Ford Ka Head gasket

I've long argued against these "this is what the engine's state is" gauges rather than "this is the temperature," but I note with some optimism that the 9-3's gauge has at least four positions (cold, lukewarm, warming up, normal) and I'd hope a few more (slightly warm, overheating, too late and finally call the breakdown).

As Pete says, really. Given that a reconditioned engine is ~£300... suck it and see?

The hardest part is access, which I think you've discovered later on. Once you have access the work is fairly easy.

It helps if you have small children that you can hold by the ankles and dangle them under the bonnet... :-p

Yep, I hate them too. Just tell me the truth...!

Trouble is, modern engines operate over such a wide temperature range that a "proper" gauge would have many owners running to the dealer as soon as the needle went up a bit.

Hopefully, the overheat strategy that Ford and possibly others now use should help to prevent cooked engines.

Chris.

The message from Chris Whelan contains these words:

Easily avoided - just have the range in the middle clearly marked "NORMAL".

Ivan was thinking very hard :

It would not be £600 but the garage has told you what it will be with labour.

The thing with head gaskets is getting the access to replace it. Some cars are different to others so replacing a head gasket differs in price.

"Baldoni XXV @googlemail.com>" Ivan was thinking very hard :

I suggest you actually work on a Ka before you start making such sweeping statements!

Tim..

I agree. I don't care how wide the 'Normal' band is, I don't care particularly, other then for curiosity where in the normal the car sits. I want to be able to see when the needle starts climbing for no apparent reason, and when It starts moving FAST toward the either end.

Knowing that it is moving, is the time to stop... Once it gets to the too hot bit, is when it is too late.

MW

The message from mike whiskey contains these words:

What, like when you're towing a trailer up the side of Lake Vyrnwy and the lack of cooling fans[1] finally makes itself known after a year?

I don't disagree with you about having a "proper" gauge, but many modern cars manage an overheat situation much better than the average driver would.

For example, the Focus does as follows:

2: If the temperature continues to rise, the check engine light also illuminates; at this point the ECU cuts fuelling to alternate cylinders, so the disabled cylinders act as air pumps to aid cooling. Air-con is turned off. Reduced power operation is possible.

Chris

Err yes, that's when itv would be usefull :-)

The message from "Duncan Wood" contains these words:

And it was useful, too. Except by the time I'd turned round it was so hot it blew the bottom hose off. I had to roll to the bottom, wait with the lid up to cool down for 40 mins or so, flag down a passing car to scrounge a screwdriver to put the hose back on and take a bucket to the mountain stream in the bottom of the valley - twice. All the while the sodding sheep were laughing at me.