What's it worth ?

[ross46]

Hello all.

Browsed the forum for a while, always get good info off this site, now I need some help please





I bought an Impreza turbo 2000 a year ago as my first (relatively) quick car after finally being able to get a reasonable insurance quote.

In the past year ( almost exactly 5K miles) I've had the brakes refurbished, 4 new tyres, and a new battery.

Then, as the car was due a decent service, I got it into a specialist recently for their top service, and had a cam-belt change at the same time, a new radiator, 2 new HT leads and a couple of other minor bits.

The specialist told me he suspects that the head gasket is failing, and I should consider getting it changed in future, his reasons for being suspicious was that the 2 HT leats were rotten and he thought it was probably from coolant blowing out of the head.

Also, the car drove home without fault (about 25 miles), but then the day after I was driving and noticed the engine temp getting pretty warm, not too far from max, so I pulled over to let it cool and then went back home.

I tried it again today, to see if it was the same, and it was worse, the engine got to nearly max again within about 3 miles of home.

I'm baffled as the car has never overheated in the past year.

I'm going to flush the system and fill it again ensuring I get all the air out for a start, and see if that cures it, I live in hope, but as the work was carried out by a specialist, I'd be surprised if it was done incorrectly.

So, worst case, if the HG has failed, what's the car worth selling as is ?

It's a V Reg, 120000 miles, dark blue with gold Oz Superleggeras, pretty standard except for a filter, backbox and a HKS BOV, MOT until Nov 2015, 4 new tyres 2500 miles ago, new battery, new radiator, 2 new HT leads, refurbished brakes, and just spent £1200 at a specialist on a service and cambelt change.

Thanks in advance.

[bugeye_bob]

Originally Posted by ross46

Hello all.

Browsed the forum for a while, always get good info off this site, now I need some help please





I bought an Impreza turbo 2000 a year ago as my first (relatively) quick car after finally being able to get a reasonable insurance quote.

In the past year ( almost exactly 5K miles) I've had the brakes refurbished, 4 new tyres, and a new battery.

Then, as the car was due a decent service, I got it into a specialist recently for their top service, and had a cam-belt change at the same time, a new radiator, 2 new HT leads and a couple of other minor bits.

The specialist told me he suspects that the head gasket is failing, and I should consider getting it changed in future, his reasons for being suspicious was that the 2 HT leats were rotten and he thought it was probably from coolant blowing out of the head.

Also, the car drove home without fault (about 25 miles), but then the day after I was driving and noticed the engine temp getting pretty warm, not too far from max, so I pulled over to let it cool and then went back home.

I tried it again today, to see if it was the same, and it was worse, the engine got to nearly max again within about 3 miles of home.

I'm baffled as the car has never overheated in the past year.

I'm going to flush the system and fill it again ensuring I get all the air out for a start, and see if that cures it, I live in hope, but as the work was carried out by a specialist, I'd be surprised if it was done incorrectly.

So, worst case, if the HG has failed, what's the car worth selling as is ?

It's a V Reg, 120000 miles, dark blue with gold Oz Superleggeras, pretty standard except for a filter, backbox and a HKS BOV, MOT until Nov 2015, 4 new tyres 2500 miles ago, new battery, new radiator, 2 new HT leads, refurbished brakes, and just spent £1200 at a specialist on a service and cambelt change.

Thanks in advance.

Utter bollox, find a proper specialist for a sniffer test.

[Tidgy]

hmmm, as bob says, with no sniffer test does sound strange. Did they recomend one?

[ross46]

Hey guys.

He didn't do a sniffer test, and didn't recommend one either.

I've bought a new thermostat and rad cap, will try them this weekend.

If they don't work, sniffer test kits are £30 on ebay, so I'll do one myself.