Head Gasket Failure

The cylinder head gasket is the gasket which fits between the cylinder head and the cylinder block.  Its purpose is to seal the cylinders and prevent any combustion from leaking.  As well as sealing the cylinders the head gaskets job is to seal the coolant and oil conduits in the cylinder head and cylinder block. 

Due to the critical nature of the cylinder head gasket if it fails a number of problems can occur, these include combustion loss to exhaust gases forcing their way into the coolant system, coolant leaking into the engine oil and coolant leaking into the cylinder.  The consequences of these can vary from over-heating to hydro-locking the engine to premature engine wear due to contamination of the oil system.  Symptoms that can indicate that a head gasket has failed include steam from the exhaust tail pipe, lack of power, over-heating and coolant in the oil system. 

If you believe the head gasket has failed on your vehicle then there are some tests we can carry out which can indicate if the gasket has failed.  However these tests are not infallible and positive results can be caused by failure of other components i.e. the cylinder head or block itself. 

Once we believe that the head gasket has failed the next step is to remove the cylinder head.  Once we have removed the cylinder head we will pressure test (see cylinder head repairs for more details) it to confirm that it is not cracked and causing the engine problems.  Once it has tested ok we would then resurface the cylinder head (see cylinder head repairs for more details) to remove any distortion or marks which may have occurred.  When this has been done we would then re-fit the cylinder head using new gaskets and cylinder head bolts (when required), we would also replace any timing components that need replacing, as well as fitting a new thermostat and carrying out an oil and oil filter change.

Timing Belt Replacement

The timing belt or “cam belt” is fitted to engines to synchronise the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft/s so that the engine valves are closed when the pistons have reached the end of their stroke.  Most modern engines are interference engines which mean that if the timing belt were to fail or “jump” you can have a catastrophic failure.  This means that the pistons will strike the valves causing damage to the valves, valve guides, camshaft followers and possibly the pistons themselves which can result in a very costly repair   All engine timing belts have a replacement interval (either by miles covered or years fitted); if these are not adhered to then it is highly likely your engine will suffer a catastrophic failure. 

We are able to offer a timing belt replacement service, however we not only replace the timing belt we also replace any idlers and tensioners as these items have a limited life span as well as the belt.  Also the timing belt can drive the water pump, as this pump contains a bearing we also recommend that this item is replaced at the same time.  As a result you can be safe in the knowledge that when we have carried out a timing belt replacement all components which can cause a catastrophic failure are replaced.

Timing Belt Failures

As mentioned above if the timing belt replacement intervals are not adhered to your engine most likely will suffer a catastrophic failure. Even if the replacement intervals are adhered to unfortunate incidents can occur which could cause a timing belt failure i.e. contamination of the belt.  If your engine suffers a catastrophic failure it will most likely suffer damage to the valves and valve guides.  However there is a possibility that the pistons can be damaged as well. 
The procedure to repair this failure would be to remove and strip the cylinder head.  Once we have stripped the cylinder head we can assess how many valves have been bent and if any valve guides have been damaged.  Whilst the cylinder head is off we can inspect the top of the pistons to confirm if any damage has been caused.  We would then replace any damaged components and reassemble the engine using new gaskets, new head bolts and new timing components required.

Servicing

Having your vehicle serviced regularly is an integral part of maintaining your vehicle.  Every vehicle needs to be serviced at least once every 12 months, maybe more depending on mileage covered.  Failure to adhere to your service schedule can lead to premature failure of your engine.
At price brothers we offer a comprehensive service, which includes replacing all filters, fitting new spark plugs (where applicable) and replacing the aux belt as standard. 

We then carry out a 50 point check to investigate other important component for the safe running of your vehicle.  We would then advise you of any problems we have found and what cost it will be to put right.  We are able to undertake almost any work your vehicle might require including brake and exhaust replacements. We understand that being without your vehicle is an inconvenience so we try to service your vehicle at a time suitable for you and have you back on the road as soon as possible.

We also offer this service for mot preparation as we should be able to pick up a high percentage of mot failures with our 50 point checks.

Air Conditioning Recharge/Fault Finding/Repairs

Your vehicles air conditioning system loses roughly about 10 percent of refrigerant over the course of a year, because of this you can find that your air con will gradually lose it efficiency.   When this happens you will need to recharge the air con system to return it to its maximum efficiency.  We can offer this service whilst you wait.
If your air con suddenly stops working or is not getting cold enough it could indicate a fault somewhere in the air con system.  Before recharging an air con system it needs to be vacuumed if this cannot be done it would indicate there is a leak in the system.  Using our state of the art leak detection kit we are able to find any leak in the system within minutes. 

Your air con system is made up of many components and pipes connecting them, we are skilled at replacing any of these components and in some case repairing damaged pipes and seals.

Air Conditioning Service

Engine management faults

All modern vehicles are fitted with an engine control unit (e.c.u); this acts as the brain of the engine and monitors all signals from the various switches and sensors fitted in and around the engine.  Unfortunately if any of these switches or sensors fails it will send faulty information to the e.c.u. which can then cause the engine management light to become illuminated.  It can also trigger what is called a “limp-home” mode which is used to protect the engine from damage.

If this happens we have the tools and the expertise to scan and identify what is causing your fault and advise accordingly the procedure to repair.   However sometimes it’s not a simple as scanning the e.c.u to find the problem as a faulty item can flag up multiple fault codes. Which can require further diagnoses; this is why you need the knowhow as well as the tools to diagnose engine management faults which we have built up over many years of experience with these types of problems.

Turbo replacement

The turbocharger is a unit fitted to many vehicles to increase performance.  This item is turbine driven which forces more air and fuel into the combustion chamber which increases the engine power and efficiency.   As the turbo is a highly elaborate component if it is not being operated under the correct specifications it can lead to premature failure.  The most common causes of turbo failure are lack of lubrication or debris being sucked in through the turbo intake damaging the propeller. 

Due to the sophisticated nature of the internal workings of a turbo if it suffers a failure it can be more cost effective to fit a new unit rather than getting the item repaired.  

We offer a turbo replacement service; however we not only look at repairing the symptom we would also look into what caused the problem in the first place.  As such if a turbo has failed, we would not only replace the turbo we would also fit new oil feed pipe and carry out an oil pressure test.  We would also remove the sump and check the oil pick up strainer for any sign of debris and blockage.  We would also change the engine oil, oil filter and air filter.

Clutch replacement

The clutch is the mechanical component which engages and disengages the engine from the gearbox which acts as the power transfer.  Over time a clutch can become worn and start slipping.  If this is the case you will need a clutch replacement.  When we replace a clutch we would fit a new three piece clutch kit, which includes the cover, friction plate and bearing.