Havent Seen My Celica Since Late Jan

[Gasz]

Well, had to get the car lorried from work to a garage in January.

Head gasket went, which is gutting, but surely not the worst thing that could happen!

Called the garage since its been a month, and guess what - they havent even touched it yet. They reckon they are giving me a really good deal at around £400, but i cant see that its a great deal when i havent seen my car in so long!!!

Urgh, garages really annoy me! Im having to book another lorry tommorow to take it to another garage who can do it for the end of the month.

Ive been driving the Astra MK2 (Gold) for a few weeks! Can someone please send me some happy thoughts? HAHA

[mikeb]

Well, had to get the car lorried from work to a garage in January.

Head gasket went, which is gutting, but surely not the worst thing that could happen!

Called the garage since its been a month, and guess what - they havent even touched it yet. They reckon they are giving me a really good deal at around £400, but i cant see that its a great deal when i havent seen my car in so long!!!

Urgh, garages really annoy me! Im having to book another lorry tommorow to take it to another garage who can do it for the end of the month.

Ive been driving the Astra MK2 (Gold) for a few weeks! Can someone please send me some happy thoughts? HAHA

£400 is a bargain. A main dealer would be 3 or 4 times that price. Try and encourage them to get on with the job, but don't be too hard on them - unless you are happy to pay the going rate somewhere else?

[Gasz]

£400 is a bargain. A main dealer would be 3 or 4 times that price. Try and encourage them to get on with the job, but don't be too hard on them - unless you are happy to pay the going rate somewhere else?

Seriously? This can cost £1200 - £1600? For a head gasket? My god, for that, i'd paint the word 'Spares' on the side, garage it, and use it as such when i spend 2.5K on another one! :o

[celsteve]

Sorry to hear about that, how about offering them say another £100 cash if they can get it done asap? Sounds like you'd still be getting a good deal. How many miles has your car done, I'm guessing it's a fair amount and if anybody has any advice on how to prevent hg failure (if there is any preventative measure) then it would be very helpful to all as no-one wants that to happen :(

[mikeb]

£400 is a bargain. A main dealer would be 3 or 4 times that price. Try and encourage them to get on with the job, but don't be too hard on them - unless you are happy to pay the going rate somewhere else?

Seriously? This can cost £1200 - £1600? For a head gasket? My god, for that, i'd paint the word 'Spares' on the side, garage it, and use it as such when i spend 2.5K on another one! :o

No - the head gasket kit costs about £140. The labour to rebuild the top of the engine in order to fit the head gasket costs...a lot.

[Leeky]

Thats not too long, my Lotus has been in the garage for almost 6months now

[Gasz]

No - the head gasket kit costs about £140. The labour to rebuild the top of the engine in order to fit the head gasket costs...a lot.

Thats what I thought. Getting the head skimmed isn't an issue, as i have contacts in an engineering company from when I did a Calibra. I do know that labour costs money, but for a taking the head off, (labour) skimming (engineering company) and then fitting the gasket and putting the head back on + time it (labour and parts) I just cant see that costing 1K? Thats extortionate for a labour charge.

My main issue isnt the price though. In the mean time my costs have been buying a temporary car - yes OK its a £400 one, but its still an expense on top of the car repair cost, bought on by the time taken to do this.

The main problem is the time taken. When the head gasket went on the Calibra, it took two days. That was about £300 all in all. This has been a month, and they havent touched it yet... thats the problem I have.

Celsteve - Good idea, ill try that - see if it wakes them up a little bit. Thats what it would cost anyway to get another lorry to fetch it - so good suggestion.

Also, yes mate, it has done some miles. The mileage is 175K, so you cant blame it really.... It hasn't had one yet according to the service history, and it did need a new cambelt anyway, so im saving a cost there.

Noone really wants a head gasket to go - I am fairly confident (although the AA guy disagrees) that the failure was bought on by the fact that I think the engine fan failed. My tip would be that if you see that the car is going up over the half mark on temp... stop the thing and find out... something i didnt do when running late for work...

Also, excessive punishment on an undermaintained engine (which my one is really) can make them go, although i'm new to the jap engine, having only had Vauxhalls before.

Cheers guys for all your comments so far!

G

Thats not too long, my Lotus has been in the garage for almost 6months now

Bejesus mate, thats a wait and a half... what in gods name are they doing? Lotus can build one in that time, by hand :o

[mikeb]

How many miles has your car done, I'm guessing it's a fair amount and if anybody has any advice on how to prevent hg failure (if there is any preventative measure) then it would be very helpful to all as no-one wants that to happen :(

Head gasket failure is nearly always a result of overheating. Keep an eye on your temp gauge - that's what it's for. Think of the head gasket as preforming the similar role to an electrical fuse - it's the weakest link so that it blows before you do some real damage.

No - the head gasket kit costs about £140. The labour to rebuild the top of the engine in order to fit the head gasket costs...a lot.

Thats what I thought. Getting the head skimmed isn't an issue, as i have contacts in an engineering company from when I did a Calibra. I do know that labour costs money, but for a taking the head off, (labour) skimming (engineering company) and then fitting the gasket and putting the head back on + time it (labour and parts) I just cant see that costing 1K? Thats extortionate for a labour charge.

My main issue isnt the price though. In the mean time my costs have been buying a temporary car - yes OK its a £400 one, but its still an expense on top of the car repair cost, bought on by the time taken to do this.

The main problem is the time taken. When the head gasket went on the Calibra, it took two days. That was about £300 all in all. This has been a month, and they havent touched it yet... thats the problem I have.

When I asked at Mr T for a quote, they estimated £1500 for the job based on 17 hours labour. I DIYed it in the end, and 17 hours is not far out for the full job.

It all depends on how thorough a job they are going to do, a big part of the work is rebuilding the head (skimming, stem seals, shimming the lifters). If you are on a budget you could just lift the head and replace the gasket, it would save a lot of time. But for peace of mind it is worth refurbing the c/head - especially with an engine of your mileage.

[Gasz]

When I asked at Mr T for a quote, they estimated £1500 for the job based on 17 hours labour. I DIYed it in the end, and 17 hours is not far out for the full job.

It all depends on how thorough a job they are going to do, a big part of the work is rebuilding the head (skimming, stem seals, shimming the lifters). If you are on a budget you could just lift the head and replace the gasket, it would save a lot of time. But for peace of mind it is worth refurbing the c/head - especially with an engine of your mileage.

Hmm, its all making me a little worried tbh... so far no good news.

Tried phoning the garage to speak to the service manager and nothing. Tried his mobile since I know him, and he diverted it to voicemail...

Well, lets go on possible spares for now eh, looking like the bank loan to get another one is the best option... either that or sell it on eBay with a head gasket problem.. Sell the Astra, and get another one with the overdraft...

HAHA, happy days eh!!

Cheers again for your replies... much appreciated!

[mikeb]

Is this a reputable garage?

[adamgt]

I would be tempted to just buy a new celica. Then the garage can take as long as they want with your broken one... still get it repaired and then sell it. Your other one has a lot of miles.

[Gasz]

Is this a reputable garage?

Well, its Vindis, the main bodies for VW... its a main dealer! Toyota arent in Bedford unfortunately...

It was either them or Vauxhall lol, and I know the service manager at Vindis, and he said that it would take them a couple of weeks back in January. He hung up earlier on me, and says that he'll text me later 'when hes got time' so bit of a comms breakdown, but having checked today, its still in the car park, in the same position as when it was offloaded from the lorry in Jan.

I would be tempted to just buy a new celica. Then the garage can take as long as they want with your broken one... still get it repaired and then sell it. Your other one has a lot of miles.

Yeah i agree mate, getting that way. Im tempted to buy a Gen 6 GT-4, although it wasn't planned until next year. If I'm having to replace it early, thats what I will do, no point in spending a couple of K on a car that will be for sale in a few months.

Also, if its going to cost telephone numbers to repair, id rather get it back, sell it on eBay for spares or repairs, as Im sure there are loads of people that could DIY it. I could if I wasn't working all the hours god gives, just dont have the time :|

[mikeb]

It's a difficult call on what to do with it really. IMO if you can get it fixed for under £600, you are probably best to do so, and sell it as a healthy car. Anyone who would be interested in buying it to repair themselves is likely to know exactly what is invloved, so they would want a real bargain (like a 3 figure price).

I am surprised that a main dealer is messing you about that way, but it sounds like he's getting it done on the cheap as a backhander?? Best to wave a bit more money at him and say you really need it sorting out soon. Alternatively, you might get a small, local garage to do it for a reasonable price.

[Gasz]

It's a difficult call on what to do with it really. IMO if you can get it fixed for under £600, you are probably best to do so, and sell it as a healthy car. Anyone who would be interested in buying it to repair themselves is likely to know exactly what is invloved, so they would want a real bargain (like a 3 figure price).

I am surprised that a main dealer is messing you about that way, but it sounds like he's getting it done on the cheap as a backhander?? Best to wave a bit more money at him and say you really need it sorting out soon. Alternatively, you might get a small, local garage to do it for a reasonable price.

Yep, i think your completely right... i wouldnt want to sell it for that much really, seeing as i paid so much for it. Although I would have to be realistic as you say, as everyone does know whats involved!

See, if he were to tell me that its likely to take another 4 weeks or so, i could get another car with what money I have + overdraft, and sell the Celica out of next months money! If its coming out, and he'll want £700, and ive just bought a GT-4 or whatever, then im not going to be able to afford it + the GT-4 wouldnt have been required...

HAHA! Its one issue or another... how much its going to cost, how long its been there, when its coming out and what the hell is happening with it at the moment... I'll pop in with my piggy bank tommorow and see where that gets me!

Thanks again for your advice mate.

[Gasz]

Hi guys, sorry to turn this into a Saga when it was originally a 'tell me everything's OK!' kinda post, but I went out clubbing with the service manager yesterday.

He said that he feels bad, but theres been illness etc etc so he hasn't be able to get going.

He says that he can assure me that it would be no more than £500... but it will be a couple of weeks. I explained that I would pay for a department night out (£100) if they got it done reasonably soon... ie early March.

He was pleased wth that, so work is proceeding... today!

[adamgt]

He was pleased wth that, so work is proceeding... today!

lol... its funny how they suddenly found the time to fix it when a free night out is at stake

[Gasz]

lol... its funny how they suddenly found the time to fix it when a free night out is at stake

HAHA!!!! I know! You gotta love techs eh!