Head Gasket Symptoms - advice would be very gratefully received :)

K

Kizmet

Member
Hello, I am new to the site and have just purchased an A2 1.4TDi 75 bhp (2002). Unfortunately, the first morning after driving her home (about 140 miles) the coolant light flashed up and, after taking the bonnet off, noted that the expansion tank was empty and there was pink puddles collecting underneath the expansion tank! Not having experienced this before we immediately panicked thinking there must be a major leak somewhere but, as it turned out, the pressure was getting really high and the coolant was being pushed out of the expansion tank through the overflow vents. The temperature gauge is constantly sitting at 90 degrees (I didn't have any problems on the drive home, in fact she drove brilliantly and I am chuffed to bits with the power from such a small engine!) and the coolant did not overflow whilst the vehicle was idling but as soon as I took her out for a 5 minute drive it was empty again! The car has not shown any signs of overheating and has just had the waterpump, cambelt and expansion tank replaced. The bottom pipe is hot to hold but the top pipe is significantly cooler. Is this sounding like a head gasket or could it purely be the thermostat? We've got a thermostat on order and it arrives tomorrow and we are also due to have it checked out at an independent garage on Wednesday but it would be great if I could receive some advice on here please :) I have read a few previous posts but the ones that sound the most similar to our symptoms don't include any outcomes. Also on previous posts they have complained of it being very difficult to get a cast iron diagnosis from the garages, is it difficult to confirm a head gasket? I'm hoping to get some assistance towards the costs of repairs from the seller if it is the head gasket so would like to avoid an incorrect diagnosis if possible! Many thanks
 
Could have an air lock in the cooling system. Do you have a white emulsion on the oil filler cap?
 
Sorry, also got the temperature of the hoses the wrong way around, it was the top hose (right hand side) that was getting warmer, the bottom hose, which I believe has the thermostat, was the cooler of the two
 
Sorry to say you have all the symptoms of a headgasket in the early stages of failure. Initially combustion gasses leak into the coolant galleries when the engine is under load and pressurise the cooling system. Eventually the gasket leak gets worse and the system pressurises even at idle.
Don't rely on the temperature gauge as once the coolant gets below a certain level there is no flow round the sensor which then gives low gauge readings. It won't really apply in the summer but another tell-tale sign of low coolant levels is the cabin heater runs cold.
The fact that the header tank (and probably pressure cap) have been changed recently suggest the previous owner knew there was something amiss with the cooling system.
On a brighter note, the TDi cylinder heads don't seem to warp so once the gasket is replaced the engine will be as good as new.

Cheers Spike
 
Thanks Spike, I will post an update once it's been checked over on Wednesday. Would you recommend replacing the thermostat or just wait to see what the garage reports?
 
It's unlikely the thermostat is contributing to the problem as I'd expect the temp gauge to go past 90 if that was the case.

Cheers Spike
 
Thanks Spike and the diagnosis (after taking to local independent Audi garage) is head gasket so currently in conflab with dealer to try and obtain reimbursement to get it sorted. He did advise that the waterpump had been replaced when I went to view the car as it had overheated, which didn't have a concern with at the time but now it has transpired that the head gasket needs replacing I'm concerned that when they strip it down they will find the head warped or cracked, are they quite s hardy engine or am I right to be concerned? Probably an impossible question to answer as we don't know how hot it was run when it overheated before the waterpump was replaced. Am I better to pursue a refund.... Any thoughts? Thanks again
 
If you bought you car from a dealer , ring citezins advice and they will take all the details and put you through to trading standards as your rights are totally different when purchasing a vehicle from a car dealer as several things come into play, sales of goods act satisfactory standards & fit for purpose comes to mind too, the dealer should be liable for the repairs and i'd presume would pay up once he knew trading standards were involved as had to do the same myself before and worked out a favourable deal with the dealer to get me and trading standards off his back as such, else you would have to take him to the small claims and then youd be claiming for every out of pocket exspence which he would be liable for if you win.
 
Thanks Jigsaw, yeah I have been reading up on the web regarding buyers rights etc and to be fair to the dealer he has been discussing resolutions with me but just nothing definitive as yet and has been a bit difficult to get hold of since it was officially diagnosed! However I remain hopeful at this stage that he won't try to avoid his responsibilities but will pursue the C.A. route if needed. I just wonder if it would be best to try for a refund rather than repair due to it being the head gasket as I don't want to find myself in a position with the head stripped and its warped or cracked and needs a replacement head! I've had the vehicle for 10 days or so and haven't been able to drive it other than to the garage for fear of further damage (if that's possible!). If I go for a refund then the search continues once more for an A2 1.4 tdi...
 
the first thing you should do tuesday is ring citizens advice and get trading standards involved and explain the full situation, so its logged and you get a ref number, you dont have to take things further at this stage , but they will prob advise you have an independent inspection , take the car to your local vosa like i did and then be armed with a full list of faults ect. the problem with the dealer is he dont want to spend money on your vehicle and will prob cut corners and use the least possible amount of new parts gaskets , cam belt pulleys ect during the rebuild, so id advise you get an independent garage to price the head gasket replacement with all new genuine parts and cost in for new valve seals and valves to be re lapped in , plus new cam belt with pulleys , engine oil and filter ect and then go armed with that price and your trading standards ref and get him to reinburse off your payment for the car if he kicks up stink then id go for full refund plus all costs incured , taking time off , petrol , tax , insurance, any other expenses and say trading standards will back you up and youl take him to the small claims which would end up costing the dealer a lot lot more so he will prob do the same as mine did and pay you the amount to repair the car and you end up with a car you know has been repaired correctly and know where you stand with the car.

goodluck
 
Well, after what feels like forever I have finally had my A2 fixed, and it was indeed the head gasket, due to pick it up tomorrow! Thank you for your comments and hopefully I will have some problem free motoring aheadnow, keeping everything crossed :)
 
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