Advice please - Blown cylinder head gasket - Vectra SRI
Discussion
Sorry that this post is very long but please read it as you may be able to advise me.
Recntly had a new water pump fitted to my car, within a day of getting it back from the main Vauxhall dealer the water coolant level warning light came on, so topped it up. Rang the garage to tell them and they said it would be alright now I had topped it up.
On Thursday was drving to York and the engine started misfiring at low revs (below 1500). the coolant warning light came on but the engine wasnt over-heating, so thought I only have a couple of miles to go and then I will check it out. When I got to York checked the levels and the expansion tank was just about empty.
Breakdown came out to it topped it up but it kept blowing the water out as if it wasnt circulating. Decided not to drive it any further and was uplifted by the breakdown truck who dropped it off at the main dealers.
They have phoned to say that it is the cylinder head gasket which has blown and it is going to cost £500.
Are there any mechanics out there who can advise me, was this my own stupid fault or was it because the garage hadn't checked for air-locks in the first place.
Recntly had a new water pump fitted to my car, within a day of getting it back from the main Vauxhall dealer the water coolant level warning light came on, so topped it up. Rang the garage to tell them and they said it would be alright now I had topped it up.
On Thursday was drving to York and the engine started misfiring at low revs (below 1500). the coolant warning light came on but the engine wasnt over-heating, so thought I only have a couple of miles to go and then I will check it out. When I got to York checked the levels and the expansion tank was just about empty.
Breakdown came out to it topped it up but it kept blowing the water out as if it wasnt circulating. Decided not to drive it any further and was uplifted by the breakdown truck who dropped it off at the main dealers.
They have phoned to say that it is the cylinder head gasket which has blown and it is going to cost £500.
Are there any mechanics out there who can advise me, was this my own stupid fault or was it because the garage hadn't checked for air-locks in the first place.
Hmmm.
Sounds like you don't live far from me as I live near York, if you need any independant advice.
Seems strange that the gasket went so soon after work on the cooling system, especially when the car needed topping up when you picked it up, that should not need to be done.
The question is:
Did the water pump failure cause the gasket to blow before the pump was fitted, this then causing the loss of water as you drove away from the garage hence having to top it up.
Or did the garage leave a bad airlock in the system which caused the gasket to blow.
If its the former then I am afraid its all your problem, if its the latter then they should remedy it for you.
Sounds like you don't live far from me as I live near York, if you need any independant advice.
Seems strange that the gasket went so soon after work on the cooling system, especially when the car needed topping up when you picked it up, that should not need to be done.
The question is:
Did the water pump failure cause the gasket to blow before the pump was fitted, this then causing the loss of water as you drove away from the garage hence having to top it up.
Or did the garage leave a bad airlock in the system which caused the gasket to blow.
If its the former then I am afraid its all your problem, if its the latter then they should remedy it for you.
What were the circumstances of your initial water pump failure?
If a dramatic fail then as suggested the head damage may have happened then.
If it only went in for replacement because you were fed up with the small leak then I would lay the blame on the garage that replaced the pump and failed to clear the air locks.
Steve
If a dramatic fail then as suggested the head damage may have happened then.
If it only went in for replacement because you were fed up with the small leak then I would lay the blame on the garage that replaced the pump and failed to clear the air locks.
Steve
Thanks for your replies guys, the car was leaking a small amount of water on to the drive, when left overnight, when it went in for its 80K service I asked them to investigate for me. It was then when they said the water pump needed replacing. Within hours of picking it up the coolant level indicator came on and I topped it up.
They were also sending the head away to be checked for damage so I am praying that there is nothing wrong with that. Hopefully I will hear today or tomorrow what I will have to pay.
They were also sending the head away to be checked for damage so I am praying that there is nothing wrong with that. Hopefully I will hear today or tomorrow what I will have to pay.
Katie F said:
Thanks for your replies guys, the car was leaking a small amount of water on to the drive, when left overnight, when it went in for its 80K service I asked them to investigate for me. It was then when they said the water pump needed replacing. Within hours of picking it up the coolant level indicator came on and I topped it up.
They were also sending the head away to be checked for damage so I am praying that there is nothing wrong with that. Hopefully I will hear today or tomorrow what I will have to pay.
They were also sending the head away to be checked for damage so I am praying that there is nothing wrong with that. Hopefully I will hear today or tomorrow what I will have to pay.
Nothing.
In my opinion it is their fault.
Are you with the AA or RAC so you can get a professional inspection done on your behalf.
Steve
impossible to prove it's garages fault I'm afraid - you gave the car to them with a coolant leak which they rectified - the head gasket may well have been already blown at that point (or not but there's no way of proving either way) if there was no clear evidence of extra damage there's not really much more they can do at the time (although I have to say if I'd done the repair I would have wanted to investigate the reason for you topping up so soon)
these engines don't really have air lock problems so it wont be a bleeding issue - the head gasket is a weak spot on ecotec engines and it doesn't take much overheating to breach it
sorry
these engines don't really have air lock problems so it wont be a bleeding issue - the head gasket is a weak spot on ecotec engines and it doesn't take much overheating to breach it
sorry
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