How much to replace head gasket?

[Kentish]

Anyone have an idea at how much we are looking at to replace a head gasket on a 2005 1.2 Twinport Corsa - looks like a twin cam engine - not mine and I don't know a huge amount about it.

It wasn't driven far and didn't overheat but I guess it'll still need the head skimming.

Any special tools required (this may influence where it's taken for repair) and is it the sort of thing a mobile mechanic can do on a drive if they go for a cheaper repair option?

Unfortunatley, it is 5 months overdue for a service and hence the manufacturers warranty is void.

[onomatopoeia]

Kentish said:

It wasn't driven far and didn't overheat but I guess it'll still need the head skimming.

Don't know anything about Vauxhalls but if it needs the head skimming then the owner has been very unlucky - I've blown more head gaskets than I care to count (the joys of Imp ownership and aluminium alloy engines) including boiling the water and disappearing in a cloud of steam and have never had a head warp.

[Andy_sx]

the head should be skimmed just to be on the safe side, this alone can cost circa £100.

mobile mech will be able to do allmost all of the work on the drive bar the skimming, but there are plenty of places around the se that can do it (engineering shops are best, while you wait and if you lucky you can get it for £50 ish, but anticipate a bit more to be on the safe side)

only real special tool needed is a valve spring compressor, and possibly special socket type tool to remove the head. mobile mech can strip head off and then strip the head down easily enough for you to get skimmed and then get him out to rebuild. while at it you may aswell replace cambelt and tensioners (circa £100 for parts through motor factors i would have thought) then you just need a new gasket

all in id say allow roughly £300 ish...

i did mine on my drive (1.2 16v bravo) and gave the head to my brother to skim for a crate of beer, reground the valves, new belts and tensioners, full top end gasket and seal set plus full service at the same time (plugs, leads, oil filter, oil, cleaned induction cone, gear box oil swap, coolant swap and break fluid change for £150 parts

ETA: make it closer to £400 - 450 incl cam belt

Edited by Andy_sx on Thursday 25th October 10:45

[Kentish]

thanks chaps

[Kentish]

Uhhm, this isn't going too well.

Vauxhall said the warranty on the car is now void b/c it is 5 months overdue for it's 20k mile service. The car has currently done 19k miles.

So the AA recommended the local Nationwide Autocentre and also said she will get 20% off as an AA member and he took her Corsa there.

Nationwide have called to say they may not be able to do the work b/c it may have a timing chain and if it has a cambelt they may need special tools to re-time the engine.

Does the Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 16v twin cam (2005 1.2 twinport) have a chain?
I though most small VX's are belt and I wouldn't have thought a Corsa head gasket is a complex repair which the chap at the garage suggested it is.

[Kentish]

Anyone know about the belt/chain?

Cheers!

K

[215cu]

I would imagine like all Vauxhall engines it's belt driven with a pulley to drive the water pump as well.

As a result, most decent mechanics recommend..

Replacing the plastic water pump pulley for metal.
Get the pump replaced with a cambelt change

As for HGF, skims will ensure a solid seal for the gasket, however, you are obviously limited how often you can do this.

I reckon, non-dealer, thorough job around £600 the lot.

[Kentish]

Thanks 215, so I'm not that out of touch with VX's - not sure what this bloke at the garage it was recovered to is on about.

[Andy_sx]

as 215 said, i'd be supproised if it was a chain on the 1.2 twinport, gut instinct would say exactly as 215 said, belt running everything

[dern]

Kentish said:

Anyone know about the belt/chain?

The fact that the garage don't know would preclude me from using them anyway.

[smilerbaker]

if your in kent the take it down to Britannia MOT & Repair Centre Ltd in maidstone 01622 718888 I can't recommend them enough, they have been doing all the work on my and my inlaws cars for the past few years.

sorry if this breaks the ad rule, I have nothing to do with this company. But the old boy there knows his stuff and gives genuine customer service.

[ninjaboy]

If its belt there should be a big plastic cover on the sde of the engine covering the belt. If its chain it's most likely internal to keep the noise down so you will only see belts for aircon and stuff.

[Kentish]

Thanks for replies.

I have more news, it's apparently a 1.4 multi valve ecotec engine and the quote so far is £800 and that's with a 20% discount

I'm ringing reputable garages nearby for quotes, some say it has a belt and some a chain

Thanks for the recommendation of the garage but getting it too far will be a challenge and will be with a tow rope!