do i need a new head gasket ?

[Simon]

i only bought my 1242cc W Reg Brava yesterday, i drove it from wolverhampton too Portmouths last night, the heating didnt work the entire way (only blowing cold) the last 20 miles or so the temp gage was like a rev counter. loads of people have told me today that my head gasket is on its way out.
i have taken it into a Fiat dealer. should i expect the worsed ???????
or could it be something else ????

 

[Anonymous]

You need more than a gasket, the head will need skimming.

Does sound like HG failure, very common on the 1.2.

 

[Simon]

whats HG failior?

 

[Simon]

garage have been on the phone. the girl said they have run a diognostice on the head gasket. and it seems ok. however the waqter pump has gone, they will replace it on thursday. and then once the water is flowing round they will run the test again, is that good news?

 

[Anonymous]

Head Gasket Failure

 

[Anonymous]

Head Gasket

 

[Anonymous]

Defiantely good news, (cheaper fix) it'll be about £100-£150 Job if its done at Fiat, less if at an independant. But knowing fiat they are not always right at first go.

Water Pump is around £40-£50. Rest will be labour and diagnostics.

 

[Simon]

what do you reccon? will the second diognostic show HG faliure or is that just Fiat making a couple more quid out of me by running the test twice?

 

[Simon]

also is there any thing i can do to prevent HG failure ?

 

[Anonymous]

I bet they never said they'll be doing another test. You will have to find out for yourself if its solved it or not. A return to fiat will mean paying for a diagnostic again to see whats wrong.

Regarding HG failure, well you can't stop it happening but make sure you learn the tell tale signs early to get it done asap before it gets worse and leaves you stranded.

 

[stephen01]

did you take it to the Stourbridge garage?

 

[simon]

nar i took it to a main fiat dealer in Portsmouth (Perrys) ive got it back now, it cost me 98 quid.

however there is a swooshing water noise coming from under the bonnet now.

 

[simon]

it had a new thermostat fitted