2011 Corsa 1.2 suspected head gasket

2011 Corsa 1.2 suspected head gasket

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Harleyboy

Original Poster:

633 posts

166 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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Morning all,
My nephew has a 2011 Corsa 1.2. It recently broke down having overheated. Got towed to Halfords who said it was probably HG failure and beyond their capabilities. It's at their home and hasn't moved since September. A local garage has suggested easier to just change the engine.

The car starts and drove home 9 miles from Halfords (once topped up with water). Apparently no knocking but a lot of white smoke. The family knows even less about the mechanical side of things than I do and haven't even checked inside the oil filler cap for mayo. They are 160 miles away so I can't exactly pop in to check.

Suggesting an engine change for HG failure sounds a bit extreme, doesn't it? Or is there something on these engines that means this is the case? The car has done 37,000 miles (I thought clocked but MOT history suggests this is accurate) and is otherwise in good condition and maybe worth £2500-3000. Warranted used engines are c.£650 and I'm guessing about a grand to replace?

I'd appreciate any advice if anyone is familiar with these cars and if anyone knows a decent garage in Lymm, Cheshire, I can give them a call.

Many thanks

t400ble

1,804 posts

128 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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Find someone local to carry out the work
Halfords? No thanks
Cannot see why it would need an engine, thats just silly
Get someone to whip the head off and take a look

paintman

7,765 posts

197 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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If it's going through a lot of coolant when being driven & there's no visible leaks but clouds of steam coming out of the exhaust then the main suspects are a failed hg or a cracked cylinder head.

Don't worry about looking for mayo in the oil filler cap.

Until the head's been removed & investigated I wouldn't start thinking about looking for a replacement used engine.

As said above, if they can't DIY then look for small local garages for quotes.

Harleyboy

Original Poster:

633 posts

166 months

Monday 28th February 2022
quotequote all
thanks chaps, I've contacted a local garage with great reviews that specialises in Vauxhall and BMW. They will collect and diagnose it and also commented that opting for a new engine was excessive until the head is off.

Main thing is, sister in law feels a bit less stressed and hopefully this garage will sort it out

Fingers crossed for the cheapest solution

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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Plenty of Corsas on ebay starting from around £1600.

I'd be cautious spending a load of money on it one way or another.