Help and opinion needed!

[Thefixer007]

Seat Leon cupra r 1.8t

So my devoloped a gurgling sound / water rushing noice after being driven (later found this could of been the after run pump)so took to a garage and asked if I could have the headgasket tested
They said it failed a test
So I said if it's gone begin the work
I bought the head gasket set
Cam belt
Water pump
Plugs and fluid
They got the rest bolts head skimmed and tested
2 1/2 weeks later they said the cars done so drove it home only to notice oil in the coolent drained the coolent for it to come out brown told them about it there response was that's not pink, and started to blame a possible fault with the hg from euro car parts which as good reviews
I tell them as it needs to come back as it's still got black bits in it there response were fully booked till mid Sep forgive me if I'm wanting my car back but you should be going out of your way to resolve this as some thing my not be right I also found a shard of metal in the coolent tank after the 2nd filling which I shown them it may be nothing I don't know what's your guys opinion the picture was took as soon as I got home

[stevieturbo]

So you're just saying there is some dirt in the water ? Or something else ? Your post is unclear.


And as you supplied the parts and had someone else do the labour....expect to be fully charged for all labour involved with any "warranty" disputes unless somehow you can prove their work was negligent.


Although a simple gurgling noise is hardly sufficient to warrant head gasket concerns !! Exactly what test did they do ?

A lot does sound like you've led yourself into work that didnt need done...and gone about getting it done in a risky manner open to problems.

[Boosted LS1]

I wouldn't worry about that picture. My coolant has all sorts of bits in the expansion tank but at 200'000 miles I'm not bothered. if a compression test is fine then move on.

[Thefixer007]

Apart from the parts I orderd £230 and had sent to them
Headgasket
Coolent
Oil
Plugs
Waterpump and cam belt kit
They got the rest off the shelf and say they sent the head for testing skimming there bill £430 end amount £660
Here's a pic after collecting the car and draining the coolant

It could be fine it's just there response we can't do anything till the 6th of Sep what!!!
And they said they knew the hg was gone as there was exhaust gasses in the coolant I was just conserved regarding the gurgling which I now beleave it was the after run pump

[Thefixer007]

I agree I now feel the work may of not needed doing but they was adiment the hg had failed letting in exhaust gasses I just took it in explains it making the noice but not over heating not boiling not leaking the informed me the head gasket needed doing

[Boosted LS1]

My coolant looks like that. I think it's partly rust from the block along with the coolant's colour. You could remove the lower hose and flush the engine through with clear water. That would be a good place to start and in theory the water should stay pretty clean after that?

[Thefixer007]

Thanks for the advice guys I'll let the garage do that it could be just st after it's been took apart I hope

[stevieturbo]

Thefixer007 said:

It could be fine it's just there response we can't do anything till the 6th of Sep what!!!
And they said they knew the hg was gone as there was exhaust gasses in the coolant I was just conserved regarding the gurgling which I now beleave it was the after run pump

You think the garage should just sit about waiting for your car to come to them with no other work ? To be at your beck and call ?

So reality...there were no symptoms of a HG issue...they did a single test..which may or may not have been conclusive and work was done. Using parts from various sources ( always bad idea )

And now again there are no real symptoms of a problem...and you want more work done ? Why did you drain the water again ?

I'm still confused here.

[Thefixer007]

By no means do I expect them to sit round waiting for me but I wouldn't call brown and oil in coolant nothing as well as metal shards
Why wouldn't I drain is having oil and metal shards in it can't be good
And no I never got parts from all over the place parts are parts and it's not as if they was cheap my main consern is it went in with what I thought was a problem now as come out with some strange issues I expect a problem to be resolved ASAP as would of they liked me to hold on with there labour costs? Now they was adamant the hg had gone if a garage tells u that u tend to beleave them

[Thefixer007]

I haven't asked them to wait for me to bring the car to them I informed them of the issues and dropped it off instantly

[Thefixer007]

All I'm doing is giving the right to resolve any issues before I take it else where to be looked at and determain any faults and what work as been carried out and if to standard

[stevieturbo]

Thefixer007 said:

All I'm doing is giving the right to resolve any issues before I take it else where to be looked at and determain any faults and what work as been carried out and if to standard

And what will happen...is they will say any parts YOU supplied were at fault and you will be liable for all costs relating to any further work.

If you want any sort of warranty.....you take the car to the garage and they supply/fit all parts.

That way if there is a problem, you played no part in it. But with you supplying some parts, there is always a get out excuse for them.
And just because you return a car promptly to a garage..doesnt mean they kept their workbooks open for you returning. No doubt they will have work already booked in.

To them this looks like a new paying job, join the queue. It may or may not be relating to previous work carried out, and as said, chances of any warranty with that work is slim-none because you supplied the parts.

And what you perceive is oil, or dirty water...could mean little. Although I still dont get why you drained it ? It isnt normal for someone to randomly drain their coolant shortly after having a HG done ?

[George111]

Thefixer007 said:

It could be fine it's just there response we can't do anything till the 6th of Sep what!!!
And they said they knew the hg was gone as there was exhaust gasses in the coolant I was just conserved regarding the gurgling which I now beleave it was the after run pump

It is holiday season, with people on holiday. 6th is only a week and a bit away.

Why didn't you just flush and refill the cooling system and give it a couple of heat cycles to see what happens ? Might need additional bleeding possibly ? I don't see any reason to take it back.

[Penelope Stopit]

George111 said:

Thefixer007 said:

It could be fine it's just there response we can't do anything till the 6th of Sep what!!!
And they said they knew the hg was gone as there was exhaust gasses in the coolant I was just conserved regarding the gurgling which I now beleave it was the after run pump

It is holiday season, with people on holiday. 6th is only a week and a bit away.

Why didn't you just flush and refill the cooling system and give it a couple of heat cycles to see what happens ? Might need additional bleeding possibly ? I don't see any reason to take it back.

^^^^^^^^ This

[Thefixer007]

I drained it due to the oil and metal bits in the coolant I can't see anything being wrong with new parts but you never know
It's just unsettling having oil and metal in coolant after that sort of job

[Thefixer007]

So are you guys saying its normal after a job like this to have metal and oil in the coolant

[stevieturbo]

Thefixer007 said:

So are you guys saying its normal after a job like this to have metal and oil in the coolant

It's not normal for people to randomly drain their coolant for no reason after a HG change lol

It is very rare for coolant to be spotlessly clean, except perhaps after a brand new build.

What the cause/source of whatever you are seeing in the coolant is another matter. But certainly during head removal, fluids can get mixed to a certain degree when the head is removed simply because it is almost impossible to avoid it, unless the engine was allowed to sit and drain for a few days prior to head removal...and even then there would still be some spillage

The thread right from the start almost sounds like you want there to be a problem, you want work to be done....despite there never being any actual symptoms of a problem.
Whether the test this garage done was genuine or not....we've no way to tell here.

But it certainly wouldnt be the first time a garage has ripped someone off by doing un-needed work, or wrongly diagnosing...etc etc.
It may have needed to be done, but never do you actually mention any symptoms of a problem, let alone an actual problem that even warranted a test.

And it still seems you're following that path...looking for a problem, wanting there to be a problem....yet no real symptoms of any problem ?

Edited by stevieturbo on Sunday 28th August 12:11

[Thefixer007]

Agree to some point!
Agree on that oil could be from left over work but it's the metal shavings that worry me and if there is a problem I would rather catch it in early stages trust me the last thing I want is a issue or wish there to be
I drained the coolant because of the oil it can't do any good and could lead to blocked pipes ect

[Thefixer007]

I also agree the work may of not needed doing
But least I got the cam belt and waterpump changed out of it so hopefully it isn't a complete waist

[Fastdruid]

Thefixer007 said:

Agree to some point!
Agree on that oil could be from left over work but it's the metal shavings that worry me and if there is a problem I would rather catch it in early stages trust me the last thing I want is a issue or wish there to be
I drained the coolant because of the oil it can't do any good and could lead to blocked pipes ect

The head has been skimmed. It's very possible that there was a small amount of shavings remaining in the water passages.