Head Gasket problem

BlueDragon

I had a coolant problem on my 99 1.6 audi a4 where the coolant kept leeking,
I didnt get the problem fixed for a while because i went on a j1 holiday to the states and im only just back so when i brought it in i was told the head gasket is gone and is pushing the coolant out and i need a new one

He priced the parts and labour at about "500 and a bit"
Is this a good price for a new head gasket for this kind of car becuase i have no idea?

Also when i got back i noticed the car started a bit funny and started shaking a bit while i was stopped in traffic?
Would this be because of the head gasket?

Any advice on this would be greatly appricated
Thank you

Captain Slow IRL

Are you sure it's not a mis-diagnosed oil cooler leaking? It can have very similiar symptoms to a failed gasket - the only way to totally condemn the head gasket would be to perform a cylinder pressure test.

If the head gasket is failing, it could cause the poor running although it could also be another item like plug leads, throttle body, etc.

Not trying to put the ****'s up you, but it'd be a piss-off to spend that money unnecessarily! Ask if a compression test was carried out, and get a second opinion if not.

Muckie

Not looking good, if the car starts funny! and its shaking.
Best to get it checked out again. Follow Captain Slows advice,

BlueDragon

He told me there was a pressure test carried out
Just wanted to know if the price sounded resonable?
p.s. captain slow love the name

Captain Slow IRL

You'd want a break-down of the costs - you'll be looking for:
- timing belt & tensioners/idlers
- waterpump
- head gasket set (head bolts may cost extra)
- head skimming
- coolant change
- about 4-6 hours labour (maybe more)
If the above is included, it's a decent price - it's a pretty big job to do.

You'll have to see if the rough running is sorted out after all this work - it may need extra work, but hopefully not:)

BlueDragon

I just got a timing belt a little over 10,000 miles ago and a waterpipe at the same time
He said all i need is the head gasket and the bolts and he'll send it somewhere for skimming
I jsut got off the phone with a friend and he told me his friend could do it in his garage and he is supposed to be very ver good because he builds rally cars and thats how he started off his garage and he said he can increase the horsepower in my car too?

I think i might just go with him?

Captain Slow IRL

If you're confident in him, go with him.
I mentioned a timing belt because you're not supposed to re-use the old one.

Fozzie Bear

Had same problem with my car, leaking coolant by the litre. Had to get my head gasket replaced on a 00 diesel Passat (basically a vaguely similar VAG type engine as you). Got head skimmed and pressure tested for cracks, replaced head bolts and cost me E540.00 all in. So the price looks spot on to me.

Fairly major surgery to be honest and labour intensive. Basically pulling your engine completely apart so you will be a few days without the car. I'd have been frightened to price it at a main dealer:eek:

BlueDragon

Heres an update on whats happening
I got a phone call saying that there was crack in my engine and my engine is useless now and the best thing i should do is get a new one.
He said he will look around scrapyards for the same kind of engine (a 99 ahl 1.6 audi a4 one)

Does this sound right?
Also im very worried about getting an engine from a scrapyard because the reason i bought my car was because at the time the millage was very low its at 80,000 now and im aftraid the the new engine i get could be driven to ****

Is this possible?
I have no idea what to do here could anyone tell me how this could have happened and if i should get a new engine/ also if i get a new engine should i get a new timing belt and such?

I really need my car for work and it is such a hassle not having it as it is costing my an absolute fortune in taxis

Any advice here is greatly appriated

Mr Benevolent

BlueDragon wrote: »

Heres an update on whats happening
I got a phone call saying that there was crack in my engine and my engine is useless now and the best thing i should do is get a new one.
He said he will look around scrapyards for the same kind of engine (a 99 ahl 1.6 audi a4 one)

Does this sound right?
Also im very worried about getting an engine from a scrapyard because the reason i bought my car was because at the time the millage was very low its at 80,000 now and im aftraid the the new engine i get could be driven to ****

Is this possible?
I have no idea what to do here could anyone tell me how this could have happened and if i should get a new engine/ also if i get a new engine should i get a new timing belt and such?

I really need my car for work and it is such a hassle not having it as it is costing my an absolute fortune in taxis

Any advice here is greatly appriated

A '99 A4 is worth almost nothing, putting a new engine into it is uneconomical imo. Put it up on Adverts and sell it as is, then buy something else.

BlueDragon

Im thinking about that too
But i really like my car it drives really well and i look after it, Ive never had a serious problem before this

I couldnt sell it for much and i dont have any funds right now to buy a new one

Mr Benevolent

BlueDragon wrote: »

Im thinking about that too
But i really like my car it drives really well and i look after it, Ive never had a serious problem before this

I couldnt sell it for much and i dont have any funds right now to buy a new one

Rock and a hard place stuff. Do you have the money to shell out €800+ for an engine and labour? If you do and you sell what's left of the A4 you'll have enough for a Fiesta or something like it. Unless you really, really like your A4. Even then it's a bit nuts to spend over half the price of a running '99 A4 on repairs.

If you like the car and it was in a good nick with no rust etc. (Audi are very good in this respect) I would have no problems putting EUR 1000 (or even more) on this car to fix it.

Where's the crack by the way? If it is the cylinder head and the bottom end of your existing engine is confirmed in good shape another possibility would be a new (reconditioned) cylinder head onto the existing block. That with new water pump/timing belt would pretty much result an "as new" engine.

Anyway, your mechanic seems to think that the current engine is a write off. In that case, if you really like the car, I would go for a reconditioned engine. Then just keep the car for another 10 years.

Audi is not a throw away product you know. I would not spend this money on Kia mind you.

BlueDragon

What is a reconditioned engine?

If i get a new engine can i use the timing belt from my old engine because i got it done about 15 - 20,000 miles ago

I dont know where the crack is but i will find out as he is going to ring me today about it

CamperMan

I have a 1997 Audi A3 1.6 petrol and it was losing coolant... like half a litre every 50 miles... I was told it was the head gasket... I started to look closer into it and found that the plastic flange on the head (passenger side) with cooling pipes coming off it had a small crack, I replaced this with a new item costing 20 euros and bingo... no more coolant loss!

BlueDragon

Oh and was wondering will i keep the engine that they are taking out of my car, is it worth anything?
And also where would be the best place to get an old audi engine just scrapyards and crashed cars?

BlueDragon

BlueDragon wrote: »

What is a reconditioned engine?

If i get a new engine can i use the timing belt from my old engine because i got it done about 15 - 20,000 miles ago

Reconditioned, or remanufactured engine, is basically an used engine with all the worn parts reground/replaced. It would come with a new timing belt etc. as well. If thoroughly done the engine would be in "as new" condition. This is a most expensive solution but would come with a warranty and would probably be the best solution in the long term.

The second best option, seen that your old engine is quite low mileage, would be a reconditioned cylinder head if the short block (the rest of the engine) is still in good shape. This means it has not got major wear in bores/pistons/rings/bearings etc.

Third best would be a random used engine, unless you got a verified low mileage engine from a reputable vendor.

In any case I would not install an used timing belt. The belt itself costs peanuts (30 quid?), as labour is the expensive part. However, if the (more expensive) coolant pump and tensioner were replaced at the time of the last belt renewal they could be reused.

As of the crack: It sounds highly unusual for any part of the engine to crack unless it for example overheated. Even something like a coolant leak from failed headgasket in cylinder(s) would not normally cause major problems.

The old engine/sensors/ancillaries may still have value for somebody for spares. Depending on the fault it may be accepted as an exchange for a reconditioned engine.

johndaman66

BlueDragon I'd be a wee bit worried that first the garage man told you that the headgasket would need to be done and quoted you an estimate price and then rings you some time later to tell you there is a crack in the engine and it is useless without examining it in the meantime (I am assuming you have not left the car in since and it is the same garage man that spoke to you on both occasions). Otherwise if you did not pick up the car from the same mechanic who examined it and the mechanic who did examine it rang you to tell you the engine is beyond repair that might be fair enough, it might be the case that there was simply a breakdown in communication.

If it was the same mechanic you were speaking to on both occasions and he was not examining the car in between I'd sure as hell be inclined to take it elsewhere for a second opinion.

beachlife

A used engine will cost about 350-400 and about the same to fit it, if your car is in good nick it's worth maybe 2 grand?If your short of money just fix it.If you have some savings sell it and get something else. but for the future i would learn that if your car is using/losing coolant get it looked at straight away!!!
If the head /block cracked that means it was overheated badly or ran low on coolant!!!!

BlueDragon

I just got off the phone with the mechanic he said the crack is in the engine block.
My sisters boyfriend who is a mechanic went up to have a look at it and said that he was right there is a crack in the engine block

Im going to spend the next few days looking for second hand engines
But i have a big worry that if i buy a second hand engine that it might be ****ed and i will hve allready paid for it.
Does anyone know if there is any websites where i could find any?

Also does anyone know how much roughly a ahl 1.6 audi a4 reconditioned engine would cost?

Thanks a lot for all your adivce it has been very very helpfull