The head gasket on my Suzuki Vitara (1996) has gone: new gasket, new...

...engine or new car? What shall I do?

I don't have that much cash.

I bought the car in Jan last year. Its a Suzuki Vitara 1996 model 4x4 2 litre Turbo Diesel LWB 5 door Auto.

The head gasket has been a problem since November (with the radiator emptying of water quite quickly), but it drives ok, and has not let me down.

The mechanic says I'm looking at 700 quid just to change the head gasket and see if anything else is wrong (if there is additional damage it could be up £2000 worth of repairs!)

The mechanic suggested I would probably be better off getting a new engine put in. Is this a good idea; how much would it cost, and would additional parts have to be fitted alongside the engine? Which ones?

What shall I do?

Cheers
GB question -
everything else about the car apart from the head gasket issue is fine
 

campmano

Rookie
700 is rediculas for replacing a head gasket. i would agree with having the head checked for cracks. throw on a gasket torque the head down, fill it with coolant and drive.
 
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