Headgasket blown!

[Da]

but thankfully not in the 182! GF's Ford KA broke down this morning on the motorway. Mr RAC man informs us the headgasket has gone and deposited the car at a local garage. Now the car in question is a 2003 53 plate. It has done circa 26k and recently serviced/MOT'd etc. Is this feasable that the gasket has gone at 26k?? Surely they should last longer than that!
Does anyone believe we have a case to take up with Ford UK?

Also what's the damage likely to be? :dapprove:

 

[DrR]

oh nasty, can't beleive thats gone so early if it's been looked after properly.

 

[Da]

Yeah it's a bit of a s**tter mate Ah well think the missus wants a new car now! :evil:

Anyone got a cheap 182 lying around?

 

[len_beach]

That sounds wrong. As far as I know the Endura-E (if that is the engine in question and not the 1.6 16v) is not prone to HGF. It is a horrible engine based on that of a 70's Escort but you would have thought that amount of time would allow any issues in the design to be ironed out.

I would say that you have a good case for Ford to answer, providing you can prove the cars' service history and there is not evidence of oil or water starvtion.

 

[christian rea]

Yeah it's a bit of a s**tter mate Ah well think the missus wants a new car now! :evil:

Anyone got a cheap 182 lying around?

ill check my back pocket might have 1 there .............................no must of fell out i could ofswarn it was there

 

[Da]

The oil was checked a couple of weeks or so ago by my good self and there was no starvation, didn't even require a top up.
As for the services etc, these have always been done but she never used Ford which I think is where we'll fall flat. I always told her to but she insisted on using the local independent.

The engine in question is the 1.3 petrol. As I say it's low mileage for 4 years old at 26K.

 

[len_beach]

As long as the book is stamped, I can't see it being a problem in the long wrong. Initially, that will probably be the argument but in the words of Kenneth Williams, Carry on regardless.

My better half had an 'R' reg' Fiesta until last year fitted with the same engine. It was on 68k and it always received a good shoeing when I drove it. The oil was low on a couple of occasions as I found out when taking roundabouts a little to quickly but it still never missed a beat.

Fight them all the way mate. A forum like Passionford may be a starting point. It's absolutely massive and they may have experienced this before or may have a contact similar to Jeremy Townseld on here who could guide you in the right direction.

 

[Da]

Yeah sounds like a good idea, cheers mate. I will hold off doing anything though until the garage report back to us hopefully tomorrow.
Is the HGF likely to have caused any engine damage? I haven't done one since my Mk3 1.3 Escort days! lol!

 

[len_beach]

The head may be warped slightly so it would be worth having that skimmed. The engine is essentially the same as that in your 1.3 Escort so you could do it yourself. Until the head is off, you won't know the reason for the failure or damaged caused.

One thing I forgot to say was, get a second opinion as you are doing with the garage. I am sure the majority of AA/RAC guys are very good but I would like peace of mind knowing that someone I trust has confirmed the issue. Some of these guys drive a yellow van for a good reason.

 

[Da]

Yeah exactly mate, I shall await confirmation from the garage tomorrow.
I am more than happy to do the HG myself but we can't really get it from the garage now as it's undriveable. Plus i wouldn't want to spend time and money replacing it only to find the head needed skimming. :dapprove:

 

[SBV116]

if it is the endura engine, it is very unlikey!! what were the symptoms?! or did it just stop? it is defo a 1300 and not a 1.25?

 

[SBV116]

Yeah exactly mate, I shall await confirmation from the garage tomorrow.
I am more than happy to do the HG myself but we can't really get it from the garage now as it's undriveable. Plus i wouldn't want to spend time and money replacing it only to find the head needed skimming. :dapprove:

where abouts are you bud?

 

[Da]

It's 100% a 1.3 mate, the garage have phoned today and have said that the head needs skimming. Best case scenario £400 - £500 and worse case scenario £1000+

I wasn't with the car when it broke down so not 100% on the symptoms but the GF said it was smoking and steaming and then wouldn't start after she'd pulled over.

We are in lancashire mate, near burnley.

 

[mat-nos]

get to the scrappy and get an engine and head of the same year and slap that in!! will be less tahn £500 and then get rid!!

 

[Da]

Would if I could, the car is currently at the garage in question and we have no means of getting it from there as it's undriveable.

 

[Da]

The damage;

Warped head, pistons seized and engine generally KO'd.

New engine being fitted as from tomorrow and is going to cost around £800 all in!

 

[AlexS]

if it is the endura engine, it is very unlikey!! what were the symptoms?! or did it just stop? it is defo a 1300 and not a 1.25?

Unfortunatly they didnt put the 1.25 Zetec in the Ka, only the 1.3 60BHP Endura unit. You can always here one coming, they sound like a skeleton masturbating in a filing cabinet!
Hope you get it sorted Daz, might be cheaper to stick a second hand engine in there, im sure they go for £250 low mileage on ebay.

 

[Da]

The garage say there was sudden and complete coolant loss causing the engine to basically go into immediate meltdown. Hence the pistons seizing etc. I just can't understand it really! :S

It's the G/F's car and she has authorised work to begin on the new engine going in!

 

[len_beach]

I'd source a Puma engine or even the 1.6 Zetec in the Fiesta although this will obviously affect re-sale.

 

[Da]

yeah the car is going, her replacement is already lined up we just need to fix it to get rid.

Also, what implications are there in fitting a second hand engine with different mileage and engine number etc? Will this need notifying to the DVLA or similar?

 

[16v_jon]

just update the new engine number with the dvla- some people buying will compare engine numbers with the log book