Overheating
 

Well I have pretty much had it with my car. Overheating issues just continue to get worse. At this point I fill up the rad and drive it a couple of miles and it overheats. It just boils out of the overflow tank. I just need to diagnose what the problem is. I believe it to be the head gasket but if its burning so much coolant I don't even see how it could run. It does have white smoke on start up but it has always had that. I had my local mechanic change the thermostat and he says there is no sign of oil in the coolant, and coolant in the oil. I can't even make it to Budfreaks (Jason) to have him look at it. If it needs a head gasket I most likely will not fix it. I'm prepared to sell it for anything I can get and move on to a more reliable car. I would hate to do that but I'm just sick and tired of this damn car.

What do you guys think?

Thanks

Re: Overheating
 

Oil and coolant do not mix on our cars. You car does need head gaskets done. If you fix the head gaskets you don't really have anything to worry about after that. Any car you buy is going to have maintenance. You are probably better of just fixing it . No one is going to give you much for it with a blown head gasket. Just get it fixed and you will be happy, might cost a bit but then you are good to go for a long time.


EDIT: OT is like 2hrs from you just giving you options.

Re: Overheating
 

Exhaust gas and coolant is what mixes. Either your coolant is leaking into your exhaust or vice versa, you can even get high temp exhaust bubbles in your coolant which is why it over heats so fast upon driving it. Replace head gaskets. If you want proof smell your coolant ... I bet it smells like exhaust.

Re: Overheating
 

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Take it from my 1996 Polo with 125,000 miles, which had exactly the same symptoms as you have, and more than one diagnosis.

Head gaskets.


Because of other internal issues, I had a rebuilt short block installed, with new Cometic head gaskets. I am never worrying about this problem again.

Looking at around $800-$1000.

.

Re: Overheating
 

Only 800 to 100? That's not bad at all. My friend had her HG done about two years ago at the dealership and it was 2k.

Maybe OT or Budfreak could do it for around that amount. I would def get it fixed.:)

Thanks for the info gentlemen.

Any more replies on this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Re: Overheating
 

$800-$1000??? lol its a 15hr job (for someone who knows what they are doing) and parts cost near $800 if you are going to do it right...

20 year old car is going to have 20 year old problems.

Tom

Re: Overheating
 

<<$800-$1000??? lol its a 15hr job (for someone who knows what they are doing) and parts cost near $800 if you are going to do it right...>>

agreed. maybe he did all his labor?

Re: Overheating
 

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According to SVX92-97's post, svxfiles did his head gasket repair on his 96 polofor just under $1000, parts, labor, and machine shop charges.

That post can be found HERE

That was 18 months ago, parts prices may have risen since then.


.

Re: Overheating
 

Yes John, that was when I was only charging $35.00 an hour.
And It took a LOT longer than the 14 hours that I promised.
There is no way that a qualified mechanic can do this job for $1000.00.
Hell, the gasket kit costs more than $250.00 now!:rolleyes:

Re: Overheating
 

And just for everyone's information, that does NOT include the (at least) six hours' time Tom "donated" to road test the car. The only way to road test a head gasket problem is to take it to the longest, steepest hill in the area and run it to the top. That's about 30 minutes from here.

Tom doesn't charge NEARLY enough for the work he does. But if you're expecting to get the kind of bargain the aforementioned customer got, it ain't gonna happen. You can expect reasonable prices, way lower than any dealer, and someone with lots of experience with these cars. But not in the $800.00-$1,000.00 range.

By the way, you could buy a brand new Mustang for $3,200.00...........





.....in 1966.

Prices have certainly gone up. ;)

Re: Overheating
 

I'm sorry to hear all this guys. OT I really appreciate what you have done for me in the past but this time I will not be repairing this. I can not spend this kind of money on this car. I'll just junk it since it's not worth anything now.:(

Re: Overheating
 

You should atleast try to sell it rather than junk it. I don't think junking a car because of a HG failure is too much $$ or hassle is fair. What would you have done if you needed a timing belt? You bought an older car that was bound to need maintenance. The most expensive thing about these cars is the cost of other peoples labor. You could save alot of $$ if you learn to do your own maintenance.

I strongly suggest selling your car if you choose not to repair it. You won't get anything for junking it anyway.

Re: Overheating
 

If you keep and repair the SVX, you'll know what's been done to it since you've had it, and what it's likely to need. Buy something else and you're starting over from scratch.

dcb

Re: Overheating
 

So what is a more realistic price to expect for this job? Just curious (well more like frightened)!

Re: Overheating
 

For the price of buying an actual POS you could fix this. I don't see how buying another car is the most economical way to go about this. Its your car and you will do what you want with but maybe thing about it. You probably have already replaced the trans or something else major so by fixing this you won't have much else to worry about.