hey everyone

just had the AA man out who informs me the cylinder head gasket is blown/about to.

i'll start ringing around garages tomorrow for quotes... anyone got a rough guide as to how much i can expect to be paying?

thanks

secretmachine said:

hey everyone

just had the AA man out who informs me the cylinder head gasket is blown/about to.

i'll start ringing around garages tomorrow for quotes... anyone got a rough guide as to how much i can expect to be paying?

thanks

Click to expand...

to do the job properly,the head needs skimming.so all in about £300.

yep about 300-350

ahh what fun... some people will have to go short on Christmas presents then!

can anyone advise what i should be asking for on the phone?
do i just need to say my head gasket needs replacing?

make sure you know the garage or the garage has a good rep, and their not ripping you off/they know what their doing.

Shop around also

On the phone say you want the headgasket replaced and the head skimmed etc itll make it sound like you know what your on about and they cant fleece you.

I did mine in June, It cost me £35 to get the (stripped down) Head skimmed and £35 for new parts , this basically consisted of a 'Head set' full gasket and seal set, plus an new set of bolts. I did all of the work myself though.
I also took this oppurtunity to replace my Timing belt(and tensioner pulley) and fan belt, along with a thorough internal (chemical) clean of the coolant system plus an oil/filter change.

So basically £70 minimum, plus any optional extras as you see fit.

Good luck, it's not a bad little job,make doubly, triply sure you don't drop any ****e either down the engine or onto the mating surfaces when you pop the head back on....

it's definitely a job i couldn't contemplate doing myself, so will have to be a garage job.

(fortunately) i've not had to use any local garages much, so don't have a 'regular', which is why i shall phone around and get some quotes from local places. will probably end up going to the place that did my MOT a few weeks back (first time i'd been there)

the only charge on top of the MOT was £1.00 for a brake light bulb! so at least they didn't try and fleece me on that.

fingers crossed...

(i'm in SW London if anyone knows of a reputable garage!)

secretmachine said:

it's definitely a job i couldn't contemplate doing myself, so will have to be a garage job.

(fortunately) i've not had to use any local garages much, so don't have a 'regular', which is why i shall phone around and get some quotes from local places. will probably end up going to the place that did my MOT a few weeks back (first time i'd been there)

the only charge on top of the MOT was £1.00 for a brake light bulb! so at least they didn't try and fleece me on that.

fingers crossed...

(i'm in SW London if anyone knows of a reputable garage!)

Click to expand...

PM Fiattech - lives in Tooting. Don't know if he would be interested. I'm in Streatham.

im in putney...

ive pm fiattech for him

Unfortunatly this is something Im not able to do myself at the moment - Im on hols and moving dealership after that.

The head gasket job would also need new belts and, depending on mileage water pump and thermostat to make a proper job of it - would check the head to see if skimming is needed.

Don't know of any decent garages round me or yourself that I would recommend - not much help really.

what punto you got? as if you have a 1.1 or 1.2 FIRE engine in your punto then it will be very unlikely that you will need the head skimming. When i did my headgasket on my cinq (1108 FIRE) the head was not skimmed and been fine for close on 2 years now.

Maybe something to consider if money is an issue, def get it done if the head needs it though.

HTH

david

Could try Firela Motors in Clapham ...they used to work upon my brother's Uno and are Fiat specialists

Firela Motors
354-356, Clapham Rd, London, SW9 9AR
Tel: 020 7622 7844

thanks for the help guys, really appreciated

will probably have to pay for a diagnostic test too... to see if it needs skimming, etc.

ah well, this is why the lord made credit cards!

For the £30 - £40 that it would cost to get the head machined I'd be inclined to err on the side of caution and get it done, It will also save on the amount of effort it might take to clean all of the old gasket gunk off and the ever present risk of scratching the surface if not careful. Once you made the decision to get your head done, you might as well do it properly....

ah well looks like it's going to be pricey, the most helpful garage said:

4.5 hours work @ £45/hour
£60 new set
£15 new bolts
£60 head skimming
£10 anti-freeze
+ changing oil filter

so near £400 +vat

and they can take it in pretty much asap