1998 (S Reg) Saxo - Water/temp light and heating not working - Saxperience

davejuk · 29th January 2011, 23:56

Hi

The heating in my girlfriend's 1998 (S Reg) Saxo has recently stopped working and the water/temp light comes on after a few miles. It might turn off for a bit but it is on most of the time. The water needed to topping up but it wasn't dry.

We obviously need to get it to a garage but it would be nice to go in there with some idea of what's wrong with it.

Sniffing around online points to the head gasket?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

JonCarter · 30th January 2011, 14:44

Seriously looks like headgasket, is there any gunk on the expansion bottle top or oil filler? is the oil like a mayo colour??

davejuk · 30th January 2011, 15:00

Yes! Creamy yellow deposit in the oil filler cap.

I take back what I said about the water being dry - we went and had a look, noticed it was dry and topped it up. Then read your post and went out to take pictures (below) and it was dry after just a few minutes without even driving it. No obvious leak on the road beyond a few drips that escaped when we were topping it up.

wolf_gsxr · 30th January 2011, 15:07

looks like headgasket mate. if you quite handy with stuff it isnt such a big job to do..

davejuk · 30th January 2011, 22:49

Thanks for your input guys.

I'd rather not spend a couple of hours fiddling about in the freezing cold doing something I'm not sure about when in all likeliness I'll screw it up and need to get it towed anyway!

I'll see if it can limp a couple of miles to the garage. I guess she's looking at something around the £400 mark?

saxo-parts · 30th January 2011, 22:52

head gasket replacement inc new timing belt and head skim 325 pounds inc parts and labour,but a bit of a trek from Bristol lol

davejuk · 1st February 2011, 16:57

Garage confirmed it's the head gasket and wants £450-£500, or more if the cylinders knackered.

mandyslover70a: I'll have to politely decline your offer

but I found another garage that will do it for £300 with timing belt, oil change, etc.

The cars only worth around £500 in good condition but unless she spends upwards of £2,000 she's going to get another pos that needs a similar amount spending on it.