Head Gasket blown twice in 1 year

Hi, first post.

Apologies but I need some good advice before I tear what little hair I have left from my poor head.

A little bit of back history if I may.

Was given an R Reg 98 Freelander 1.8 last march, which someone had apparently bought sight as seen second hand from a small dealer. No log book came with the car...(Yes bad bad bad I know).

Anyway, about a month later I started to get over heating issues, so popped it along to a large well known dealership. Where we found out that the head gasket had blown, including a warped piston/head iirc.

So after a nice and hefty bill of two and a half thousand we were happily back on the road...until this march when out of the blue it started over heating very badly. Took it to a small local specialist dealer who promptly told me that I needed a thermostat kit to move it form where it was to nearer the radiator. I was then told after this had been done that oh by the way there were still hot and cold spots in the rad. So a new one of then was duly installed, another six hundred pounds. Then Sunday gone I was motoring up an incline on the A1 and the temp gauge jumps to the red, over I pull and let it cool down and set of again. I made it to my destination with out too much drama but checked the engine, some of the water/coolant had blown from the reservoir, so heart sinking I checked and sure enough there was a milky residue on the cap.

So do I go with my original plan to beat it with a tree branch or get it fixed again? I'm beginning to think the damned thing is jinxed. (Oh and I have the trio of warning lights now as well /sigh)

Thanks in advance and sorry the for essay.

Regards
J

Time for a viking funeral I think.

they dont believe us - do they Trewy.

Hippoos are brilliant cars - no probs at all - must be in yo imagination!!!


we are doomed! DOOMED I tell ya

Think the key word here is Given a Freelander. No log book, spells disaster I'm afraid.

£2.5k would have got you a new engine and all the auxillaries,

£600 for fitting a rad, someone is robbing you blind. There should be no more than 2hrs labour for fitting a rad, that includes bleeding the system.

Do you know what gasket was used the first time? Is there a grey tab above the engine serial numbers? See thumbnail below

If its the MLS type then the head could be warped or sunken liners (which were probably never checked on the first repair)

It is fooked cut yer losses and get rid

Aye, Viking funeral sounds best and get yer insurance money

Take5 said:

Aye, Viking funeral sounds best and get yer insurance money

Click to expand...

Oh my goodness - what a cunning stunt.

yu could, of course, take it "to a large well known dealership" and ask them to fix it under warranty - yu DID get a warranty - didnt you?

Thanks for all the replies, I dont actually have access to it atm so cant check for the tab, or I'm afraid can I be 100% sure that the work is still under warranty.
I shall indeed be looking to shed this troublesome transportation device, just what to choose next though.....

Again many thanks.

J

EDIT:

Oh and please feel free to use me as a horror story should any poor soul be considering buying one of these stress machines lol.

theres enuf horror stories - ta - but sum peeps just seem to think it is down to poor maintenance, stupid owners or poor driving.

get yoself an older disco - just as comfy and cheaper to fix when (not if) it goes wrong.

In this case the lack of log book and a vehicle that was given away says it all.

You dont get something for nothing

Rimmer Bros latest on line cat quotes £24.32 inc VAT for gasket & £30.67 for the oil rail.

why dont you look on ebay for a citreon enjun to go in it
there crap anawl
buy a deepender or a disco FFS