some advice needed about non starting car

spacey2012

I would find another mechanic, you have a lazy tooth sucker here.
Head off, skimmed, new gasket and water pump+ belt and away it will go.
Most head gasket failures are between the water jacket and cylinder and they suck water in.
I bet this bloke has not even spent an hour and taken the cylinder head off.

AdrianC

goonarmy wrote: »

Have you read the first post?

Yes, thank you.

He noticed the temperature rising - and found it was dry. But how long before THAT was the coolant level last checked?

goonarmy

AdrianC wrote: »

Yes, thank you.

He noticed the temperature rising - and found it was dry. But how long before THAT was the coolant level last checked?

Thats not relevant if its used it all in one journey.

AdrianC

goonarmy wrote: »

Thats not relevant if its used it all in one journey.

One of my favourite words, "if"...

The car got through a header tank full - after the engine'd been cooked - in the course of one journey. That's not in doubt.

But, before that...?

It's entirely feasible - probable, even - that it'd been gradually getting lower and lower over time, due to some small and undetected leak. Weeks, probably. Then, when the level reached the point where it was too low, hot spots and steam started to develop in the empty coolant channels. The OP noticed the gauge rising - but too late, because that's what caused the HG to let go, and the failed HG is why the rate of loss after being refilled was much greater.

Fivetide already suggested I hadn't read the Honest John link. I suspect neither he nor you have, properly, either. In particular, the mention of HG failure following water pump issues - the last sentence explicitly advises owners to keep a close eye on coolant levels. There's no mention at all in there of any extended warranty cover for the water pump or HG. What there IS is a brief mention of a recall for the electronic coolant pump for the hybrid drivetrain on the Prius - totally irrelevant to the OP.

That same link is also quite clear that the block & liners are usually damaged by the overheating - so, Spacey, taking the head off for a look would almost certainly be a waste of a couple of hours labour, as well as not actually being likely to show very much.

goonarmy

AdrianC wrote: »

One of my favourite words, "if"...

The car got through a header tank full - after the engine'd been cooked - in the course of one journey. That's not in doubt.

But, before that...?

It's entirely feasible - probable, even - that it'd been gradually getting lower and lower over time, due to some small and undetected leak. Weeks, probably. Then, when the level reached the point where it was too low, hot spots and steam started to develop in the empty coolant channels. The OP noticed the gauge rising - but too late, because that's what caused the HG to let go, and the failed HG is why the rate of loss after being refilled was much greater.

Fivetide already suggested I hadn't read the Honest John link. I suspect neither he nor you have, properly, either. In particular, the mention of HG failure following water pump issues - the last sentence explicitly advises owners to keep a close eye on coolant levels. There's no mention at all in there of any extended warranty cover for the water pump or HG. What there IS is a brief mention of a recall for the electronic coolant pump for the hybrid drivetrain on the Prius - totally irrelevant to the OP.

That same link is also quite clear that the block & liners are usually damaged by the overheating - so, Spacey, taking the head off for a look would almost certainly be a waste of a couple of hours labour, as well as not actually being likely to show very much.

Thats a lot of words that i got bored reading. Not really seing your point.