headgasket??

[shiny]

Hi everyone
I have to take my kids to Stanstead airport on Friday from Dorset
and the water is boiling in my 2.4 1990 Surf I have just managed to crawl home waiting each time for it to cool, it is not loosing the water but i go about 1 mile and the temperature guage goes v hot.. is this a sign of Headgasket gone? or could it be something else? either way i will have to hire a car to get my kids back to Stanstead and to there mother who lives in Finland.

It is now outside where I live cooling down (could it be a shortage of coolant?) I await feedback

Many thanks Shiny

[stormforce]

Hi everyone
I have to take my kids to Stanstead airport on Friday from Dorset
and the water is boiling in my 2.4 1990 Surf I have just managed to crawl home waiting each time for it to cool, it is not loosing the water but i go about 1 mile and the temperature guage goes v hot.. is this a sign of Headgasket gone? or could it be something else? either way i will have to hire a car to get my kids back to Stanstead and to there mother who lives in Finland.

It is now outside where I live cooling down (could it be a shortage of coolant?) I await feedback

Many thanks Shiny

try checking the thermostat as well

[shiny]

try checking the thermostat as well

OK Storm force will do
I think crisis may be over for some reason it isn't taking water from overflow
foolishly I had not checked radiator for a while as overflow was at correct level, but what with hot weather and air con on, I guess it had got very low in radiator, but i am still puzzled as I have now topped it up and let it run..no water out of exhust no oil in overflow, so took it for a hard run at full throttle and it seems ok now, and doesn't over heat, except for the overflow which on my return from thrashing surf is at very high level, is this an indecation of some other problem ?
but I am one happy bunny as hopefully it is not headgasket,
It will teach me to check main raidiator, I hope i haven't done any damage, when it was running hot? but it was only for a short time..Whewww!!

[Vagrant No2]

Fit a new rad cap anyway , as these are a major prob with initial overheating and can lead to water loss and then head crack . The rad cap may be letting coolant out to the expansion bottle but not let it return to the rad when cooling .

[TonyN]

but I am one happy bunny as hopefully it is not headgasket,

Gasket is the least of your worries, DO NOT let it get to hot! Normally a 2.4 that been in the red of the temp guage will crack a head for sure.



Fit a new 'stat, rad cap and check all your hoses for leaks, make sure the heater is blowing hot to check for air locks. While its cold carefully pull the hose that goes into the heater valve off while its idleing to make sure the water pump is pumping OK

If the expansion tank isn't full up its a good sign, moniter the level of it and the water level of the engine every morning for a while.

Good luck.

[shiny]

Gasket is the least of your worries, DO NOT let it get to hot! Normally a 2.4 that been in the red of the temp guage will crack a head for sure.



Fit a new 'stat, rad cap and check all your hoses for leaks, make sure the heater is blowing hot to check for air locks. While its cold carefully pull the hose that goes into the heater valve off while its idleing to make sure the water pump is pumping OK

If the expansion tank isn't full up its a good sign, moniter the level of it and the water level of the engine every morning for a while.

Good luck.

Thanks everyone for your support i hope my luck holds out, but I will keep an eye open and check everything and top up water if needed Shiny

[chester]

need advice

we bought our 1st hilux on 11/07/05 and sure enough 6 days in it blew the head . steam everywhere and oil on head - only done 120 miles in it and now were in dispute with garage over whether it was dodgy when we bought it. since finding site it seems this is common . and yes its a 2.4 1993 surf - ok stop laughing you buggars. thing is i wouldnt mind if it had been 6 months down the line but 6 days!!!!!!!! any way now we need 3 opinions to say whether it is likely it was knackered before we took it on and im not sure who to ask. the garage are trying to say we must have driven it for miles like it in order to knacker the head - like wed do that right! - any ideas or opinions greatfully received - its sad cos we like the surf and want to repair it

[poppy986]

Normaly you havea 3 mth guarantee if it was from a dealer.
I would talk to them stating that the truckis not of mechantable
quality as you have only had it for 6 days and such a low
drivable mileage on it by you.
Start dropping Trading Standards in thier ears and tell them to
correct it or demand your cash back and go else where as there
are lots of Surfs about.

Cheers Chris.

Hi Pete glad you sorted out your water problems.The back window
next ???? te he.

[marky]

A dealer has to give 3 months warranty by law.
Trading standards is the best place to get advice on this.

[mellowman]

i phoned trading standards about my surf this morning, the advice was write to the dealer recorded delivery explaining your problem, they are not obliged to refund your money right away, they have to be given the option of repairing it first. if this dont get them moving, take your surf to an independent garage and they will be able to confirm it was already broken before you bought it. then contact trading standards again to advise them of this. buying second hand is more difficult, but the general rule is the car has to be fit for average use, and of reasonable quality, hopefully this should push them into action. Good luck.

[chester]

Normaly you havea 3 mth guarantee if it was from a dealer.
I would talk to them stating that the truckis not of mechantable
quality as you have only had it for 6 days and such a low
drivable mileage on it by you.
Start dropping Trading Standards in thier ears and tell them to
correct it or demand your cash back and go else where as there
are lots of Surfs about.

Cheers Chris.

Hi Pete glad you sorted out your water problems.The back window
next ???? te he.

thanks were in process of finding a gagrge who will take a look for us then its off to small claims if they wont budge - great fun!!