General Head gasket problem?

[kyleclark2334]

I have a punto 2001 mk2 3 door 1.2. I think my head gasket has gone. It keeps overheating so i looked at the water and the water is black. I have driven it a few times since i first saw the problem but for no more than 5 minutes to avoid overheating. If it is the head gasket how much is it likely to cost to get it fixed by a good garage and will there be any additional costs due to the reasons above?

Thanks

 

[MikeSalt]

Do you know if the coolant was clean before you had these problems (I've seen Puntos so badly serviced they are effectively mud cooled). If it was clean before, then it sounds like oil is getting into your coolant through the head gasket.

Cannot remember exactly what I paid, something like £250-300, and it was a proper job too. Make sure that oil, oil filter, coolant, timing belt (may as well do the water pump too) and head bolts are replaced. The head will need to be skimmed to ensure a long life of the new gasket.

 

[dude]

hey there..how many kms on the engine? I replaced my at about 110000km... IT sounds like a head gasket problem,just make shure that who ever does the job to torque it properly...if not you will be replacing it very shortly again...i believe it`s 62 mn or atleast thats what it was on my 1.2l punto...good luck...

 

[kyleclark2334]

Its about 45,000 on the clock but it does a lot of short journeys. I was quoted £700 from a garage, would it be a similar cost if i took it back to fiat?

 

[richie.guy]

£700 is far too much money unless they're replacing the head. What were they replacing?

It should be more like £300-400 with new belts, tensioners, water pump, head skim etc.

Fiat will be double easily.

 

[kyleclark2334]

No just the gasket bits.. ill shop around