Technical headgasket or not please help???

[babyboi999]

i have a fiat uno n-reg 1996 and i was driving home when suddenly the engine cut out, and wouldnt start, when i opened the bonnet the coolant was boiling and the temp of the car was in the red, now the car wont start whats wrong please??

 

[Gav F]

im assuming the engine turns over?
is there a spark? got compression?
check inside the oil filler cap in the rocker cover for signs of coolant

 

[alexGS]

As Unonumero said - does the engine now turn over? We need a bit more detail other than 'won't start'

If it won't turn, take out spark plugs and try again. One cylinder could be full of water. If so, that points to a head gasket failure.

Usually though, I reckon the head gasket fails suddenly because of overheating, not the other way around. So you really need to look for split hoses, jammed thermostat, or failed water pump. What has the running temperature been like recently?

If the oil is genuinely free of water (and the other way around), then you can carefully fill the cooling system and try again, keeping an eye on the coolant level - but otherwise (any evidence of water in the oil/oil in the coolant) then I'd say the head has to come off.

Cheers,
-Alex