corsa 1.2 petrol

pauletruth

we bought a 3 year old 24k miles from a vauxhall main dealer. in the 6 months we have had it the radiator has been replaced. the head gasket and related work needed doing and lastly an oil leak from the rocker cover gasket.

to me this seems way to many faults for such a low mileage car. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

James_Lahey

At only 24k it sounds like you got a real lemon! I'd imagine that to have a head gasket pop at such low milage there was either an inherent fault - or more likely the car has been abused or badly maintained in the past.

Wig

Maybe the radiator & the head gasket were linked faults, one caused the other.

As long as they have explained what happened and that it has now been fixed I don't see that it will be a problem. If you swap it for another car, (which they may be willing to do if you say you have lost confidence in this one) you will have a new car which is an unknown quantity.

The oil leak, possibly a poor re-fitting when the head gasket was done, not a big deal now that it has been fixed.

I'd be tempted to keep it.

James_Lahey

Maybe the radiator & the head gasket were linked faults, one caused the other.

This sounds quite possible - that there was a problem with the radiator that in turn cause overheating and head gasket failure (and while rebuilding engine the rocker cover gasket might have been fitted askew - which is easily done/remedied.)

The car may well be fixed and as good as new now - but I'd worry that a driver who presumably allowed the car to dump enough coolant to overheat engine and destroy the HG (on a nearly new car) might not of been the most considerate pre-owner.

motorguy

James_Lahey wrote: »

I'd worry that a driver who presumably allowed the car to dump enough coolant to overheat engine and destroy the HG (on a nearly new car) might not of been the most considerate

You mean the O/P as it happened during their term of ownership

motorguy

pauletruth wrote: »

we bought a 3 year old 24k miles from a vauxhall main dealer. in the 6 months we have had it the radiator has been replaced. the head gasket and related work needed doing and lastly an oil leak from the rocker cover gasket.

to me this seems way to many faults for such a low mileage car. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Head gasket failure is usually a symptom, most often of a car an engine being overheated.

The radiator could have failed due to being hit by a stone or because of a manufacturing defect.

Chances are the head gasket failure was triggered by the earlier radiator coolant leak.

Finally, the rocker cover gasket was probably mis fitted when it was taken off for the head work.

motorguy

James_Lahey wrote: »

At only 24k it sounds like you got a real lemon! I'd imagine that to have a head gasket pop at such low milage there was either an inherent fault - or more likely the car has been abused or badly maintained in the past.

Or overheated when the radiator went?

James_Lahey

pgilc1 wrote: »

You mean the O/P as it happened during their term of ownership

Good point - If so the garage has gone above and beyond to do such major repair work. Every time I've had a serious coolant leak it's always been pretty obvious, what with the clouds of steam or puddles on driveway. Even if it went unnoticed the car would have a temp gauge or overheat light.

James_Lahey

pgilc1 wrote: »

Or overheated when the radiator went?

I'd consider driving without coolant and ignoring temp gauge/warning light either abuse or bad maintenance!

motorguy

James_Lahey wrote: »

Good point - If so the garage has gone above and beyond to do such major repair work. Every time I've had a serious coolant leak it's always been pretty obvious, what with the clouds of steam or puddles on driveway. Even if it went unnoticed the car would have a temp gauge or overheat light.

I've seen leaks that are just a few drips now and then, until before you know it half your coolant is gone.

No visible signs until its too late.

motorguy

James_Lahey wrote: »

I'd consider driving without coolant and ignoring temp gauge/warning light either abuse or bad maintenance!

Glad you now agree - you were saying the car was a lemon which may not be the case.