First major car problem

The good news: Spark plugs and the connector cables are pretty cheap (I just replaced some in my car).

The bad news: You might need to replace more than that... Maybe; I'm an automotive n00b.

Been a while since I've done car mechanics.[Chrysler Avenger ans Ford Fiesta]

My best thoughts on the matter is to shop around a bit and don't take bull. if you've got a m8 whose at ease with garages, take him/her along with you,

reason I say that is this:

i suspect that what's wrong is as simple as you say. Blown head gasket meaning that stuff that shouldn't come out is coming out. water going where it shouldn't.

I reckon youv'e done no great damage, but that checking and replacing the head gasket is a very good idea come what maty,

if that is all that is wrong, then good. if it isn't, then it was a good idea to replace it anyway, and looking at that bit of the engine would be a good idea.

Because, as far as I remember, replacing that can be a bit of a bugger ... needs to be done properly, then that's why a garage wit the appropriate tools could be needed.

My own experience of garages is that the people who work there usually try to make the job bigger than it is ... especially if it is really a small job because then they really get a good profit margin going.


What happened with me is that i spent a lot of time in the early days watching my friends as they would mend the bits and I would buy the tools needed. I slowly collected a nice tool set and through watching, learnt how to mend some bits of cars and to have at least a chance of being able to talk productively when about to give pepole money to do my car.

Best of luck to you

Because, as far as I remember, replacing that can be a bit of a bugger ... needs to be done properly, then that's why a garage wit the appropriate tools could be needed

Click to expand...

nah not that hard....

but again I am here and you are there....

That always sucks.

So you say the engine won't even turn over now, first thing I would do is check your oil (if there was any ). Ya might want to change the oil and take a sample to a garage so they can test it, they will look for anything that aint suppose to be in the oil like water or coolant. Another thing to do is get a compression test to check the compression of each cylinder, ya might just need a valve job (if your lucky). Probably a leak down test to tell you if you have a warped head, blown head gasket, or cracked block.

Good Luck

Uh oh - the fact that you can't turn the engine over by hand is a bad sign...

Sounds like you blew a head gasket which let coolant/water into the cylinder. The bad part is, water doesn't compress nearly as well as the typical air/fuel mixture. This can cause all sorts of problems, from blown gaskets to more serious problems like bent valves and/or connecting rods.

Get thee post haste to a reputable shop and hope you just blew a gasket and maybe bent a valve or two.

Good luck!

Yeah,you either blew a head gasket,or cracked the head.What kin dof car and engine?When the gasket is replaced,the head should always get resurfaced and magnafluxed to check for cracks,etc which is a bit pricey.On the up side,if you caught it quick enough you may not have done any damage to the pistons and rings.

pssst....Im an ASE master tech
Mazda B2200 eh.Good engine in that one.Head gasket is easy as pie to do.I still would get the head checked for warpage.Guess I didnt read the fine print in the thread to pick up that it was a mazda...call it XBox preoccupation