Avensis Head Gasket Problems

[DazMelling]

Hi

I have a 2008 (58 plate) Avensis 2.2 D4D with 107K miles that seems to have the dreaded head gasket problem on the way (heater not working but car is running) and this has confirmed by a main dealer.

The car has a full Toyota dealer service history and always at the same dealer since I have owned the vehicle (since 18K miles when the car was 9 months old). In the last 12 months I have started to get a few problems ... fan belt snapped (£450), air con leak (£260) and now this (£1500+ quoted). The previous 2 issues also fixed at the same main dealer.

My main dealer took the car in last week, advised in the morning that it should be covered under the extended warranty. I received a call in the afternoon to say that my car is actually outside of the warranty parameters as a fix was put in place for the head gasket problem in 2007 and all cars manufactured afterwards do not have the same problem and therefore not covered.

I have read a number of postings across the internet with some saying my car would be under the extended warranty and others that say it is not.

Any advice, definitive clarifications or straws to clutch at would be appreciated.

Thanking you in advance

Daz

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Darren - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Have a look at: http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/132178-charliefarlies-guide-to-the-toyota-2ad-diesel-engine-and-its-issues/

[DazMelling]

Thanks for the quick reply and an interesting read (all 59 pages though did skip a few).

The heater not working is the only symptom I have on my car at the moment and my initial assumption was a fault thermostat or similar. The dealer tested the head gasket and advised me but I was rejected because my engine falls after No 85028 after which a modification was made in the manufacture.

The car does not (seemingly) exhibit any of the following:

Excessive oil consumption (never needed to top up between regular 10K services).
Excessive Fuel consumption. (I do monitor this as I use it for business and has remained constant)
And of course cars going into limp mode or displaying fault codes relating to this engines issues. (So far not happened)

No idea how to check:

Coolant Water being blown out of the expansion tank and the colour sometimes turning darker in colour.

Blocked or heavily sooted EGR valves

I will be pointing my dealer at the thread mentioned above but not sure how I could prove "carbon deposits on the pistons"

Thanks

Daz