headgasket on a turbo car...

friends Saab 900 turbo, went in for a service.. and she was told "it will need a new headgasket in 6 months".. now correct me if I am wrong, but I thought head gaskets were either sound and good or fecked and broke..

they also want £825 + vat to do the job..

so, is there any good reason (maybe it being a turbo car) that it should cost this much? (when I had a rover 214, it cost £200 each month when the headgasket went (I soon got shot of that)). (ok it was a few years ago, but surely costs are not up that much?)

Loopy

Reply to
loopy livernose
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You're right. Head gaskets are either good or not. Perhaps they meant the manifold or turbo which can rust away until a hole appears at about 10 to 15 years of age?

Huw

Reply to
Huw

I bloody knew this would happen, the moment I mention Saabs and how reliable they are loads will appear with problems, sorry mate, how jinxed am I ?

Andy

Reply to
Nik&Andy

825 quid is extortion - did one myself for less that 100 quid.....

change your garage mate....

Reply to
jb

Sounds very odd. If headgasket is really blown or marginally blown, then it should be fixed asap to prevent damage to the block.

Again, it comes back to taking care by warming up the engine properly before flooring it, especially with a turbo. However, there could have been batches of inferior headgaskets; check if there has been any recall for the model.

Reply to
Johannes

Extortion! A reputable Saab specialist near Heathrow charges less than half that!!!

Jinx

Reply to
Mr Jinx

On Wed, 04 May 2005 00:56:11 GMT, "Mr Jinx" wrote: [" they also want £825 + vat to do the job.".

Well, as a Saab person in west London, do tell Good specialists deserve good publicity!

Reply to
Colum Mylod

Not quite.

A local BMW specialist said the missuses 525's headgasket was on its way out because the rad hoses felt a little too pressurised. Told her to keep an eye on the water level and temp guage. Sure enough, a few months later it went.

Reply to
Conor

Would that not indicate that it is already knackered?

Tim

Reply to
Tim Downie

yup it's either ok or leaking

Reply to
Angus McCoatup

It means they couldn't be bothered to do a compression test or run an exhaust gas sniffer over it and give 100% certain bad news now. Even though it may have got away with just a gasket change and not needed a skim. It means they didn't have to add the cost on a service bill. Basically suggesting they should start saving up for it right now.

Reply to
Peter Hill

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