suspected head gasket blown on used car brought less than 2 weeks ago....

sarahj1986

Thanks to all replies

I have sent the dealer an email and I will give him 48 hours to reply. I dont think it was properly checked by him before he sold it to me.

With response to the signs of low/no coolant. I dont use the heating as it has been fairly mild and I am warm blooded so I have not had it on. The gauge did flash once but that was at the end of a 15 mile trip.

I dont know what to do, its parked at home. I need it checking but Id need to get somebody to come out as I wouldnt risk driving it. The AA man did drive it on and off pick up truck so maybe the repairs will not be as much as supected, without review by a mechanic I cannot say. I will await the dealers response.

Thanks

Tilt

sarahj1986 wrote: »

Thanks to all replies

I have sent the dealer an email and I will give him 48 hours to reply. I dont think it was properly checked by him before he sold it to me.

With response to the signs of low/no coolant. I dont use the heating as it has been fairly mild and I am warm blooded so I have not had it on. The gauge did flash once but that was at the end of a 15 mile trip.

I dont know what to do, its parked at home. I need it checking but Id need to get somebody to come out as I wouldnt risk driving it. The AA man did drive it on and off pick up truck so maybe the repairs will not be as much as supected, without review by a mechanic I cannot say. I will await the dealers response.

Thanks

Hmm, so you havn't needed to demist the windscreen either then? Also you said when you bought it, it was snowing... why all of a sudden do I now think there is more to this?

sarahj1986

Sorry how do you mean?

I had come from work with a massive coat on I was very warm so heating not needed.

Using the car its not misted up at all because of the time of day Ive used it and we have not had any frost (despite it being cold for afew days after it soon turned mild)

Tilt

As previously mentioned, if the heater blows cold when it is on a hot setting (after the car has been running for at least about 15 mins), this is a sign of a problem.

I'm sorry but I can't imagine anyone having their heater set to 'cold' at this time of the year. By doing so would affect your visibility through the windows. And I live in one of the warmest parts of the UK and we have certainly had sub-zero temperatures recently.

I'll leave you with my advice in post #7. Others may wish to comment.

colino

Frankly you can ask the trader to help, but as you've put on a public forum that you've had a sub £1k car for a couple of weeks, not checked anything and ignored a warning light you are on to plums.
Bangers need more care, not less.

motorguy

sarahj1986 wrote: »

Thanks to all replies

I have sent the dealer an email and I will give him 48 hours to reply. I dont think it was properly checked by him before he sold it to me.

With response to the signs of low/no coolant. I dont use the heating as it has been fairly mild and I am warm blooded so I have not had it on. The gauge did flash once but that was at the end of a 15 mile trip.

I dont know what to do, its parked at home. I need it checking but Id need to get somebody to come out as I wouldnt risk driving it. The AA man did drive it on and off pick up truck so maybe the repairs will not be as much as supected, without review by a mechanic I cannot say. I will await the dealers response.

Thanks

I would follow up with a phone call about mid day. Just confirm they got your email and say the car broke down and need them to take a look at it.

I suspect they will try the - no warranty, tough - route. If they do that, then ring citizens advice immediately.

I would definitely be getting in touch with citizens advice irrespective, so that you can keep them in the loop if things dont go to plan

sarahj1986

motorguy wrote: »

I would follow up with a phone call about mid day. Just confirm they got your email and say the car broke down and need them to take a look at it.

I suspect they will try the - no warranty, tough - route.

I would definitely be getting in touch with citizens advice irrespective, so that you can keep them in the loop if things dont go to plan

thank you. I will look into speaking to citizens advice. I think I can go round today.

I know in hindsight yes I should have checked it. But I brought it on my own from a dealer you expect a level of honesty from them and I prehaps took it to much. But the fact still remains that it appears to me that a car was sold to me that was not fit for purpose and shouldnt break down within 2 weeks of buying it. I was in the process of arranging for it to be checked, but again you wouldnt thinj it would breakdown within 2 weeks of buying I know there is a "reject" time limit and I would have been in that had any faults been found. It just so happens it broke down before being checked.

thanks to all replies so far

Foxy-Stoat_3

The water temperature gauge should sit half way if all is well, assuming you have a water temperature gauge. What car was it that you bought, mileage, age etc?

I hope you can get your money back from the dealer and find another car to buy, but I assume this is a case of, bought a banger from a motor trader with an MOT so assumed 12 months of trouble free motoring - no need to check anything until the next mot.

Although the car you bought may of had a blown HG already and the trader tipped a load of rad seal in there just to sell it for £700, or he knew the radiator or water pump was leaking but sold it anyway in the hope that the new buyer wouldn't spot it or maybe it had a slight coolant leak and over time would drain the system if un-checked or sold it with NO coolant...

I would wager that a small maintenance issue, radiator leak/split hose caused the coolant to drain away and wasn't picked up until the car actually stopped working - now possible HG or other engine issues.

If it was sold with no coolant it would of gone pop on the test drive or drive home, assuming you test drove it for at least 10-15 minutes first.

I would fill it with water/coolant 50/50 now, run it up to temperature and see if it leaks and where from, heater on hot and blowing on max. Switch it off if it starts to over heat though. Check the dip stick and oil filler cap and report back the colour of the oil. You may need to bleed the system as well depending on the car.

If you have someone with a few tools, they could do a compression test which may give some clue if the HG has actually gone.

arcon5

What is the age and mileage? Do you know the cause? Eg water pump, radiator leak etc.

Whether you would have rights depends on this. If for example the water pump failed you would look at considering the age, mileage and condition it lasted reasonable time - if so the consequential damage could well be the result of wear and tear of another component.

sarahj1986

It is 2001 with 44k miles on the clock. Ive booked it in to be checked. It might be that the engine/head gasket etc can be saved because the AA man did manage to drive it onto and off the pick up truck. But we will see.....

Thanks to all