Headgasket blown on Toyota Corolla

sok2005

At the worst time possible it looks like the head gasket of my Corolla (2001) has blown.
Can anyone please give me an idea of how much this will cost to rectify please?
Any info on this is appreciated, thanks a mill.
I'm living in Cork.

TowerIRL

What makes you think the head gasket is gone?
water in the oil? or over heating?

sok2005

Hiya. The check engine light is flashing and theres moisture on the back seal of where the head gasket joins the engine.
Also my husband said the engine sounds a bit off, is down power and theres a strange smell coming from the car.
Not very scientific but it seems like its not firing on all cylinders.

PADRAIC.M

Get the light checked it's either air flow meter or coil, driving with the light on WILL damage your cat!!! ( thank you, thank you, I'm here all week! Try the fish!)

sok2005

Cheers!!! I'll get it checked in the morning. Are they big jobs? More importantly, are they gonna cost a fortune? Its a 1.4 Terra.

TowerIRL

It might not be too bad so, have a look at the bottom of the oil cap and see if there's any white sort of gunk on it. Keep an eye on the water level too. Usually when a head gasket goes, the car will over heat which warps the head. That adds to the price of getting it fixed as the mechanic would have to get the head skimmed but I'd say your safe enough.

Head gaskets are usually between €30 - €50 as far as I remember, been aa while since I got one and you could be talkin another €50 - €100 for labour.

Is the car spluttering much or what way is it down on power?
When was it last serviced?

sok2005

Serviced about 2 months ago, they noticed it was consuming oil a little but ive kept it topped up since.
Its way down on power but no issues with overheating yet! Light came on this evening and its been drove very easy and little since.
Will check under oil cap tomorrow but didnt notice anything today when I topped it up! Thought that might be the issue

Cheers for the help, I won't look like an idiot at the mechanics tomorrow now.

TowerIRL

No problem at all, its most likely that its not a head gasket, like with Padraig said air flow meter or coil pack, could even but somethin as small as a blocked or cracked pipe.
Best of luck with it and hopefully its nothing too expensive

Mycroft H

check the coolant bottle for any oil floating about in it and any odd non coolant colours. I.e brown, blacky colour.

Also check the level of coolant while your at it

walshe

most likely its a coil pack, my sister in law has a 00 1.4 corolla and a coil pack went on it she didnt even notice it was down on power, just said it was shaking a bit at the traffic lights and a strong burning smell was coming off it after a long drive. its about 100- 150 euro for a replacement coil pack for them though

Fishtits

Get the car to a Mechanic. The answers you've got here are from well meaning guys but you need a proper diagnosis.

Nissan doctor

You havn't described any faults that would give anyone the idea that the head gasket is gone IMO.

As said, have a mechanic check it properly and the problem may be fairly simple.

sok2005

Thanks All, heading now shortly. Will let ye know the outcome.

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd say it's more like burning oil, those engines are well known for burning copious quantities of oil at higher mileage. Yours is an 01 so that makes it all the more likely, as the early VVTis are the worst for burning oil (Toyota solved the problem on later models).

I cannot remember the last time I heard of a Toyota blowing a head gasket, HG failure is one thing that never happens to a Toyota unless it's been seriously (and I mean seriously) abused.

sok2005

Hi All,

Just back from mechanics and of course you Boardies were right as usual, it was an issue with the coil pack! Its getting fixed on Tuesday as the part was unavailable today. Should cost no more than €100 thank goodness.

Thanks again everyone for your helpful suggestions and advice!

Nissan doctor

captainspeed wrote: »

I cannot remember the last time I heard of a Toyota blowing a head gasket, HG failure is one thing that never happens to a Toyota unless it's been seriously (and I mean seriously) abused.

Cough... Avensis and IS220 diesels... cough

walshe

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Cough... Avensis and IS220 diesels... cough

didnt the Frenchies have something to do with those engines?

Delancey

Aren't FIAT's prone to Head Gaskets failing ?

Nissan doctor

walshe wrote: »

didnt the Frenchies have something to do with those engines?

Not so far as I'm aware. The French diesels are better IMO.

Delancey wrote: »

Aren't FIAT's prone to Head Gaskets failing ?

Some are....connection to this thread?

Delancey

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Some are....connection to this thread?

None - apart from Head Gaskets that is