More Troubles With My Ride!!!

[CyBeRjUnKiE]

Just got my car back yesterday and had the clutch replaced. Clutch feels nice, but the car was still acting up weird. Anyways, I returned the car this morning since my Engine Light still was going off. I just got a call from the dealer telling me that the Head Gasket was blown and will need to be replaced. Apparently the Oil and Coolant got mixed inside the engine and now my car is in for several days. Apparently I was told that it's an expensive job. Well not my problem, since it's still under warranty. Apparently they would like to see the receipts for coolant and oil change as well. I'm like I do it myself, oh well since that's the case you'll have to pay for the Coolant flush and Oil change. I said, that's fine, as long as the car is back to normal. So they are now going ahead to purchase the parts. They have to take my engine apart apparently to fix this and will cost over 3000 dollars to do. Good thing I took it in to the dealership before my warranty ran out. I guess the moral here is that I should have been taking my car in for servicing or I should have been keeping some sort of receipts showing that the service has been maintained. I hope my baby will be okay.Apparently they found this out when they took out the engine cover and crustation of coolant was forming around the spark plugs. Never heard of anything like this before, but would anyone know if fixing the gaskets means I have to take it easy on the car like as it was brand new and have to maintain a speed at 100 or below on highway? It was a very sad day indeed for my car.

[AKLGT]

now, was this a USED vibe then? because you have way too many issues for a new one!

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »now, was this a USED vibe then? because you have way too many issues for a new one! Heh, this kind of thing happens... I bought mine new and the piece of crap decides it wants to self-destruct. About the coolant leak, this is interesting... I think I need to have a closer look at mine to see if it is crusty... I have that coolant leak and smell that nobody could ever find....

[CyBeRjUnKiE]

The Vibe was brand new when I first bought it 2 1/2 years ago. I must have gotten lucky to get the bad apple of the draw. Anyways, as for the coolant leak make sure that you check your coolant levels. If you coolant is going down every so often and there's no leaks anywhere and see some white smoke out of your exhaust even on warm days, possibility that your coolant is leaking into your engine mixing with your oil.

[CyBeRjUnKiE]

honestly I really don't know if there is a seal or not...if there is, well it leaked out anyways. I had some crustation forming around the spark plugs. Looked like insulation in a tube...MONO

[Mavrik]

You know if your oil and coolant was mixed up bad enough it would cause engine troubles like missfires and engine ticking noise which I think you mentioned you had that earlier? Well hope it all works out for you.

[Mr. Poopypants]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but the gasket forms a seal so the coolant can pass over the engine and stay out of the oil flow inside the engine, if this seal breaks down, this will cause the coolant and oil mixture, which when burns forms the crusties you were speaking of. I had it happen to my old Mazda and it really isn't cheap to take it to a repair shop, luckily, I have a few mechanic friends and we replaced the gasket in a few hours. As long as it's done right, your car should be up and running like a champ in no time.

[CyBeRjUnKiE]

thanks for the uplifting comments. I was beginning to feel that the car was going to be junk even after it's fixed. It's nice to know that there's still life after death.

[Mr. Poopypants]

ColonelPanic's car is the perfect example of life after death, death, life threatening injury, death, and death.

[joatmon]

It is odd that coolant residue would accumulate on the outside of the spark plug. if a head gasket leak was allowing coolant into the cyliinder, then there would have to be another leak to push that coolant out around the plugs. Maybe they saw the coolant crust on the spark plug tips, and not external to the engine. How much to drive like break in depends on what they have to do to fix it. I had a car where coolant got into the oil, turned it all into a gummy chocolate milkshake goo. Had to take a lot apart to get it all cleaned out. hopefully any coolant blow by past the rings in your engine was insignificant, and your oil is ok. Might be a good idea to not overly stress the thing after the repair for a little while though, how much I don't know.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by CyBeRjUnKiE »Anyways, as for the coolant leak make sure that you check your coolant levels. I was given a common sense tip about fluid levels. After receiving a new car mark with an indelible black marker the current fluid levels that are easily accessible...say power steering, brake and coolant. Do this when the vehicle is dead cold.