Technical Seicento sporting problem arrrrghhhhhhhhhh !!

[SPORTING1.1]

I really hope someone can help as this is doing my head in!!.just got a 1998 seicento sporting and due to the fact that there was hardly any service history i had a full service, cambelt and alternator all changed. When i first got the car the other day it did seem to idle quite roughly but not to bad. Since i had it serviced it seems as if it runs on 3 cylinders when idling and then clears itself, when you drive the car though it pulls cleanly with no stuttering at all they said at the garage that it could be due to headgasket failing and i have noticed that it does get quite hot quite quickly as the fan cuts in quite a bit (or is that normal ?).
HELP PLEASE !.
thanks for reading :bang:

 

[rallycinq]

Poor idling but good at higher engine spped is an indication that the gasket may have gone between two cylinders.

This will have no effect on the temperature, but may have been caused by the engine getting hot.

Check the cooling system is properly bled, then compression test watching the needle carefully as it pumps up.

Fluttering indicates the gasket problem.

Cheers

D

 

[SPORTING1.1]

Thanks for that, my worst fears were answered !!, it's just started doing it, so if i catch it now before it gets worse, it shouldn't be too expensive to get the head gasket done, should it ?.
I have also noticed that the radiator is starting to corrode due to the fact that the head will have to be taken off and the coolant drained would you advise getting the radiator done at the same time ?
You wouldn't have an idea of how much this would cost aswell ?
Thanks for reading !

 

[reddy4bed]

Before you go down the head gasket route I would get someone independant to check the cambelt has been timed properly. Get them to align TDC through the hole in the top of the bellhousing rather than the bottom sprocket. I bet its a tooth out.

 

[SPORTING1.1]

Ran car today and the poor running is now bad when you drive the car it also seems to not want to accelerate and then it clears and it is boiling up the coolant i had to top it up with some expensive spring water from a shop !!.
So it would suggest that the head gasket has gone ?????

 

[fingers99]

Yep.

 

[SPORTING1.1]

Oh poo !!! is it quite an expensive job to be done at a garage?

 

[fingers99]

Depends very much on the garage. DIY you're looking at £30 or so to have the head skimmed (essential) and a new gasket set. No big deal to do. You need a decent socket set and a torque wrench (or access to). A manual would help, of course.