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I just got my car back after a head gasket and valve job. Although it seemed to run great and idle good as I left the shop, after driving it home (30 miles) I let it idle for a bit and noticed that the car started to sound similar at the exhaust as it did before I brought it in. Some of you may remember my previous posts from about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I was loosing coolant, had low compression in all cylinders (especially 2 and 3) and also had a miss at idle that sounded like a burned valve.
This is what they claimed to have completed:
-resurface of head
-replacement of HG, thermostat, and expansion tank (dunno why)
-replaced burned valve and "performed valve job" (valve oil seals?)
-all new bolts etc
-coolant, oil & filter, plugs, also on the invoice was a "chain tensioner O-ring"
The mech noted on the invoice that he thought the car needed balance shaft and timing chains... I asked why and he said it sounded noisy and recommended I do it "in the next 30000 miles"
He also said I needed a new coolant temp sensor because "the gauge was reading low" which it is... it barely came off the blue stripe on the trip back. Before bringing it in the gauge read about 8 oclock or 1/3 of an inch above the blue... Hmmmm
I do hear some noise coming from the valve cover and I don't remember it being that loud at all before bringing the car in...
Anyway, I get home and let the car idle and it starts to make the same chuff chuff noise that it was making before I brought it in out of the exhaust! :/ The check radiotor light kept going on and off while driving too. It was dark but I couldn't see and leaks and the resevoir was full but after I shut the car off I could hear pressure hissing out of the brand new tank and cap... Wtf!?
If I do have worn balance and timing chains, could that cause head gasket failure, burned valves, or the symptoms I am describing?
The mechanic seemed to be a Saab enthusiast and specialized in Saab and Volvo. I hope I didn't just get completely ripped off. The shop claims a 12 mo or 12000 mile warrenty so hopefully if he botched the HG job it will get straightened out.
Any thoughts appreciated... especially positive ones, as this repair was not cheap :P
posted by 71.196.1...
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