Coolant Loss Woes

[Laney760]

I asked the garage to do it but there has been some reluctance, first they wanted to replace the coolant header tank and then they said they weren't too sure if the leak was from the hg or the water pump. Two of the mechanics were convinced months ago that it is definitely hg but the boss was not so positive. I have just emailed them now and said it must be booked in. It is going to cost me a whole week in lost wages though as I don't have any spare annual leave till 01 January now.

[Forrest]

If the garage needs a week to do the gasket can they not lend you a car for your work?

[Laney760]

Originally Posted by Forrest

If the garage needs a week to do the gasket can they not lend you a car for your work?

They didn't say a week but I'm looking at worse case scenario and, no, they don't have cars. I asked them yesterday to book it in for hg and he said they are too busy this week and it's not going to be a one day job which is when I said I would see how it goes as there seems to be some reluctance on the part of the boss to do the job. As said I emailed them just now and said they must get it booked in. They have been doing these other jobs on Friday afternoons, I finish work early on a Friday and drop down to them mid afternoon. Fortunately they charge me very little labour, people are flabbergasted when they look at my bills, I get a lot of work for little money.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Laney760

I asked the garage to do it but there has been some reluctance, first they wanted to replace the coolant header tank and then they said they weren't too sure if the leak was from the hg or the water pump. Two of the mechanics were convinced months ago that it is definitely hg but the boss was not so positive. I have just emailed them now and said it must be booked in. It is going to cost me a whole week in lost wages though as I don't have any spare annual leave till 01 January now.

Originally Posted by Forrest

If the garage needs a week to do the gasket can they not lend you a car for your work?

Following on from Forrests suggestion, what about a cheap hire car for the week so you don't lose time at work? Maybe even borrowing a friends/relatives car for a week if they're not using it, a weeks temporary insurance and you don't lose a weeks pay.
Alternatively any cheap B&Bs near where you're working? Travel to there on the weekend and collect your car the following saturday from nearer home. I haven't used B&Bs for a long time now but fairly sure there should be some bargains to be found for a week/5 nights. Offset the cost of the B&B and travel to/from against your fuel costs for the normal week and it may not be so financially painful and keeps your income for that week.

I know these suggestions may not be workable for you for whatever reason but maybe they'll trigger another workable solution for you.

Either way i hope you get it sorted!

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Laney760

They have been doing these other jobs on Friday afternoons, I finish work early on a Friday and drop down to them mid afternoon. Fortunately they charge me very little labour, people are flabbergasted when they look at my bills, I get a lot of work for little money.

That could be why they're reluctant to do the HG - they don't want to give you a seriously large bill! A "friday job" is often a bonus to the rest of the week and they don't want to kick the living daylights out of jobs like that and probably take their time as well - you see where i'm going with this!

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Following on from Forrests suggestion, what about a cheap hire car for the week so you don't lose time at work? Maybe even borrowing a friends/relatives car for a week if they're not using it, a weeks temporary insurance and you don't lose a weeks pay.
Alternatively any cheap B&Bs near where you're working? Travel to there on the weekend and collect your car the following saturday from nearer home. I haven't used B&Bs for a long time now but fairly sure there should be some bargains to be found for a week/5 nights. Offset the cost of the B&B and travel to/from against your fuel costs for the normal week and it may not be so financially painful and keeps your income for that week.

I know these suggestions may not be workable for you for whatever reason but maybe they'll trigger another workable solution for you.

Either way i hope you get it sorted!

Over many years of self-employment I've done all of those, 'L.S'. When not working for any reason, I used the opportunity to bring my affairs up to date and to do those jobs at home which I had let slide because of lack of time or would need to pay someone else to do.

I wonder if there is someone local to 'Laney760' who may have a 'spare' car which they would be willing for her to use? I'm sure mutually acceptable arrangements could be reached.

[Laney760]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

That could be why they're reluctant to do the HG - they don't want to give you a seriously large bill! A "friday job" is often a bonus to the rest of the week and they don't want to kick the living daylights out of jobs like that and probably take their time as well - you see where i'm going with this!

To be fair they had the car for a whole day recently and did many many jobs and my bill was very small. As well as Friday jobs it goes in every spring and autumn for service for the day with all outstanding jobs to be done and my bills are very small.

[classicswede]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I don't think Volvo ever made their own head gaskets in the first place Ellie. If you can get an MLS gasket, that will help to compensate for any slight indentation/pitting from corrosion due to coolant going out the wrong place, either way a light skim would be a good idea.

No the opposit, the MLS gaskets need perfect surfaces to seal. Only needed when running very high levels of boost

[classicswede]

Originally Posted by Laney760

I have just emailed them now and said it must be booked in. It is going to cost me a whole week in lost wages though as I don't have any spare annual leave till 01 January now.

why not get a spare head and then that way it can be done on a friday afternoon provided the block is not beyond

[Laney760]

Hi.

So she goes in for a new head gasket on Thursday and they will also skim the head, they have booked her in for two days. They are open Saturday mornings so that gives them 2.5 days.

I can't book into B&B, I have animals at home to take care of.

I was thinking that I may get some horses back after a new head gasket but not according to what I read on the net. Will I need to run it in? Or is it just get in and go as normal?