Corsa c 1.0 Head gasket (i think) problem

[Russ]

So fiancée's mum has a 1.0 corsa c (02)

Went in for service and MOT, needed 4 springs, lambda sensor etc etc, came to £600.

He also advised the timing chain needed doing, so she paid him another £400 for that. Didn't replace the head gasket, rang vaux, they said you don't need too. Was getting really hot, took it back, found an airlock, cleared it.

Straight away she said it didn't feel right, really lumpy on idle etc.

Then all the packing came out the exhaust, so he put a full new one on there, £130 quid, this was Monday.

She could tell it still wasn't right, really lumpy on idle, emissions light was on, keeps cutting out at junctions.

I had a look at it today, there's a white film on the inside of the oil cap, and some oil residue(from what i can tell) on the inside of the coolant lid. which sounds like head gasket is on its way out to me, although, i'm no expert.

There's a ticking coming from the throttle body, so i took it apart quickly and the inside is caked in grime, so that must be causing valve to stick, so will strip and clean that out this weekend. Dunno whether this could effect the emissions though.

So it's going back into the garage tomorrow to be plugged into diagnostics, told her not to pay him for any more work and i'll fix whatever he says is wrong with it.

Is there anything else i can do to confirm suspicions of the head gasket and the water pump, what else could make the emissions light come on?

any hep would be much appreciated, feel a bit sorry for her, shes spent 1200quid on it in the last few months and thats more than the car is worth, i'd recommended the garage after they had done work on my previous car.

It's on 73k, i have no idea on the emissions light considering new exhaust and new lambda.

Are the symptoms described linked to anything else other than head gasket?

Could the airlock have caused the head gasket to go? (if that is what's happened).

my theory is, after the timing chain, the air lock caused the head gasket to go due to overheating, now as its leaking coolant its loosing power when driving and cutting out randomly.

Whether the garage will admit to that and fix it (independent not vaux) i doubt very much.

If the head gasket has gone, is there a way of identifying if it was due to overheating or due to head gaskets being crap in general?

[burble]

The cam chain needed replacing? Eh? They're meant to be lifetime items.

That aside, the white gunk in the oil filler cap could be a sign of a failed head gasket. Dees the car only do short journeys? If so then it'll just be condensation and going for a decent run should clear it.

What state is the MAF in? If that's a bit iffy that could easily cause the rough idle as the ECU will be getting in either more or less air than it thinks so will adjust the fueling accordingly.

Has the coolant level dropped? Is there any white smoke coming out of the exhaust when the engine is up to temperature? You could ask a garage to do a 'sniff test' which is where they take the expansion tank lid off, take a sample of the air in there and mix it with a liquid - if the liquid detects exhaust gas then it'll change colour to indicate a buggered head gasket.

[GoNz0]

if its losing water the air locks warped the head and the engines fekked, trouble is the garage will do all possible to get out of it. also a good chance they just changed the timing chain tensioner after seeing her coming and pocketed a handfull of cash for little work.

end of the day they are liable as they caused the air lock by not bleeding the engine after the coolant change, so in all reality its up to them to put it right now.

good luck.

[Jasp]

Think burbles pretty much nailed it all tbh, if the engine has one, which I think it does check the crank sensor, if hes knocked it or disconnected it this will cause all sorts of issues.

Another option would be they simply screwed up the replacement of the timing chain, I personally bet its out by a tooth or 2, this would cause a lumpy idle and misfires at higher revs which will upset the emissions.

[Yosh]

The cam chain needed replacing? Eh? They're meant to be lifetime items.
.

At work we have had 2 chains snap on Corsa (C) vans, both at around 80k miles, shocking!

PS. You could try finding a company who does Compression Testing which will confirm if the Head Gasket has gone, but its most likely another £100+vat or so.

If its leaking coolant, then chances are its a head gasket and they are not uncommon on the 1.0 (C) engine i believe.

PPS. £400 for Timing Chain Replacement!

[Grey M@a]

The timing chains on the Corsa C were never lifetime parts, they have a shelf life of anything from 40k - 100k depending on how much its been hammered. Pretty much a common fault on them which at least 60% of people on the corsa c club have suffered over the 5 years I've been on there.

To add to that, MAF sensors, drive shafts, drop links, front seats, steering racks and water pumps all commonly go on the corsa. Luckily I haven't had to many issues with mine in the 4 years I've had the C, the odd drop link etc but that was due to the 10ft deep pot holes round my way.

As people say if its loosing coolant then it could be the head. Although the white film can be caused by constant short journeys with the oil never getting to temperature.

Although if the car is misfiring at high revs and cuts out, I would of expected the ecu to kick in and stick the engine into limp mode. Do you have any of the fault codes from the ECU?

[Russ]

it was the crank sensor, they checked the head gasket and that's fine.

as for lifetime items, i had a crosa c from brand spanking new and it had 2 timing chains in 25k miles.. both as a recall

Thanks for your input guys, i appreciate it

[Grey M@a]

I am always under the bonnet of the corsa but its preventative these days. Although I probably would of had less trouble with the car if I hadn't modded it xD

[jon bda]

Done three heads on Corsa C's in the last few weeks (2x 3cyl, 1x 4cyl), one had even managed to snap the exhaust cam in half. Felt like deja vu, no matter where i turned, there was a silver Corsa with the head off!!!

[Yosh]

Done three heads on Corsa C's in the last few weeks (2x 3cyl, 1x 4cyl), one had even managed to snap the exhaust cam in half. Felt like deja vu, no matter where i turned, there was a silver Corsa with the head off!!!

Shudders. Silver cars everywhere! Why is it such a popular colour!

[DanceswithUnix]

Shudders. Silver cars everywhere! Why is it such a popular colour!

I once read that it has a higher resale value when you come to part with the car. If enough people have heard that, it would become a self fulfilling prophecy

I don't like parting with cars, so I buy a colour I like.