C5 Losing Water And Costing Me Money!

[Guest Gra]

I have a 2002 C5 2.0 HDI which is losing water. I took it to a garage who diagnosed water pump problem and replaced it and did the timing chain at the same time 'as it'll need doing soon and it saves stripping the engine down twice'. Kerchink £390

Still losing water and then making horrible noise from engine bay.

Took car back next morning. Pully which new timing chain attached to is worn - ' well known fault on Citroens and Peugeots' - kerchink another £170. Still losing water.

New radiator cap - kerchink - £2.

Still losing water. Just been 25 miles and the warning light came on. Had to put a pint and a half in before return journey and warning light came on as I was setting off and then went off again after about half a mile. Then came back on a mile from home.

I am thinking of whipping the engine bay with a branch in Basil Fawlty style to see if that works as it is undoubtedly cheaper.

 

Has anybody got any thoughts before I phone the garage again!

 

Thanks

[BarbsC1]

I have a 2002 C5 2.0 HDI which is losing water. I took it to a garage who diagnosed water pump problem and replaced it and did the timing chain at the same time 'as it'll need doing soon and it saves stripping the engine down twice'. Kerchink £390

Still losing water and then making horrible noise from engine bay.

Took car back next morning. Pully which new timing chain attached to is worn - ' well known fault on Citroens and Peugeots' - kerchink another £170. Still losing water.

New radiator cap - kerchink - £2.

Still losing water. Just been 25 miles and the warning light came on. Had to put a pint and a half in before return journey and warning light came on as I was setting off and then went off again after about half a mile. Then came back on a mile from home.

I am thinking of whipping the engine bay with a branch in Basil Fawlty style to see if that works as it is undoubtedly cheaper.

 

Has anybody got any thoughts before I phone the garage again!

 

Thanks

There was an issue with head gaskets being a poor supplier, which causes the system to pressurise and water escapes via the header tank cap, it is becoming a common fault it only happens on the earlier versions like yours if you can see semi circular headgasket identification tabs sticiking out on the front of the engine between the head and block, there is two of them which are about 3 to 4 inches in from either end of the gasket, the easiest one to see is timing gear end, you might find you are going to get your biggest bill for this problem so far

[Guest Gra]

There was an issue with head gaskets being a poor supplier, which causes the system to pressurise and water escapes via the header tank cap, it is becoming a common fault it only happens on the earlier versions like yours if you can see semi circular headgasket identification tabs sticiking out on the front of the engine between the head and block, there is two of them which are about 3 to 4 inches in from either end of the gasket, the easiest one to see is timing gear end, you might find you are going to get your biggest bill for this problem so far

 

Unfortunately you were right on both counts. I have just been told to expect a bill for £900 so I have decided to cut my losses and get a new car!

 

Thanks for the advice.