URGENT HELP! Head Gasket

[Cosmocattell]

I need to know how much a head gasket is likely to cost to repair for a Mercedes Sprinter 2002 Number plate is kx52lmm. This really is urgent I’ve just spent all my money on this van and I’m now stuck miles from Home middle of night and I don’t know whether to get my money back or not. It was cheap as they had it part exchange so I knew the risk but it literally lasted about 40 miles before I stopped and be it wouldn’t start again. I need this van and I’m willing to spend some money on fixing it but I just want to know how much it’s gonna cost roughly so I can try and get some money back, I think they knew about tiis and fked me over. Thanks to anyone who can help!

[ghost83]

Trader or private sale?

[Integroo]

Google suggests 800 to 1200 quid.

[Cosmocattell]

fk... it was from a fairly big dealership who sell new vans - http://www.hccapel.co.uk/ . They got it part exchange and wanted a quick sell it all looked really good full mot, clean, running well so I bought it. Who knows if they knew anything about it, I will try and find out tomorrow. Thanks for your quick replies this forum always save me!

[Boosted LS1]

Only 6 posts OP? Got any pics?

[Cosmocattell]

What do you need need pic of?

[Hammer67]

Unless you bought it on a "Spares or Repair" basis and collected it on a trailer, the dealer has to sort it or take the van back and refund your money.

In reality though, it may not be quite as straightforward as that.

Ring them up and see what they say.

[Josho]

What’s the symptoms

[HustleRussell]

If the head gasket was blowing and you continued driving it until it stopped you may well have terminally fked the engine, the best policy is always to pull over in a safe place and investigate at the first sign of trouble. A head gasket is likely a four-figure bill but a warrantied used replacement engine supplied and fitted will be a multiple of that amount.

You need to be onto the supplying dealer first thing in the morning as it seems likely the fault existed before you took possession.

[steve-5snwi]

To do it properly will cost more than the £1300 you paid for it, you might also want to look at the advert that states sold on a trade basis with all faults known and unknown.

[Leptons]

If I was really skint -



But anyway, see what the dealer says first.

[Cosmocattell]

Recovery guy believes head gasket due to engine temp rising rapidly, water hose being hard and water being really pressurised. When I was looking at the van (before purchase) I opened the water cap and it blew off like fired into the bonnet pretty hard with a lot of steam coming out. The van had only been running less than 30 secs to move it out of a parking spot and hadn’t been driven at all before that for a few days at least. The guy said he didn’t know everything about sprinters so so called someone who did who said that this was normal for sprinters (and vw crafters, apparently same engine). This sure now seems like I’ve been totally fked by these guys - would they have known it was probably a head gasket fault? I know nothing about engines or mechanics by the way if that wasn’t obvious. Thanks for all your replies

[Leptons]

Cosmocattell said:

Recovery guy believes head gasket due to engine temp rising rapidly, water hose being hard and water being really pressurised. When I was looking at the van (before purchase) I opened the water cap and it blew off like fired into the bonnet pretty hard with a lot of steam coming out. The van had only been running less than 30 secs to move it out of a parking spot and hadn’t been driven at all before that for a few days at least. The guy said he didn’t know everything about sprinters so so called someone who did who said that this was normal for sprinters (and vw crafters, apparently same engine). This sure now seems like I’ve been totally fked by these guys - would they have known it was probably a head gasket fault? I know nothing about engines or mechanics by the way if that wasn’t obvious. Thanks for all your replies

Basically you’ve taken the Rad cap off while running and now it’s got an airlock, or it’s shafted because it’s overheated because you removed the rad cap. Have you explained this to AA man? Try and bleed it up!

[Oldandslow]

Or exhaust gases leaking into the water through a blown gasket. If it's cold and pressurised its a gasket leak and it'll air lock itself pronto. If it was doing that at the dealers I'm surprised you got 40 miles.

[Cosmocattell]

I signed a declaration that said “sold as seen with no warranty implied or given.” Can anyone offer any advice on where I stand on a legal basis on this

[Torquey]

I know very little about this other than what I've read in here but if you paid the garage then you should have at least 30 days cover should something like this go wrong. If you paid a dodgy man outside of a company you may struggle.

Basically - I believe the garage are liable no matter what rubbish they get you to sign. You may have to use some threatening words like small claims court, citizens advice or fit for purpose to get through to them though.

[dieseluser07]

Cosmocattell said:

I signed a declaration that said “sold as seen with no warranty implied or given.” Can anyone offer any advice on where I stand on a legal basis on this

I did this exact thing before and the car was fked, they obviously knew it was fked.

You still have rights under trading standards, i threatened to take the garage to court and they said they will take me to court, i gave up as i wasent willing to lose money in legal fees

[indapendentlee]

Cosmocattell said:

I signed a declaration that said “sold as seen with no warranty implied or given.” Can anyone offer any advice on where I stand on a legal basis on this

IANAL but I think The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is your friend here - from a dealer those words are meaningless. If it says sold as spares or repairs or details the faults in the invoice it's slightly different but otherwise the dealer is legally obliged to fix it and if they can't do so you're entitled to reject it within 30 days for a refund.

[HustleRussell]

Leptons said:

Cosmocattell said:

Recovery guy believes head gasket due to engine temp rising rapidly, water hose being hard and water being really pressurised. When I was looking at the van (before purchase) I opened the water cap and it blew off like fired into the bonnet pretty hard with a lot of steam coming out. The van had only been running less than 30 secs to move it out of a parking spot and hadn’t been driven at all before that for a few days at least.

Basically you’ve taken the Rad cap off while running and now it’s got an airlock, or it’s shafted because it’s overheated because you removed the rad cap. Have you explained this to AA man? Try and bleed it up!

Not possible, if the engine had been running for literally 30 seconds there should be no pressure at all in the system and obviously no chance of boiling. If what the OP is saying is accurate that is basically head gasket failure conformed (and likely the reason the van was traded in for peanuts).

[RRLover]

Possible cracked head if pressurising right away.
Dealer is liable.
Spares or repairs is the only way to sell them for no come back.