Blown head gasket Need Some opinions. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

89transam · 01-10-2005, 12:09 AM

Driving home the other day my car overheated and it blew a head gasket. The car has a small leak that I left unattended and it got bone dry . Pulled over and tried to start it after it cooled and no go . Took it in and they showed me water in the cylinders indicating a blown head gasket. So now I am faced with a delema.

1. Repair the Contour at $1100
2. Get a new car and sell the Contour as is for ~$900.

Now the contour has 90K miles on it and is in perfect shape otherwise, but I just dont think putting $1100 into a $2000 car is a great idea. Plus there could be other unforseen damage. However , I am a college student with not much money and buying another used car is still a question mark. My bank does %5 car loans so my payments would probobly be like $175 for 3 years if I got a $7000 car which is not terrible. Any opinions / ideas would be great , I start school next week and I need to get it done .

Also on a side note im browsing through a autotrader and I come across this

" BLOWN HEAD GASKETS REPAIRED, Thermaweld Graphite Composite Head Gaskets, installed for only, $195. All makes & models, foreign & domestic same price. FREE mobile service. 100% guaranteed. Visa & MC accepted. "

Anyone know what the heck this is ?

degrawj · 01-10-2005, 09:26 AM

I don't know what that last ad was all about. You might look into it though. If you weren't so far away, I'd offer to do it for you! It all depends on whether or not you like the car. You said it is in perfect shape otherwise, but do you see yourself keeping this car for a long period of time? If you don't plan on keeping it more than a couple years, then it might not be worth getting fixed. I will say this though: $1100 bucks just to replace a head gasket seems kind of steep. But then again, I'm not familiar with Contours, so I don't know how easy/hard it would be to get the head off your engine. It should be able to be a weekend project if you have any buddies who know a bit about cars.

89transam · 01-10-2005, 10:01 AM

Yeah Ive thought about doing it myself. The most complicated thing ive done mechanically is a cam swap on a 350 chevy. Im gonna call around today and get some more estamites also, if someone can get it down to six or seven hundred I will do it.

Lockjaw · 01-10-2005, 11:04 AM

The bigger question is do you think you are going to be having more issues with the thing in the near future? I mean you get the thing fixed and then an alternator goes, or then you end up with a cracked oilpan...blah blah blah. If you are going to just keep it for another year or so get it fixed other wise...new car time.

irseg · 01-11-2005, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockjaw

The bigger question is do you think you are going to be having more issues with the thing in the near future? I mean you get the thing fixed and then an alternator goes, or then you end up with a cracked oilpan...blah blah blah. If you are going to just keep it for another year or so get it fixed other wise...new car time.

Same applies with buying another used car!

As for the head gasket ad, I saw that same thing in the classifieds section of the local paper once and a quick Google search showed it in some other newspaper ads too. It's a scam, they probably just throw in a $3 bottle of stop-leak. There is *no way* any place would ever come to your house and do that kind of engine work for such a low, flat fee. Plus if it was any good they wouldn't have to resort to spamming local classified ads.

RaDiAn · 01-12-2005, 09:47 AM

I say fix it at least you know what you have!!

merkerguitars · 01-12-2005, 10:52 AM

Well first of all you have to find out why you blew the head gasket? Why did it overheat? Thermostat not working or a cooling fan?

Then find out if your car is a model that is prone for blowing out gaskets. Then you will find fixes and what to replace. (I remember some of the earlier taurus's had head gaskets problems, but once you milled the heads and had them shaved you never had another problem). I would start checking around for prices and finding out how hard it is. Hell look on ebay, since your in california maybe finding another engine just might be the easiest way to go. But first I would find out if your modle of car is prone for headgasket failure.

Crisis · 01-13-2005, 09:21 PM

Get some buddies to help and make it a weekend project if you're mechanically inclined. You could also check out the local colleges and see if they can squeeze you in and fix it. Longer than normal waiting list but you most likely only have to pay for the part itself and no labour fees.

billege · 01-14-2005, 03:32 AM

If you can swap a cam, you can pull a head. Of course, if it's the rear facing head on a V-6 Contour, it problably involves pulling the engine. Sometimes you can remove motor mount(s) and tilt the engine far enough forward to get at the back head. Sometimes not. Depending on what you've got in there, it may be a real pain in the ass kinda thing.

Buy a new car. Get it over with.

89transam · 01-14-2005, 11:44 AM

Found a place that would do it for $600 + parts. I figure I can sell the car for ~$2000 fixed and only about $800 broken. We shall see how it pans out.

Scorps · 01-15-2005, 11:34 AM

I would sell the car and get a GM

cj2112 · 01-15-2005, 11:16 PM

If it's only a head gasket it's worth fixing, however if you damaged the head (warped beyond repair, or cracked) then you're probably better off either selling it, or dropping a used engine it.

89transam · 01-16-2005, 10:33 AM

Yeah, the head itself was fine. Took it to a machine shop and they checked it out and resurfaced it for $50. I honestly probobly will sell the car pretty soon, id like to get 3 - 4 more months out of it . There is however a 94 maxima in the local paper that is real tempting, 1 owner garage kept 95 k miles for $3500.

the420star · 01-18-2005, 06:56 PM

I blew the head gaskets on my 1997 mecury sable... if you did the work yourself, and if you did a cam swap you could do it no problem. if you get a friend and have all the tools you and your friend can do it in about 2 days. the only cost would be getting the head decked (make sure its flat), gaskets, and new head bolts. I had my valves reseated and springs replaced. i think i got everything in there... good luck to you.

01-10-2005, 12:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	Blown head gasket Need Some opinions. Driving home the other day my car overheated and it blew a head gasket. The car has a small leak that I left unattended and it got bone dry . Pulled over and tried to start it after it cooled and no go . Took it in and they showed me water in the cylinders indicating a blown head gasket. So now I am faced with a delema. 1. Repair the Contour at $1100 2. Get a new car and sell the Contour as is for ~$900. Now the contour has 90K miles on it and is in perfect shape otherwise, but I just dont think putting $1100 into a $2000 car is a great idea. Plus there could be other unforseen damage. However , I am a college student with not much money and buying another used car is still a question mark. My bank does %5 car loans so my payments would probobly be like $175 for 3 years if I got a $7000 car which is not terrible. Any opinions / ideas would be great , I start school next week and I need to get it done . Also on a side note im browsing through a autotrader and I come across this " BLOWN HEAD GASKETS REPAIRED, Thermaweld Graphite Composite Head Gaskets, installed for only, $195. All makes & models, foreign & domestic same price. FREE mobile service. 100% guaranteed. Visa & MC accepted. " Anyone know what the heck this is ? __________________ I'd rather be rich than stupid.

01-10-2005, 10:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	Yeah Ive thought about doing it myself. The most complicated thing ive done mechanically is a cam swap on a 350 chevy. Im gonna call around today and get some more estamites also, if someone can get it down to six or seven hundred I will do it. __________________ I'd rather be rich than stupid.

01-12-2005, 10:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Well first of all you have to find out why you blew the head gasket? Why did it overheat? Thermostat not working or a cooling fan? Then find out if your car is a model that is prone for blowing out gaskets. Then you will find fixes and what to replace. (I remember some of the earlier taurus's had head gaskets problems, but once you milled the heads and had them shaved you never had another problem). I would start checking around for prices and finding out how hard it is. Hell look on ebay, since your in california maybe finding another engine just might be the easiest way to go. But first I would find out if your modle of car is prone for headgasket failure. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

01-14-2005, 03:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	If you can swap a cam, you can pull a head. Of course, if it's the rear facing head on a V-6 Contour, it problably involves pulling the engine. Sometimes you can remove motor mount(s) and tilt the engine far enough forward to get at the back head. Sometimes not. Depending on what you've got in there, it may be a real pain in the ass kinda thing. Buy a new car. Get it over with. __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."

01-14-2005, 11:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	Found a place that would do it for $600 + parts. I figure I can sell the car for ~$2000 fixed and only about $800 broken. We shall see how it pans out. __________________ I'd rather be rich than stupid.

01-10-2005, 09:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
degrawj I'm still waiting... Location: West Linn, OR	I don't know what that last ad was all about. You might look into it though. If you weren't so far away, I'd offer to do it for you! It all depends on whether or not you like the car. You said it is in perfect shape otherwise, but do you see yourself keeping this car for a long period of time? If you don't plan on keeping it more than a couple years, then it might not be worth getting fixed. I will say this though: $1100 bucks just to replace a head gasket seems kind of steep. But then again, I'm not familiar with Contours, so I don't know how easy/hard it would be to get the head off your engine. It should be able to be a weekend project if you have any buddies who know a bit about cars.

01-10-2005, 11:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lockjaw Junkie	The bigger question is do you think you are going to be having more issues with the thing in the near future? I mean you get the thing fixed and then an alternator goes, or then you end up with a cracked oilpan...blah blah blah. If you are going to just keep it for another year or so get it fixed other wise...new car time.

01-12-2005, 09:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
RaDiAn Addict	I say fix it at least you know what you have!!

01-13-2005, 09:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Crisis Tilted	Get some buddies to help and make it a weekend project if you're mechanically inclined. You could also check out the local colleges and see if they can squeeze you in and fix it. Longer than normal waiting list but you most likely only have to pay for the part itself and no labour fees.

01-15-2005, 11:34 AM	#11 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	I would sell the car and get a GM

01-15-2005, 11:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	If it's only a head gasket it's worth fixing, however if you damaged the head (warped beyond repair, or cracked) then you're probably better off either selling it, or dropping a used engine it.

01-16-2005, 10:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	Yeah, the head itself was fine. Took it to a machine shop and they checked it out and resurfaced it for $50. I honestly probobly will sell the car pretty soon, id like to get 3 - 4 more months out of it . There is however a 94 maxima in the local paper that is real tempting, 1 owner garage kept 95 k miles for $3500. __________________ I'd rather be rich than stupid.

01-18-2005, 06:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
the420star Psycho Location: Cow Country, CT	I blew the head gaskets on my 1997 mecury sable... if you did the work yourself, and if you did a cam swap you could do it no problem. if you get a friend and have all the tools you and your friend can do it in about 2 days. the only cost would be getting the head decked (make sure its flat), gaskets, and new head bolts. I had my valves reseated and springs replaced. i think i got everything in there... good luck to you. __________________ No, they arnt breasts, they are personalities, because its ok to like a girl for her personalities.