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Head gasket on my Megane ?

3K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Renoir White 
#1 ·
Just wondered if anyone has any info or could point me in the right direction to a diagonisis on my poor Megane, if possible.

Car shakes terribly when stand still with engine on and doesn't seem to want to rev very well, but doesn't shake when actually driving along although its a litte sluggish and not as quick as usual at pulling away.
The engine management light came on and was flashing for around 10 mins.

I have taken to car the a small garage where they connected a snap on & at first, said it was the coil pack (I think) anyhow, coil pack and spark plugs were changed but made no difference. Then he suggested it was the fuel injectors, then after connecting an air pressure gage to all 4 coil things, he said no.2 and 3 were loosing pressure and were not at 175 where they should be like no.1 and 4 were and instead 2 & 3 were at 125.

He then suggested it was the head gasket and suggested I should just fit a whole new or second hand engine if I want to keep the car, but he never actually looked at the head gasket? Do you have to look at it to really know thats the problem?
I took the car home and have since looked up on the 'net about head gasket symptoms and the car doesn't seem to have any of the mentioned ones other than poor performance.

Has this happened to anyone else before and what was the cause? Am I really looking at a head gasket problem and a possible new engine?
 
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#2 ·
it may not be the gasket but the valves need grinding in or new valves but the head has to come off to have a look
also could be worn or sticking piston rings
a sniff test would tell you if the gasket has gone as it is not always water in oil that is the cause
my 1.4 scenic burnt out a valve so no compression on no 4 cylinder just removed head new valves fitted and at the same time gaskets and cam belt
there are many things it can be but untill the head is off and test done you could go round and round replacing parts and just cost more in the long run
Ron
added
there is a test you can do if you suspect rings but cant remember the correct way to do it but a member will come along and explain it in more detail
 
#3 ·
Do you what the compresion readings where for each cylinder?

Low compression on the two adjacent cylinder would tend to indicate it was a head gasket problem.

If it only a gasket problem why on earth did they recommend a replacment cylinder head when they don't know the exact problem.

If it were mine I would be looking for another garage.
 
#4 ·
What is the mileage of your engine? Has it been regularly serviced?
It doesnt sound like a Head Gasket problem to me...normally you'd have overheating, smoky exhaust, white sludge under rocker cover, oil in water etc. Burnt valve?..possible but usually another problem causes this eg leaky manifold gasket etc. This would give backfiring in the exhaust (if exhaust valve) or poor fuelling on one cylinder (inlet valve) (looking at the colour of the spark plug electrodes would point to this (easy to check now you've had brand new ones fitted).
I'd say you have a fuelling or ignition problem (timing or spark).
It does seem your garage is p*****g in the wind trying to stumble across the problem. I'd be inclined to consult another mechanic.
 
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