Speaking of head gaskets, I'll ask for my own 3.0 'clunker' right now. A few months ago it was determined that the car's overheating problem (this was in connection with a failed fan relay) was due to a leaking head gasket. It's an old car, but still drives fine. As it is, I've put more money into new shocks/struts, timing belt, fan relay... oh, and of course it's suffering from Paint Woes. It was even in an accident a few years back. Presently the driver side window likes to refuse to go down frequently, one of the hubs was damaged after my sister drove it over a curb (ergo I've got a slow leak and as I'm not totally vigilant, the tire wears a little unevenly)... At any rate, most everything in the car has been replaced once already (except the head gasket.)
Well, despite all this, I do happen to like the car. If it weren't for the seemingly endless problems its had this last year, I'd have no problem investing in having the roof professionally repainted. But the leak is definitely burning off oil at a good rate and I'm worried about damaging the engine if I keep driving w/o replacing the head gasket.
I'm definitely not a mechanic; relays I can replace on my own, and I handle all the small stuff, but I really don't have the tools or know-how to feel comfortable replacing the head gasket myself (I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for a gasket) So I'm looking at having this done in a shop, and at this point I'm worrying about how much this is going to run me, and at this point given the problems I've already got with the car, whether it's worth it.
Oh, and if anyone got some advice for what to watch out for taking the car to a shop to have this work done (ie, good questions to ask to make sure I'm not gonna get ripped off), I'd be greatful.
- D