Head Gasket - Vaxhaul Astra

[dfox77]

We brought a 02 reg vaxhaull astra 1.7 tdi from our local vaxhaul netwok q branch in March 2005. It had 38,000 miles on the clock and a FSH. It was serviced again in March this year but when I was topping the screen wash the other day I noticed the coolant reservoir was empty. I took back to the garge for them to look at tand they've told me the head gasket has gone and it will cost �1200 to fix. I spoken to vaxhaul and they've basically said tough as the car is now out of it's manufacturing warranty. Is there anything I can do?

[ianess]

I don't think that you'll have any luck as regards an expired warranty claim, beside which checking fluid levels should be carried out on a weekly basis at least. It sounds as though you haven't been doing that and it's rebounded on you big-style.
Having said that, unless there is some really serious damage to the engine I would expect to pay around �350 to �400 for a repair. �1200 seems to be way too high.
The joys of motoring.

[jake-the-peg]

If you're out of warranty then you're probably going to have to pay for the repairs.

But I agree �1200 is a ridiculous amount if all they're going to do is change the head gasket.

Main dealers play on your insecurity about local mechanics and charge stupid labour charges.

Ask them exactly what they're quoting you for over and above just taking the head off replacing the head gaskett.

They'll probably tell you that there may have been serious overheating possibly warping the head and it may need a thin layer of metal taking off (skimming) and pressure testing - They won't tell you that this actually costs about �100 at an engineering shop. If you want a real fright ask them what the hourly labour rate is that they're charging you on that quote you'll probably find it's about �80-�90 an hour. - thats about 3 times the hourly rate of a junior barrister

http://money.guardian.co.uk/consumernews/story /0,,1711959,00.html


Ring around a few local independants and ask them roughly what they charge to fix an astra with a blown head gasket. You'll probably start to hear figures closer to those ianess mentions.

[tomtech]

i would do it for 500. this includes pressure test, skim , new cam belt etc. i am bedford area.