffy bag time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 I'm saving my **** in a jiffy bag credit for a more worthy cause I don't think he knew the clutch was about to start slipping as there is no way to tell, I may have just got unlucky. As for the coolant I'm fairly certain this will have been caused when they've been doing the work on the clutch, but the labour was £125 in VAT for 3 - 4 hours work so as long as they put it right and I have no further problems I still haven't came off too badly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 (edited) PS starts on the button, down to about minus 13c on occasion and started from stone cold and engine fires up the second I turn the key EDIT: Typo Edited January 17, 2010 by smiiithy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 This morning I’ve took the car back to the garage to fault find the leaking coolant. Before I drove the Golf to the garage I topped the coolant bottle up with water and I didn’t get any warnings all the way there. I’ve just had a call from the garage who tell me they have had it running for the best part of 2 hours (I’ll be needing diesel then) and they can’t see it leaking anywhere. I’ve asked them to drain the coolant, refill it and put it on the rolling road. Turns out they’ve only got a break tester but I’m waiting for a further call to see what they can do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Have they pressure tested the system? If you can't see the coolant coming out then it is being lost inside the engine somewhere. Either through the head gasket and out the exhaust or into the oilways somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Sounds like head gasket trouble to me.. Does the water bottle smell of exhaust? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 you can also use an exhaust gas analyser to sniff the coolant bottle to check for leaks, any bubbles is a bad thing, Some coolant bottles do find their own level where if you overfill it vents the excess till its happy but that shouldn't be at a level that the dash indicator comes on at. Of course they could have bunged a bottle of rad weld in it which might just sort it for a while especially if its a fault they would be liable for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 No I was just about to ask if they had the equipment but the guy dealing with it is "in a meeting". Since when do mechanics have meetings? Have they pressure tested the system? If you can't see the coolant coming out then it is being lost inside the engine somewhere. Either through the head gasket and out the exhaust or into the oilways somewhere. I have noticed a smell when I park up, I was worrying it could be the new clutch but I thought I was being paranoid and it was the burned out clutch which was lying near by which is now binned Sounds like head gasket trouble to me.. Does the water bottle smell of exhaust? I think I might replace the bottle for the sake of £12 but waiting to see what they say first you can also use an exhaust gas analyser to sniff the coolant bottle to check for leaks, any bubbles is a bad thing, Some coolant bottles do find their own level where if you overfill it vents the excess till its happy but that shouldn't be at a level that the dash indicator comes on at. Of course they could have bunged a bottle of rad weld in it which might just sort it for a while especially if its a fault they would be liable for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 no point replacing the bottle as its that a bottle if you can't see a leak you're just throwing money away, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philm Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Sounds like a case of over filling to me. Over filled, when it reaches temp would lift the cap and release the excess plus a bit more, ie 1 litre missing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 But why did it come on in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 It's been tested and it's the head gasket Jiffy bags at the ready please Have you got the address? Sound like **** in a jiffy bag time :yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Have you been in touch with them that you bought it off.... shaun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 It's been tested and it's the head gasket Jiffy bags at the ready please Ouch, What is the damage? About £500 notes is my guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Ouch! Not cheap to repair... I'd estimate anywhere between £300 - £600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Waiting to hear back, the service manager who normally gives the prices is off so the guy covering isn't really sure. Bunch of ******* cow boys. The garage is advising me I should send the head gasket off to a specialist and get it 'skimmed'. Is this my best option or should I just get a new head gasket? I've been quoted £80+VAT from a local supplier. I already have a timing belt kit and water pump ready to fit so I suppose I might as well get them done since it's coming off anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 You will probably need it Skimmed as well... The garage should be able to advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 It is worth having the head skimmed, even more so if it is an aluminium one. You may as well have all the bits done while it is apart, a cam belt and waterpump aren't going to mkae that much difference with the work you are having done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 i think you will find he meant getting the head skimmed in case its warped through too much heat..... if it has and you dont get it done a new gasket wont work.... on the other hand once its all done fingers crossed it should be ok.... shaun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 you boys are being hopefull at £500 bearing in mind you need new timing belt gasket kit head bolts plus the skimming etc and its not the easiest engine in the world to get at I hope you're sitting down. Now is the tricky bit they often go after an engines overheated so you need to make damned sure its not leaking coolant still when you get it back. Did it go into the red at all when it was low previously? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 My Vectra was £500 when I had that done although that was 5 years ago, I successfully sued the Vauxhall main dealer for the cost of that as they had fitted a water pump to my car about 6 months prior and that had failed causing the car to overheat and damage the head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 (edited) 8 - 9 hours labour including the fitting of the timing belt and water pump £304+VAT Head tested, skimmed etc £65 If I take it down myself and pay cash I might well get it for £50 and I'm off tomorrow Total bill is going to be a maximum of £433 inc VAT My mechanic with the slipped disc is going to give one of the lads a call and see if I can get the labour knocked down by a further £50 or more Doing the timing belt and water pump in 6 months time would have been £200-300ish anyway? Edited January 18, 2010 by smiiithy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 thats very very cheap, just fingers crossed the head tests ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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