garage say engine is knackererd

[nyleridedog]

I have a a170 cdi avantgarde.120.000 miles the steering went the other day and had to get a new belt and bearing for the power steering! but the mechanic opened the water resivoir and pressure came out! he is saying that the head gasket is knackered!

He said that the engine would have to be took out and be done by a merc specialist!

anyone know what the situation is with this?

prices?

garages?

im based in the north west!

cheers guys

 

[television]

I have a a170 cdi avantgarde.120.000 miles the steering went the other day and had to get a new belt and bearing for the power steering! but the mechanic opened the water resivoir and pressure came out! he is saying that the head gasket is knackered!

He said that the engine would have to be took out and be done by a merc specialist!

anyone know what the situation is with this?

prices?

garages?

im based in the north west!
cheers guys

Something not right here,all water systems are under presure,often a warning label on top.

These systems are presurised, I would be more worried if there was no presure.

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

Does it run ok or are there other symptoms.
As Malcolm says, if water didn't rush out, you'd be in trouble. What you describe is a healthy system.

Caveat - As I understand it ....
the coolant is pressurised as it can run hotter than water's boiling point and a boiling cooling system would be a problem. Pressurised water has a higher boiling point - hence they pressurise the system.

 

[nyleridedog]

thank for the quick replies guys
well the mechanic took the cap of the radiator when the engine was cold.He said their should be no presure but thats when a bit of presure came out! he said he could smell diesal fumes in it!

cheers

 

[jberks]

If the coolant system is being pressurised from the engine then that would indicate a head gasket or similar issue. Unusual on these engines but possible. However I would expect it to be using water at a fair rate. Aree you having to top up the coolant regularly.
In any case - possibly not fatal, depending on what's given out. I don't imagine a head gasket on a 170 is a major task.

 

[nyleridedog]

cheers jberks

i have not topped up the coolant! but the garage said it did need topping up!
I called up the official merc garage and they quoted 39 hours work! saying the engine has to be took out! from underneath the car! been quoted! between 700-900 pound man hours and 200 for the parts , but they could rise.

wonder how much a 2nd hand engine would cost?

thansk again

 

[television]

And apart from what Jberks says it shows that the system is holding up presure wise, most cars will make the same noise even when cold as the water in the system seals all of the air in.

Malcolm

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

39 Hours at a MB garage should equate to about £3900 (approx £100 p/h). I would try an engine specialist that is not MB specific IF you need an engine rebuild. I would certainly get an Indy or a trusted non MB garage to look at it first.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

You may want to look at this. Different car but surely the problem is the same;

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=24190

 

[Hibbo]

I have no knowledge of CDI engines or the A-class for that matter, but from what I do know I think your mechanic is talking utter drivel.

As has been said, coolant systems are pressurised as this allows the coolant to run at over 100c (I think some lecky fans don't cut in till 105c). So in normal operation your coolant system will be pressurised. The fact it hissed when it was cold means that it is HOLDING the pressure and thus the system is in tip top shape.

That's not to say that the pressure couldn't be due to a failed head gasket, BUT the hissing purely means there is pressure in there.

A couple of easy ways to tell if your head gasket has gone are to run the engine (from cold) with the radiator cap off, and see if there are bubbles coming through when the engine is revved. Another good way is to slip the local MOT man (or woman, but MOT woman doesn't have the same ring to it) a few bob and get him to hold the probe from the emissions tester over the (open) radiator cap with the engine running, this will see if there are any exhaust gasses in the coolant. (I think it would have to be the petrol emissions tester, as the diesel one is just a 'smoke' measurer. I think.)

Then either name and shame the garage that told you this or make a formal complaint about the mechanic!

 

[type49]

I'd like to see where they get 39 hours from. I've never done a headgasket on an A class, so can't be sure if it's engine out or not. I have, however, had these engines out to replace auto transmissions. The time for engine out, (dropping from below) swopping over gearbox etc & back together again is about 11/12 hours. So forgetting the gearbox swop, this gives 27 hours to do the headgasket with the engine already out! Who have they got doing it, Benny from Crossroads? I bet they're on bonus. Someones going to have a ****** bit paypacket at the end of the month.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I'd just like to add, don't ever remove the pressure cap from the coolant reservoir when hot, not if you want scalding hot coolant splashing up your arm and face.

 

[BigJohn]

Hi

Have a look at these :-
http://www.dronsfields.com/
http://www.thegarageuk.com/index.htm £47 per hour last year.

Was it the same chap who looked at your power steering?
If so you may have reason to doubt, all A Class's have a electric pump (located low down rear nearside of the radiator) for the PS.
There is no belt involved although the drive belt (hard to engine offside) drives the water pump and alternator etc. is there a connection here?

Hope you get it sorted.

 

[television]

I have had my doubts on this one all the way through, and that there is not anything wrong with it other than it wanted topping up.


Malcolm

 

[Ian B Walker]

Being in the North West. If you want an unbiased opinion drop in and see me. Words cost nothing.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Also give GreenVale in Whitefield (near Manchester) a try. I've used them and they're allright.

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Mercedes tech Warrington or Billinge Mercedes near Wigan.

 

[eric242340]

knackered engine?

Go to a local garage and ask them to pressure test the cooling system. If it looses pressure and there are no external leaks then the head gasket is suspect. If it does not loose pressure then go and give that mechanic hell for making you worry so much. And 39 hours on an A class head job is a scam.

 

[wireman]

Anybody out there ever been told that antifreeze eventualy goes rusty coloured when you bubble exhast gasses through it? If so can anyone tell me if this is true?
If you car is not loosing coolant then you do not need to worry, if its loosing a little bit regularly then maybe you should be ready for trouble and help should be sought.
The cooling system is presurised due to expansion of the coolant when the engine is hot, when cooled this pressure will fall back to the atmospheric presure which was current at the time the system was closed, there should not be any substantial pressure in the cold system but it may have a small vacuum instead, it is not uncommon for a short burst of noise to emit from the pressure cap as it is removed when the engine is cold.
A gas leak to coolant will often cause the engine temperature to rise to the working point (T'stat opening) much more quickly than on a similar engine without the leak.
This excess heat is often easily dissipated by the radiator withuot any sign of over heating, Untill summer and a bit of heavy driving helps to overheat the system.

Maybe its time to change the coolant in line with the makers recomendations, and change the pressure cap while you are at it.
With a good nose you can probably smell diesel any where near the car so I would be wary of the suggestion that you are about to be in trouble.