Technical Dad's Cinquecento Cooling problems

[tonym]

In September Dad 's cinquecento "S" R Reg overheated. Found the fan was not cutting in. Took it to the dealer and during the week they replaced temp gauge, fan switch and radiator.All seemed OK but Dad at 85yrs wanted more reliable vehicle to fetch his pension so bought new Ford.Trade in price for Cinq poor so I said I would sell it privately. After 3 weeks standing last week I started it no problem, but found after five minutes driving that it was overheating. I should have checked the water level but didn't. When I got back found no coolant.Refilled and it seemed Ok but damage was done and head gasket has now gone ..there was no sign of it being gone before..started first time, no noticeable steam in exhaust etc.
Local mechanics seem to have little respect for the Cinq ..they are not surprised the problem is head gasket and raise doubts about value of spending on it but thought I would ask your views.Body etc is good and it ran well before these problems.It seems a pity to write it off, but before selling it on we would need to be confident we are not passing on a major problem with a temporary patch up.

What do you think?

TonyM

 

[rallycinq]

The way prices are at the moment, getting a garage to do the head gasket job would make a serious dent in the value of the car. I think it would be better to sell, 'as is' and declare the head gasket problem. Then you can sell with a clear conscience.

If a Sporting of that age is fetching around the £800, then an 'S' is possibly only £500. Taking a couple of hundred to the garage, if your lucky, nett worth £300 ish.

Cheers

D

 

[dave]

a clapped out old m reg standard 9.0 cinq with a realy noisey engine and obvious bad front end repair went at local car auction for £450 last week , i thought i was gonna get it for about £20

EDIT sorry forgot to say, welcome tony
get a haynes manual and you can do the job yourself in a day for less than £100

 

[rallycinq]

a clapped out old m reg standard 9.0 cinq with a realy noisey engine and obvious bad front end repair went at local car auction for £450 last week , i thought i was gonna get it for about £20

Where is that auction, we need to know.

Cheers

D

 

[dave]

essex

 

[Steven]

Where are you in the country Tony? and welcome to the forum.

 

[tonym]

Thanks to SteveC, Dave and Rallycinq for advice
I am in Alfreton Derbyshire. Tempted to have a go at it myself, but years of company cars have made me a bit soft about getting the oil under the fingernails again! And finding the time of course. Car is taxed and MOT'd till July so there should be some value

Rgds
TonyM

 

[rallycinq]

Go for it, its just like doing a Mini, there is no overhead cam to worry about and the tappets are hydraulic. The only thing you might need is a shortened allen key to get the combined rocker box/inlet manifold off.

Cheers

D