TD 5 head faults. What to look for?

Cylinder head is being removed on Monday. Before Spending money on stripping it for testing what tel tail signs are to look for that the head is either ok or knackered?

The car is a 51 plate and probably a 10p model, but knowing the likely issues of both 10p and 15p would be helpful.

History: The car has been using water for months, I've been topping up the header weekly. Last week it over heated. Then I discovered I should have bled the system when topping up. Anyway, booked it into the garage and left it to the good woman to drop the car round to the garage on the arranged day. On her way there it boiled again. She let it cool refilled and bled the system and dropped it off at the garage.

Over the last couple of weeks I noticed a slight misfire on start up from cold. Though, needs a service........


Val.

Have you taken it to a good reliable garage that knows Landies , Td5's in particular?

Has it been pressure tested?

Is there coolant leaking anywhere?

Cheers

neilly said:

Have you taken it to a good reliable garage that knows Landies , Td5's in particular?

Has it been pressure tested?

Is there coolant leaking anywhere?

Cheers

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Yes, Village garage in west Wales, established more than 40 years. He sends heads off to a local guy for testing.

As above (Before Spending money on stripping it for testing, what tel tail signs are to look for that the head is either ok or knackered?).
To get the head ready for testing means money spent on a head strip down, after removal. If there is something obvious to look for without doing this and it is u-s I'll simply get a recon head as this will work out cheaper in the long run I'm guessing.

Coolant leek from pipe at back of head. Fixed but still loosing pressure form somewhere. Diagnosis, Head gasket or crack etc.


Val.

@90boy is selling a good TD5 head

The Mad Hat Man said:

@90boy is selling a good TD5 head

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You sure

johnlad said:

You sure

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he says it is

johnlad said:

You sure

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Oi you
Lol yes it is a good head

Just one thing did you look at the expansion bottle cap? they are prone to failing and they release the pressure so that the cooling system wont work correctly, and it can boil.
If you replace it buy a decent one, I bought a cheap one first time ...... should have known better.

90boy said:

Oi you
Lol yes it is a good head

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Hello 90boy, I tried messaging you. Don't seem to be able to PM on this site??? I left a message on your profile page (I think that's what it was anyway). I don't yet know the full extent of the damage as I'm too late to call the garage now. I think if I need one it will likely be the 10p version as my vehicle is a 51 plate Discovery two.

raywin said:

Just one thing did you look at the expansion bottle cap? they are prone to failing and they release the pressure so that the cooling system wont work correctly, and it can boil.
If you replace it buy a decent one, I bought a cheap one first time ...... should have known better.

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Yep, suspected similar. Bought an OE cap from Rimmers, but no difference, just looks newer.


Ta Val.