So hi.

need some advice. I picked up a rover 216 S reg for £380 with a years MOT and 6 months tax. Got the full service history and was told the head gasket was changed last year but no paper work for it (still trying to get an honest answer from the garage I brought it from) but ensure it was done and was brought sold as seen.

I decided I would start to change the fluids in the car and last weekend did a coolant system flush and filled with fresh coolant / antifreeze. This all went well until the next day where I found a puddle of coolant under the car. I cleaned up some liquid from around the engine and could clearly see some fresh liquid appearing (same colour as the coolant). From looking at the engine from the front of the car the liquid was coming from the right hand side of the head and also on the back under the injectors.

I have noticed a more than normal fuel consumption and also constant white smoke coming from the exhaust even when the engine is warm but no lose of power (I guess that i've been used to what the had when I got it). I guess the head gasket or the injector manifold gasket has gone.

I called around a few garages today and one said they want to see the car for a pressure test at £55 and then they will know what has gone.

The other garage said for £500 - £600 they will change the head, rocker cover and manifold gasket, skim the head, water pump, air and oil filter, cam belt and flush the engine and coolant system and replace the coolant and oil. pretty much a full service apart from the plugs.

What do I do? please head

 

no such thing as sold as seen; you still have legal rights. take it back to them to sort

 

Firstly welcome to PassionRover.
As a last resort, scrap it and get a tax refund, you'll get about £200 back that way. Don't even think about paying out for a new head gasket on it, when that will cost more than the car!

Strongly suggest get back on to the garage.

 

thank you for your replies.

I'm having difficulty getting in touch of the garage now.

Considering the price I have been quoted for the cam belt, gaskets, water pump etc would it not be worth getting it done and would it not be a reliable car if I get it done and do me for a few years? I don't have the money to go get another car and considering the cosmetic condition of the car interior and exterior I'm at a loss at what to do.

When a garage sell a vehicle and tell you sold as seen and then tell you they are not responsible for anything once I drive the car away where does that leave me?

 

stick a bottle off k seal in!

 

Inlet manifold gasket? Don't know if it's the same set up as on the wifes car (w reg) but the rubber inlet manifold gaskets leak and tend to show up in that area.

Try asking on here.
http://forums.mg-rover.org/index.php

 

Has anyone heard of or use SteelSeal? was thinking of giving that a go.

 

Try k seal it's like magic

 

Sounds like the garage palmed a naff motor of on you.

No such thing as sold as seen. Sale of Goods Act 1984. Unless you purchased the car as scrap or spares/repair they have an obligation whether they like it or not. Saying that you're unlikely to get anywhere so either scrap it and get tax back or do the job yourself. Seen HG failure on a sub 5000 mile Rover 25 years ago. Personally I would go with the weigh it in option

 

My wife's last car was a P reg 216. When we got rid it had done 96000 miles and had the HG done (properly) 3 times. Then the cambelt went.