Heads I lose, Long story.

[Pete]

Well after a couple of depressing and frustrating months, my truck is back on the road, and I am starting to remember why I liked it so much in the first place. Briefly, here’s the story. Went looking for a nice Pajero a couple of years ago, and stumbled across the Surf and that was me hooked. Once you sit in one, there’s no going back I’m sure one or two of you are now nodding!! Took delivery in March 2002. 3 months later I got the mobile sauna. Just the job for a sunny Sunday afternoon on Tesco’s car park. It couldn’t happen on a nice quiet road with no crowds now could it! The verdict as you can guess was a cracked head. The dealer I bought it from was true to his word and fitted me a new head under warranty. Phrases like “the engine will now outlive the car “ are etched into my memory banks!! From then on, all was sweet until the beginning of December, when I noticed a bit more smoke than usuall until the engine had warmed up. For a day or two I thought nothing of it, as the weather had turned cold and damp, and just put it down to condensation. Then doubt started to creep in. I was sure I saw a bubble in the expansion bottle, but the water in there shakes about and I couldn’t be certain. So, off to the local garage to let them have a look. The mechanic wasn’t certain either, so to be sure, suggested a pressure test on the cooling system. This showed that the system was indeed faulty, and since the head had not been on long, it was probably head gasket failure, but they would not be certain until the head was off. I contacted the dealer I bought it from to get his thoughts on the matter, only to find they had gone bankrupt.
So, back to the local garage, head off, sent away for pressure check, came back ok, looks like new head. Fit new gasket, £620, have a nice Christmas!! . 2 weeks, and 250 miles later, steaming worse than ever starts, and bubbling like a kettle. Rang garage and told them to collect it, as it was too bad to drive.
The verdict. There are some small cracks in the head, but they were there before and it passed head pressure test ok, and our guarantee is only with the gaske. The engine block maybe slightly warped but we can’t tell really without taking the engine out. So, I might have a dodgy head, and might have a dodgy engine, and they wanted ABOUT £2300 to skim the block.
At this point, I just wanted the truck out of that garage. They put it back together, with another new gasket, and some ‘magic’ sealer and I took it home in a poorly state. I just could’t believe this was happening.
I searched the forum in desperation. I didn’t really want to buy a second hand engine, as I could end up with the same problems. Then I came across a thread in which somebody had posted a phone number of an engine specialist they had used. It was Stevo, and he wasn’t too far away, in Stockport. He sounded really knowledgeable on engines, and more importantly had experience of Surfs. A full rebuild, with the cylinders lined, etc, etc, block skimmed, and brand new head, was £1750+ vat. 12 months/24,000 mile warranty. All the work is done in his workshop. He also had the radiator flow checked. It turned out to need a re-core, due to partial blockage. This was £124 + vat, and is guaranteed.
As you would expect, the engine is now sweet as a nut, and I am starting to feel good about it again. There have been sleepless nights when I felt like torching the truck. When things are going wrong, it’s easy to forget the good things!
My experience has been the exception rather than the norm, but I feel somehow that it will not be unique.
If you are unlucky enough to need a new head, make sure it’s being fixed to a good engine. Make sure your cooling system is running as it should be. Any doubts, get the rad out and get it flow checked. Make sure the viscous fan is working properly. A wisely spent few hundred could save a lot of heartache.
Well that’s my ten peneth. Sorry if it’s got anyone worried, but it’s only my experience.
(climbs off soap box)
Pete
Pete

[Koi]

Sorry to here your sad tale, but as you say its all back together now and happy surfing from here on in. The smile you get from driving these motors ,well it just makes it all worth while.

[Guest]

Well after a couple of depressing and frustrating months, my truck is back on the road, and I am starting to remember why I liked it so much in the first place. Briefly, here’s the story. Went looking for a nice Pajero a couple of years ago, and stumbled across the Surf and that was me hooked. Once you sit in one, there’s no going back I’m sure one or two of you are now nodding!! Took delivery in March 2002. 3 months later I got the mobile sauna. Just the job for a sunny Sunday afternoon on Tesco’s car park. It couldn’t happen on a nice quiet road with no crowds now could it! The verdict as you can guess was a cracked head. The dealer I bought it from was true to his word and fitted me a new head under warranty. Phrases like “the engine will now outlive the car “ are etched into my memory banks!! From then on, all was sweet until the beginning of December, when I noticed a bit more smoke than usuall until the engine had warmed up. For a day or two I thought nothing of it, as the weather had turned cold and damp, and just put it down to condensation. Then doubt started to creep in. I was sure I saw a bubble in the expansion bottle, but the water in there shakes about and I couldn’t be certain. So, off to the local garage to let them have a look. The mechanic wasn’t certain either, so to be sure, suggested a pressure test on the cooling system. This showed that the system was indeed faulty, and since the head had not been on long, it was probably head gasket failure, but they would not be certain until the head was off. I contacted the dealer I bought it from to get his thoughts on the matter, only to find they had gone bankrupt.
So, back to the local garage, head off, sent away for pressure check, came back ok, looks like new head. Fit new gasket, £620, have a nice Christmas!! . 2 weeks, and 250 miles later, steaming worse than ever starts, and bubbling like a kettle. Rang garage and told them to collect it, as it was too bad to drive.
The verdict. There are some small cracks in the head, but they were there before and it passed head pressure test ok, and our guarantee is only with the gaske. The engine block maybe slightly warped but we can’t tell really without taking the engine out. So, I might have a dodgy head, and might have a dodgy engine, and they wanted ABOUT £2300 to skim the block.
At this point, I just wanted the truck out of that garage. They put it back together, with another new gasket, and some ‘magic’ sealer and I took it home in a poorly state. I just could’t believe this was happening.
I searched the forum in desperation. I didn’t really want to buy a second hand engine, as I could end up with the same problems. Then I came across a thread in which somebody had posted a phone number of an engine specialist they had used. It was Stevo, and he wasn’t too far away, in Stockport. He sounded really knowledgeable on engines, and more importantly had experience of Surfs. A full rebuild, with the cylinders lined, etc, etc, block skimmed, and brand new head, was £1750+ vat. 12 months/24,000 mile warranty. All the work is done in his workshop. He also had the radiator flow checked. It turned out to need a re-core, due to partial blockage. This was £124 + vat, and is guaranteed.
As you would expect, the engine is now sweet as a nut, and I am starting to feel good about it again. There have been sleepless nights when I felt like torching the truck. When things are going wrong, it’s easy to forget the good things!
My experience has been the exception rather than the norm, but I feel somehow that it will not be unique.
If you are unlucky enough to need a new head, make sure it’s being fixed to a good engine. Make sure your cooling system is running as it should be. Any doubts, get the rad out and get it flow checked. Make sure the viscous fan is working properly. A wisely spent few hundred could save a lot of heartache.
Well that’s my ten peneth. Sorry if it’s got anyone worried, but it’s only my experience.
(climbs off soap box)
Pete
Pete

Pete.

What an utter nightmare you have had, good that you stuck with it and found a decent mechanic who was worthy of the name rather than a jumped up hammer merchant who shouldn't be allowed near a Morris Minor let alone a complicated beast like the Surf.

Glad that it's all back together again and running sweet and glad that you are starting to remember what you bought it for in the first place.

Cheers

[TonyN]

Kudos to Stevo, others have had simular good things to say about him.

Sucks about the messing around and expence, but at least its a good story now!

Nice to see someone rebuilding a motor, instead of just just chucking another engine in, that you don't know anything about.

[Ems and Jim]

Pete,

Glad yopu finally got yourself sorted..... thanks for the words of support of the last few weeks when mine went pop.

Here's to NOT drinking water !!!!!!!!

Jim