My Z is overheating in a big way.

My local gagarge says the head gasket has gone but doesn't want to touch it.

The Nissan dealer in Leeds says the gaskets are £29.00 each and including labour and VAT the price is £1350.00 for the job.

They say the engine has to come out.

Does this sound right?

My Cam belts need doing too so I may get it done at the same time.

 

Matey,

 

I would check that with somebody else if I were you, not sure about the engine out thingey, I maybe wrong but a second opinion can't do you any harm in the queens head paper department.

 

Not only that, I wouldn't trust a Nissan dealer to do a pukka job either! Why don't you try SE, number is in the Contacts & Links section. They would do a better job and maybe cheaper, I don't know!

 

Tim

;-)

 

 

No sounds like a crap price - If you are planning higher boost then i would go with the HKS thick jobbies - they aren't too much more and worth the money Vs the replacement labour cost.

 

The engine doesn't have to come out either i would look else where mate. phone around. SE - Hiteq Etc. get a better price.

 

Z y a

Nico 91TT

 

Yep, I forgot about that, Nico's dead right my friend, if you're going to do it anyway you'd be better off putting in metal head gasketts. Guaranteed for life then!

 

I should do that with mine actually before it gets thrown back together...

 

Tim

;-)

 

 

Chris

 

I took both heads off my car 2 months ago

(see prev postings) and with the engine in the car.Its a fiddly job due to limited space especially around the turbo pipes and plenum £29.00/gasket is reasonable but what Quality of gasket.Does the price include Pressure testing and possibly skimming of heads.I would guess 24 hrs labour in car but

much quicker out.Best of luck

 

Chris, what are the symptoms? A blown head gasket doesn't cause overheating!!! Have you pulled the dipstick to check for the white sludge at the bottom or even taken the oil filler cap off to look for the same? It's all very well to just say the head gaskets have gone!!! For £1350 it sounds like they don't know what it is and are covering themselves for anything in the price!!!

 

Andy

 

Chris

Have you got Oil in the cooling system,Water in tne sump, Have they carried out a compression test on each cylinder,Are there any obvious leaks of coolant or have you got an Air lock in the system.As Andy asks what are the symptoms has the engine been losing water for a long time and progressively got worse or suddenly started Overheating.

If the head gasket(s) have blown definitely change the cambelt There should only be a charge for the part since the Timing belt has to be removed anyway However also consider replacing the water pump and cam belt tensioner whilst this job is being done but insist on paying only for parts since it will take them no longer to fit while doing the Heads

 

Chris,

 

I would SERIOUSLY get a second opinion on the head gasket! Is it overheating because it is losing water? If it is AND the head gasket has gone, then you will DEFINITELY have white gunk on the bottom of your dipstick and oil filler cap. If the water is being lost somewhere else, have a look around the water pump and the alloy tubes that lead to the radiator pump. The tubes can corrode and start loosing water. Hiteq (Wigan) should not be too far for you to travel - you'll need to take a bit of water though!!! I've used them before and they are very good.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Andy

 

Thanks people.

I have spoken to Johnny at Grasshopper and he's going to give it the once over for free.

Nissan wanted £50 to investigate so I'm going with Johnny!

If the bill is not too big I may get the traction control fitted too! LOL

 

I don't think it is the head gasket myself.

Local garage bloke said there is too much pressure building in the water system and air is bubbling through it... Sounds odd to me.

Here's the story. Got back from a good thrash and left the car to idle/cool for 5 mins and noticed steam/water flooding out.

I had just turned on the air con for the first time in a couple of months (Any link?).

The water was boiling out of the filler tank overflow. Re-filled and all was OK for 3 days. Car started overheating again after fast driving and then waiting less than a minute in traffic. Turned the heater on to get some heat away from the engine which helped but the temperature soon dropped as the water stopped circulating whilst boiling away.

Again waited for it to cool and re-fill. Found that the header tank seemed almost full but the radiator was dry. Not sure if the front/electric fan is working?

Car is driving OK and running cool when moving. Can't see any sludge on the dipstick or through the oil filler.

I think it sounds more like a blockage/airlock?

 

Chris, from what you've said - IT IS NOT THE HEAD GASKET that has blown! I know there is more pressure on a turbo system but when you back of there is still the normal vacuum produced which would suck water into the oil and create the white sludge. Blockage isn't likely but an airlock is possible - but doubtful!!! There IS a problem with your car but I would say it wasn't the head gasket!!! Go with Johnny - he'll sort you out.

 

Good luck,

 

Andy

 

sounds like we have another member of the blocked broken heater matrix club

 

i know it is not much to do with this topic but when i rang up the nissan dealer in leeds about getting price for a new clutch he reckoned the engine had to come out for that fitting too which is a load of bull so they probably ant a clue wat there on about

 

Chris,

 

I had similar probs and it turned out to be a dicky thermostat. Would play up, overheat, pressure would build up and piss water everywhere. Worth getting it checked m8.

 

Andy

 

Thanks yet again mateys!

If it wasn't for this forum I would be seriously fed up with my Z by now.

I know a bit about cars and I can strip anything down and re-assemble it no problem, but this car scares me! There must be 3 times as much kit under the bonnet as on any other car I've owned. There is just no way of even seeing components, never mind working out which have failed. Theres no room under the bonnet and my lowered car doesn't help matters either.

I'm taking my car to Johnny on Wednesday so hopefully he can help.

 

 

Hi, just had grave news about my 1995 Fairlady. Seems that on top of the £8000 of work needed doing, the head gasket needs replacing as gas tests have found poor results in chambers 2 and 4. Anyone want to buy a project. Also got a shed load of spares.

Robin