Technical Head Gasket Recommendation

[Abul]

Hey there people!
I'm new to the forum and have come to you guys for advice. Well i've just bought a Punto 75SX for £650 from auction about 1 week ago. Problem is that the head gasket went the next day. I've heard that this isn't really expensive being that mine is a 1242cc model. I don't really have any knowledge of fixing the car apart from just basic things.
So I was wondering does anyone have any recommendation of where I night be able to get my car repaired near around the Dartford & Crayford area, or any area close to that really. Oh yeah, the head gasket went because of my fan switch. A mechanic showed me that it doesn't work but, when he put some little thing in near the fan it started working. Dont know whether it was a fuse or something. Does anyone know from experience whether the fan switch is included as a repair when getting your head fixed.
I'd appreciate every help i can get from you guys!
Thanks people!

 

[dave]

the switch is not included in the repair. the cost varies from garage to garage, another guy from your area bexley heath was getting quotes of £500 wich is dear others have got theres done for £250 including skimming but in diffrent parts of the country. get a new timming belt fitted at the same time as they have to take it off anyway, and make sure they fit new headbolts ask then to keep your old ones.

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[dave]

another member from dartford called evil punto says this...Park road garage in Dartford do a lot of my stuff, they are very reasonable. Give a ring on 01322 271000, they can usually fit work in quickly and their rates are excellent.



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[Abul]

Hi dave and everyone else!
Just wondering, is timing belt and cambelt the same thing? Also apart from asking for the old head bolts back should I ask for all the old parts back that were replaced?

* New Bolts
* Head Skim
* New Timming Belt
* Tenshioner
* Oil Filter
* Plugs
* Coolent

The stuff highlighted in red are the things that i've been advised to get replaced. Am I missing anything?

I'm amazed at the amount of forums on here regarding head gaskets. Thanks for that recommendation in Dartford, i'll give em a ring!
Thanks!!!

 

[dave]

you cant get the skim back thats just taking a thin layer of metal off the bottom of the head to make sure its flat. coolent (water anti-freeze mix) you can't get back because there are now strict rules on disposal, but it wont hurt to ask for the other things then you know for sure they have been replaced.

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[JonnyBoy]

You list doesn't include oil; whatever you do don't put the old oil back in!
As for the fan switch, the mechanic will just have bridged the switch contacts to bypass it and supply power to the fan.

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[dave]

sorry forgot timing belt and cambelt is the same thing

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[Abul]

Oooooooooooooops!
I've just relised i've asked for the old oil, coolent and head skim back! How stupid of me, sorry about that bit guys! By the way, a mate said that it is possible to do it myself by using reading the guidelines from a Haynes Manual. I might try that out, to gain the experience and to save a few quid, hehe!

Sorry to nag on about this again, but is the timing belt and cambelt the same thing or two different parts?

Thanks!

 

[dave]

yeah its very easy on an 8valve punto, but do get a headgasket set with new bolts, do find a local engineering shop to skim the head £30-£50, do fit new timing belt and tenshioner, follow the bit in haynes manual for refilling the cooling system to the letter it takes a while to do but airlock on a punto kills headgaskets,
And get the bits from a motor factors not fiat dealer or halfords. you should have a wilco in kent they are cheep was under £25 for a headgasket set with bolts from them last year.
oh yeah fit new spark plugs aswell they may have got oil and/or water on.
EDIT sorry you dont have a wilco in kent they dont go that far south nearest to you is colchester thats an hour drive, http://www.wilcofastfit.co.uk/wilco/branches.asp

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[dave]

oh yeah you will need a torque wrench £15 from argos and a dial gauge £5 for a draper one, you can make one out of cardboard but better to get the propper tool.

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[cioccixxx]

cardboard [:0]

 

[dave]

Originally posted by cioccixxx
cardboard [:0]

A card board "dial gauge" not gasket or torque wrench, you see there are 3 stages to tightening the head first you use a torque wrench, second you have to tighten the bolts a further 90 degreese, same for third stage, so you get a circle of card board mark out you 90 degreese make hole on middle for tool to go through you can then move the tool from 1 line to the other getting an exact 90 degreese (1/4) turn.
excuse the spelling.

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[Abul]

Hmmmmmm[?]
I'll give it a try and let you guys know the result