head gasket faliure

[carl1987]

help my top rad hose blew its self to bits today it has been perishing for a long time and has let go, RAC man says head gasket has gone between one of the cylinders and the coolant ways, this has caused excessive pressure to build up in the coolant system and escape through the weakest point which happened to be that pipe! I am pretty sure that i can do the strip down and rebuild myself can get head skimmed for 25 quid ect and all parts including cam belt, oil and filter, the only thing i dont have a clue how to do is get the timing correct before fitting the belt, any ideas??????????????? i got less than a week to get it on road!!!!

[J0N_69]

best thing i can suggest is ask around if ppl no how to em if not ask
a couple of garges for prices if thats helps

[matty101]

liams (bluecorsab) the guy u wana talk to, drop him a pm

[bluecorsab]

cheers matty

what engine is it mate?

[ManicGTI]

Personally i'd check the RAC man is correct first.

If the hose was perished there's a chance it was just the knackered hose. Were you getting any crap in your coolant? Was it burning coolant before it went?

Do a quick compression test on the cylinders if you've got, or can borrow a compression tester.

You're right though, if you can get head skimmed cheap enough it shouldn't cost much to change the HG.

I'm assuming that the Haynes covers the timing. So if you don't have one...go get one. Should be pretty straight forward, there will be timing marks on Fly, pulleys etc to line up.

[carl1987]

cheers lads its a c14se. I didnt know wether to belive rac man or not coolant header tank has gone orange but i hadnt noticed it using any more than you would expect i.e. A splash once a blue moon. It starts first time and dosnt smoke either. He sniffed header tank to tell if it was hg. any one know what it should smell like if its gone???

[ManicGTI]

Did you have any temperature issues before it went pop? If it wasn't caning coolant and no white smoke, then you aren't getting much in the cylinders (which is good).

The weakest point normally should be the Expansion tank cap, they should release the excess pressure. Check cap is clean etc.

Personally i'd put on a new hose, and check all the others while you're at it. If ones knackered, chances are others are too and you have to do this if HG is gone anyway. Flush coolant system thoroughly and refil, watch it like a hawk. Let it get up to temp and see if it pressurises abnormally again.

There are various 'proper' tests you or garage can do to confirm ie Compression Test on cylinders and Coolant Gas Test (checks for exhaust gases in coolant).

Not saying it's NOT the headgasket, just that it might not be. Check for mayo in oil as well, in case HG has gone through to oil channels.

[carl1987]

defo hg, started it today with no coolant or hose and header tank cap off. Blows smoke out ou header tank like an exhaust lol. Better get the tools and debit card out.

[ManicGTI]

ahh

f**k it.

Good luck getting it sorted

[carl1987]

right then its just before 7am, time for a coffee and a couple of hours studying the haynes then its off with the cylinderhead!!!

[carl1987]

stripped down, head skimmed, gunna clean everything up and do cambelt, valve stem seals, waterpump, tensioners, spark plugs, thermostat ect while its all in bits cant see point in reusing old wearing parts. Should be good for a few miles then. all is good so far

[carl1987]

fixed, well sort of, top end rebuilt runs spot on alot quieter, no smoke or owt. Management light wont go off checked everything ive had in bits, all ok, done self diagnostics on mfd no fault codes??? Any ideas cos its baffled me, might just colour it in black lol.

[ManicGTI]

fixed, well sort of, top end rebuilt runs spot on alot quieter, no smoke or owt. Management light wont go off checked everything ive had in bits, all ok, done self diagnostics on mfd no fault codes??? Any ideas cos its baffled me, might just colour it in black lol.

Don't know much about them on the Corsa, but is it not just a case of checking and clearing the fault on the ECU?

[carl1987]

tried leaving battery off for 9 hours it wiped fault code and light for a whole of maybe 3 mins.

[carl1987]

got fault codes today f12 which i know means starting diagnostics and f95 any ideas??????? Runs fine