Head Gasket general costs

[AirVTS]

My saxo is overheating and a trusted garage has said that as well as the O2 sensor needing replacing (separate issue). He also says the wiring and relays to the cooling fan need replacing and cut back/new terminals put on as they are corroded. This should sort the overheating issue.

Overall this is costing me £185 including labour.

He says he is worried about the head gasket but won't know until he's sorted the cooling fan.

In preparation for this I was wondering if anyone new roughly how much a head gasket replacement would be?

I drive, or drove, a 2001 Saxo VTS.

Thank you

[Chris_O]

Why can't your mechanic do a sniff test to test whether the headgasket has actually gone?

[PosiSaxo]

done mine on about 17 quid, just a gasket.. no skimming no new seals or bolts!

Pikey 4 Lyf

[crutchs]

Check your oil see if its creamy. Start your engine for 30 secs then undo the coolant cap. If it hisses then the head gaskets gones.
Not hard to tell if a head gaskets gone

[AirVTS]

As a complete novice with cars I have to take what the garage tells me.

Should he be able to tell if its gone already then?? The coolant cap used to hiss on its own after the car had been running for a while but I think this was just a dodgy cap?

[Pricklep]

Originally Posted by PosiSaxo

done mine on about 17 quid, just a gasket.. no skimming no new seals or bolts!

Pikey 4 Lyf

Good luck with that.

[MartinObviously]

Originally Posted by PosiSaxo

done mine on about 17 quid, just a gasket.. no skimming no new seals or bolts!

Pikey 4 Lyf

I have re-used head gaskets before. beat that. cost = nil. (also lasted 36,000 miles and just starting to weep oil from the corner)

Originally Posted by AirVTS

As a complete novice with cars I have to take what the garage tells me.

Should he be able to tell if its gone already then?? The coolant cap used to hiss on its own after the car had been running for a while but I think this was just a dodgy cap?

from stone cold, he means start it and run for 20-30 seconds and see if it hisses. Cooling systems are designed to pressurise to around 10-15psi because it helps stop boiling of the water slightly.

If you can't see water in the oil, or oil in your coolant, get a compression test done.

If all of the above is ok, and so is the compression test then it's not the head gasket.

Sounds like your trusted mechanic is just being a bit lazy

[AirVTS]

Originally Posted by MartinObviously

Sounds like your trusted mechanic is just being a bit lazy

Looks like ill have to kick his a** then!

What price am I looking at if the head gasket would need replacing? Under £300? Approximately.

[0rang3peel]

Originally Posted by AirVTS

Looks like ill have to kick his a** then!

What price am I looking at if the head gasket would need replacing? Under £300? Approximately.

probably like, £150 absolute max in parts and a few hours labour, whatever he charges

[Cam]

I've just done mine,



Headgasket set was £50 head bolts £20 head skim £40.

[jasonmayall]

Originally Posted by PosiSaxo

done mine on about 17 quid, just a gasket.. no skimming no new seals or bolts!

Pikey 4 Lyf

I would have at least forked out for some oil and coolant...

[AirVTS]

Originally Posted by 0rang3peel

probably like, £150 absolute max in parts and a few hours labour, whatever he charges

Thanks man. It's less than I thought which is good! *touchwood*

And Cam if I had the skill and knowledge to do it myself I would. But seeing me trying to work on a car is more painful than sitting on one of your own nuts!

Not worth doing