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possible blown head gasket; looking for advice
Topic Started: Feb 4 2013, 10:47 PM (577 Views)
Talamant3z
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Hello everyone im not the most active member but i always get useful info from here. My wife has a 2000 chevy metro 1.3 auto. For last few months the car started running hot. We changed thermostat, coolant temp sensor, top and bottom radiator hose last replacement was a new radiator. So everything was changed in the cooling system but the water pump. My wife took the metro to a doctor appointment maybe 20miles mostly highway, after getting off the highway the temp started to rise. It never hit the red hot but near. I drove the car back (it was night no traffic and 35 degrees out) and it didnt overheat nor run warm. After getting home i checked the dipstick. It has some moisture in it. Overflow tank and radiator is clear no oil. When i crank it after a long rest no blow of white smoke. Cylinder 3 must have blown a seal because the spark plug and wire was covered in oil(so much car had issues starting). So after all that would would you guys suggest? I gave my wife my volvo s40 and not sure if the metro is worth fixing. Its an 2000 with 115 miles and ac works so its not a junk car but i dont want to spend money fixing this car and it overheats again. My buddy said for 180 he will replace the gasket. Im still not sure what do to. Any suggestions posted would really be appreciated and considered. Its a really simple car so how hard is the job?
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Vkhelldog
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Hmmmm. It's going to take some money, did you get a new fan switch/make sure the fan works? Replace water pump/timing belt for sure, as well as no blow head gasket, while your there check for leak down/burnt valves...
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tribrid
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Metromerized

Sounds like you might have blown the head gasket between two cylinders. Have you done a compression check? Replacing a gasket is pretty straightforward, if you know someone who will do it for $180 that sounds reasonable vs 2-3K for a decent replacement vehicle. Just my thoughts.
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Talamant3z
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Vkhelldog
Feb 4 2013, 10:50 PM
Hmmmm. It's going to take some money, did you get a new fan switch/make sure the fan works? Replace water pump/timing belt for sure, as well as no blow head gasket, while your there check for leak down/burnt valves...
Thats another issue fan will not cut on. We rigged a wire to the battery and it cuts on where is the switch? That was my plan to change timming belt,spark plugs, and ect.. but is it worth it? I would hate to invest say 500 into it and it runs hot again. Also the ac works but not that great is that how its designed?
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Reista
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Clutzy Shadetree

For 180 make sure your buddy gives you a valve job too, at least lapping them. And ask to see his torque wrench XD If he doesnt have one just slowly walk away. (torque specs are on the forum too ^^ )
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Reista
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Clutzy Shadetree

Talamant3z
Feb 4 2013, 11:11 PM
Vkhelldog
Feb 4 2013, 10:50 PM
Hmmmm. It's going to take some money, did you get a new fan switch/make sure the fan works? Replace water pump/timing belt for sure, as well as no blow head gasket, while your there check for leak down/burnt valves...
Thats another issue fan will not cut on. We rigged a wire to the battery and it cuts on where is the switch? That was my plan to change timming belt,spark plugs, and ect.. but is it worth it? I would hate to invest say 500 into it and it runs hot again. Also the ac works but not that great is that how its designed?
you may need to recharge your system. I doubt strongly that itll run hot if you put 500 into it. MAKE SURE before doing anything else that no leaves or anything else is blocking your rad.
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Reista
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Clutzy Shadetree

*also, at least inspect your water pump. Do that before the headgasket I would say. The impellor (sp?) can corrode
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Deleted User
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Head gasket failure symptoms, for sure.

Most shops will do a valve job for around $100 - $125 if you take them the head. Take them a set of new valve stem seals, and a new camshaft seal.

You can test the radiator fan to see if it's working by jumping leads from the connector to the battery.

If the fan works when jumped, the switch in the thermostat housing is not working.

Get new head bolts, valve stem seals, camshaft seal, a head gasket, and someone that knows what they're doing.

A timing belt and water pump isn't a bad idea, either. Make sure to change the timing belt idler pulley. The timing belt component kit has a belt and an idler pulley.

GG
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Vkhelldog
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The fan switch on mine is right before the thermostat, right next to the temp sending unit for the guage. The switch has two wires the guage sender 1. It's pretty cheap to replace 20$? Good point if he doesn't have a torque wrench that goes down to 8 ft lbs or 96 inch lbs walk away!!! For 500 you can probably rebuild it yourself (allowing you take head/block into a machine shop). All the guided are on here, and yes it's far more than worth it.... No matter what you buy it won't get as good of mileage for as long... IMO..
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