garage /car/advice re headgasket blown engine.

[Red Herring]

Does the £500 to fit that engine include everything. They are going to need gaskets and belts, plus if it doesn't come with a clutch and they have to swop yours over you might as well have a new one given it's done 70k

I am on a split shift tomorrow so can go talk to the man .. today was on 11 hours straight from half 6 so had littel chance to do anything.

cheers for the advice.. I appreciate it..

[NTECUK]

You had a contract with him to provide a service. If he has failed to provide that service then you can sue him for breach of contract. The difficulty is in proving it.
You need a pro to inspect the engine to argue you case,
Have you approached Citizens Advice.

You have also been well over charged for a corsa head gasket set. I also agree that 8 hours labour is extreme. All I can compare it to is a 1.4 rover engine though and only a diy mechanic and a handy Haynes manual.

[mister c]

Says on the receipt "intermediate service". Surely that means checking plugs, oil, filter etc? If there was no oil 2 days later I would start to ask questions

[NTECUK]

If you hear of anyone else wanting to do a simuler job use this set.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UPRATED-HE...item19ca7cb3a6

[NTECUK]

If you have a.major overheat, the piston rings go soft .add to that the action that coolant removes the carbon build up contributes to oil control ,it can soon empty a small sump.

The noisy tappets are often a symptom of not enough oil or oil pressure. That should set alarm bells ringing, and the car should have been carefully checked for leaks and level. Intermediate service on the invoice suggests new oil and filters were fitted at the head gasket repair.

The head gasket has oil ways in it that feed the oil to the valve gear - fitting one backwards (or the wrong one) has been known to happen and could cause oil starvation to the head, which fits the symptoms.
Did they tell you how bad the head was? Did they need to skim much, did they check the block deck was flat?

Costs seem expensive, but its a job I DIY anyway.

Wish I had tried do it myself now ! I do all the plugs and oil and filters myself and all the bike .. Am pretty handy but thought this was too big a job

[Wideboy]

You got well stung for the gasket mate, pretty sure I didn't pay over 30 quid for the last one I bought and that was at retail and as misterc said if it was serviced and the head fixed where did the oil go?

Chances are he uses your closest parts dealer so get a price off them before you go back and question him, or find out where he shops, £120 for a gasket is crazy