Hiya everyone, I wonder if you can help me please?

What's happened is that a friend traveled over to Sheffield to go on holiday with her friend and on the way her car over heated and stopped! The AA took her and car to friends house but not to garage. NOw her car needs to be looked at before she gets back on monday. Does anyone know of a garage in town (that's where car is), who will come out and have a gander at it for her? I've had a wee look and it wouldn't go with jump leads on it and also, when it was turning over there was petrol coming out of the water header tank of the rad! I'm sure that means its rather ill and a mate said so too but i just need to double check??

Thanks for any help

Are you sure it's petrol coming out of the expansion tank?

From the overheating fault I would say that the engine either over heated because the head gasket has blown or the overheating has caused a break in the cylinder head or cylinder wall. I would expect this to maybe cause water and oil in the expansion tank - not petrol.

The above is just a guess obviously.

Where abouts in town is the car parked? I know of no garages but someone else might.

HTH

G

Hiya

Yeah it's strange isn't it, I would expect to see oil in water but the dip stick oil's fine and the little amount of water that was in it was ok. It was when i Put more water in it and left the top off so I could put more in when it started that mt mate said petrol was coming out the expansion tank. It was puffing out as if it was out of a spark plug hole with no plug in, if you know what I mean!?

The car's safe in secure parking so that's ok but i could do with finding out what's wrong for sure by next Monday!?

Thanks for any help again!

She should recall the AA and have it taken to a garage of her choice, or, even have it recovered to a garage where she lives. my car broke down a few years ago whilst we were on holiday, and the RAC recovered it to a local gararge where we were staying, it took the garage three days before they rang me to say what was wrong and how much they would charge to repair it. I told them they must be joking, and got the RAC to recover the car back to Sheffield to the garage that carries out my servicing. The garage gave me a courtesy car so that we could enjoy the rest of our holiday. I hope your friend gets sorted out alright.

Let the tax expire and someone will come round and take it away for you

its head gasket, when you turn engine the pressure from the cylinder is making the water buble, there will be fuel and oil mix in the water tank, either get a friend with RAC menber and get it tow home and a free lift home, as repairs with be a few hunderd to get it right

When did the car go wrong? Did it coincide with the floods? Has the car been driven through deep water?

I've only ever had one car have a head gasket go and it was a gradual thing. Mayonaise in the oil, dissappearing water. From what you're describing, it seems more sudden.

I'd still wager money on it being a head gasket OR cylinder wall damage - you can easily get cylinder wall damage if you drive a car through water and water enters the engine. Just a thought...


G

Thanks for all your ideas. I think she'll have to go with the idea of getting it towed home by the looks of things. I'm not sure if she's with the RAC or the AA, do they both do the tow home thing?

if you use AA last time they might not let you have relay again!, so ask a friend with RAC menbership ;)

Suppose it would also depend on the level of cover with the recovery company. If its the basic one then it would just the attendance at roadside then tow to nearest garage.