Head gasket repair?

AB97

Hi I have an 06 Fiesta 1.25 and the garage advised me the head gasket is blown and would cost between 1000-1200 to repair. Is this true and if so does anyone know anywhere I can get it cheaper thanks.

Alanstrainor

Post moved from the DIY forum.

knipex

AB97 wrote: »

Hi I have an 06 Fiesta 1.25 and the garage advised me the head gasket is blown and would cost between 1000-1200 to repair. Is this true and if so does anyone know anywhere I can get it cheaper thanks.

Strip engine, remove head, get it cleaned, skimmed, pressure tested, valves done and resent back..

Rebuild engine, replace timing belt etc (stupid not to while engine is out) service, new coolant, vent it..

You are looking at over a days labor total plus the shipping and machining of head plus the car taking up space while the head is begin done..

Where are you based ??

kona

knipex wrote: »

Strip engine, remove head, get it cleaned, skimmed, pressure tested, valves done and resent back..

Rebuild engine, replace timing belt etc (stupid not to while engine is out) service, new coolant, vent it..

You are looking at over a days labor total plus the shipping and machining of head plus the car taking up space while the head is begin done..

Where are you based ??

The head wont need to be stripped or valves done if the head is still flat. If you paying over a days labour for a head gasket on a fiesta you need a new mechanic.

Toyotafanboi

kona wrote: »

The head wont need to be stripped or valves done if the head is still flat.

There's no way to guarantee that though is there. Checking with a ruler etc isn't foolproof.

Car99

Unless you can do the the job yourself is it financilly viable getting it repaired?

knipex

kona wrote: »

The head wont need to be stripped or valves done if the head is still flat. If you paying over a days labour for a head gasket on a fiesta you need a new mechanic.

If you want to put a head back on without skimming be my guest.. I wouldn't.

It makes sense to get it skimmed while its off and doing the valve seals while its begin skimmed !! Probably cost less than €50..

If you started the job took off the head and turned around to pick up a new or reconed head sure a day easy. But strip the head, send it away, move onto to another job and then come back.... A day easy....

kona

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

There's no way to guarantee that though is there. Checking with a ruler etc isn't foolproof.

Put it on a suface plate and check it off that. Obviously if you dont have a plate then you cant really check.

kona

knipex wrote: »

If you want to put a head back on without skimming be my guest.. I wouldn't.

It makes sense to get it skimmed while its off and doing the valve seals while its begin skimmed !! Probably cost less than €50..

If you started the job took off the head and turned around to pick up a new or reconed head sure a day easy. But strip the head, send it away, move onto to another job and then come back.... A day easy....

Cost less than 50 quid to take out 16 valves and replace 16 guides and stems seal? Cost you a absoloute fortune.

I would fit a head without skimming if im satisfied its flat. By satisfied id have it measured off something known to be calibrated flat. Not a eye ball job.

Well id say more than a day too if your fluting about stripping the head etc.

JohnBoy26

kona wrote: »

The head wont need to be stripped or valves done if the head is still flat. If you paying over a days labour for a head gasket on a fiesta you need a new mechanic.

kona wrote: »

Cost less than 50 quid to take out 16 valves and replace 16 guides and stems seal? Cost you a absoloute fortune.

I would fit a head without skimming if im satisfied its flat. By satisfied id have it measured off something known to be calibrated flat. Not a eye ball job.

Well id say more than a day too if your fluting about stripping the head etc.

The op's mechanic is absolutely right if he is advising to get the head skimmed. It's the only way to gaurantee a long lasting job.

You are giving the op bad advice which could end up costing them more in the long run and then to blacken the mechanic over this is laughable.

Leonard Hofstadter

What I'd like to know is how did this happen. Very rare for a Fiesta to blow a head gasket, has it not been serviced in ages or something??

AB97

Hi thanks for all the replies I am based in Dublin He said that it would have to be sent off and skimmed them all the oils and such would need to be changed and the car has 112k miles on it and it was serviced last at 107k

AB97

Car99 wrote: »

Unless you can do the the job yourself is it financilly viable getting it repaired?

The car is only worth about 1500-2000 at best so I don't think paying over 1000 would make sense to pay

Toyotafanboi

Not necessarily.

I'd you only have €1500 to spend, you could very easily end up buying another car that needs a fortune spent in repairs.

If this car has been good to you in the past and has a valid NCT , I'd still consider fixing it.

kona

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The op's mechanic is absolutely right if he is advising to get the head skimmed. It's the only way to gaurantee a long lasting job.

You are giving the op bad advice which could end up costing them more in the long run and then to blacken the mechanic over this is laughable.

Thanks for the advice.

AB97

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Not necessarily.

I'd you only have €1500 to spend, you could very easily end up buying another car that needs a fortune spent in repairs.

If this car has been good to you in the past and has a valid NCT , I'd still consider fixing it.

Yeah It has NCT till 01/18 and other then the head gasket there isn't much else wrong with it. Just a bit tough dishing out 1200 for a car worth 1500-2000, just wanted to make sure the quote was correct or if I was being scammed first before I pay.

Toyotafanboi

It doesn't sound a million miles out if he's doing a comprehensive job tbh. It's a bitter pill but it's still probably your best move IMO.

AB97

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

It doesn't sound a million miles out if he's doing a comprehensive job tbh. It's a bitter pill but it's still probably your best move IMO.

Yeah I'll see if he can do a deal with the price and if not have a look around for a better price but like you said it's probably the best option at the moment

JC01

Iv seen a few of them do in heads to be fair and servicing won't really make much odds to the cooling system as it's very rare a service will include anything more than checking there's coolant in it.

OP If you know any mechanics as mates, sons of mates, brothers etc that's the best route, a head gasket is a typical nixer, usually you'd expect to pay 300-500 for the work. Going to garages for any big jobs on older cars is rarely financially sensible as they just have too many overheads compared to a lad working on his drive.

monkeysnapper

I have a Citroen c4 1.4 petrol 2006 .

My head gasket was done 2 years ago , skimmed, belt, waterpump, oil

Mine came to €670 from my Indy mech . proper garage .

AB97

monkeysnapper wrote: »

I have a Citroen c4 1.4 petrol 2006 .

My head gasket was done 2 years ago , skimmed, belt, waterpump, oil

Mine came to €670 from my Indy mech . proper garage .

Can you tell me what garage this was please?

gavman1

1200 for a fiesta hg is dealership prices.ye could buy a new head at that rate.if ye went and got prices for everything minus the labour you would be very shocked at how much your mech is taking for his time.

Hg itself
Engine flush
Oil
Coolant
New head bolts(if they are stretch type)
Water pump
Timing belt
Thermostat

The last head i got skimmed was 80 quid.that is by far the most expensive thing on the list.im not saying your mechanic is a tyrant,im sure he is very good at his job but you will definitely find a much much better price from a "proper" mechanic