Need Help Please! PC0420 Caused by Head Gasket Failure - Page 2

Clem8fan · #16 (**permalink**) 09-29-09, 03:50 PM

Well, well, well, time for an update. I spoke with Lindsay this afternoon, and the prognosis is quite sunnier than before. The cat and sensors (one piece I understand) are in fact toast. HG's are good, no signs of leakage and no detection of gas in the coolant resivoir. The coolant crossover seals are leaking and a p/s pressure hose is seeping some fluid. I can get it all wrapped up and tune her up while she's there and be back on the road shortly. Kudos to you all over at Lindsay, Bill certainly included. Not going to say anything else negative, just once bitten twice shy. (Great song by the way)

ewill3rd · #17 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 09:17 AM

Clem,

The crossover seals are done.
The tire is leaking around the rim, I'll see if I can fix that up for you today.
The exhaust might be in today, I am going to try to re-use the O2 sensor in the pipe unless it is stuck then I'll have to replace it.

I guess Jennifer called you with pricing on the other things you asked for.
No rush on any of it, we will be here when you are ready.

Clem8fan · #18 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 09:46 AM

Bill,

Yeah I spoke with Jennifer yesterday, just trying to put together a to do list, that sounds good about the tire and exhaust. Does the new exhaust come with replacement O2 sensors or do you have to use the ones that are already in it? Do you think the rim is bent and causing the leak or is it just a bad seating of the tire bead? Anyway, let me know, and thanks again for all of your help, it is greatly appreciated. Of course, now my wife wants to buy one of the Saturn Outlooks since that is the courtesy car they gave me. She loves the damn thing so I might have to talk to the guys over @ Lindsay Saturn now about one of those. Thanks again

ewill3rd · #19 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 11:11 AM

I still have to break down the tire and look, I will make sure the rim is not bent, it might just be oxidation.

Only one O2 sensor will be affected by the replacement and I'll try to re-use it but if the old one is frozen in the pipe I won't be able to transfer it to the new one.

Clem8fan · #20 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 01:38 PM

Bill,

Sounds good, just let me know what you figure out. Are you still going to trim that liner back like we had talked about in the shop. Thanks.

Jeremy

ewill3rd · #21 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 02:29 PM

Liner is trimmed.
Exhaust is in, O2 sensor came right out, the new exhaust didn't come with the tips but I cut the old ones off and my shop foreman welded them on.
The tips are like $300 a piece!
Anyway it is all looking good so far, just have to finish the exhaust and get the tire fixed, then drive it to get the MIL off and run the emissions test.
Should have it ready for you tomorrow.

Clem8fan · #22 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 04:04 PM

Bill,

Wow, that's great! I really appreciate everything you've done to help me out with this. I guess everyone expects to get good customer service when they take their vehicle in for repair but what you, and everyone else I've dealt with @ Lindsay for that matter, have done is far above what I could have expected. Its nice to deal with someone who is professional and genuinely interested in helping their friends and customers, not just turning wrenches for a paycheck. Again, thanks so much for everything and enjoy the upcoming vacation, you and the family deserve it!

Jeremy

ewill3rd · #23 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 07:00 PM

Jeremy,

Thanks for those kind words. I am always happy to help when I can. I appreciate my customers as without them I'd be in big trouble.

Your car is done, here's the skinny.

The converter is in, the exhaust tips are on the new exhaust and looks good. The post cat O2 sensor transferred to the new pipe just fine. I drove the car and got the P0420 diagnostic to run 3 times. I had to rack up a few miles to get it to work as you have to drive it 10 minutes at a time. Anyway that puts the code to history status and turns out the light, no problem.
I ran the emissions test and it passed with flying colors.

The tire leak is fixed, I cleaned up the rim and put some sealer on there to keep it from doing it again. The chrome is starting to peel off the inside of the rim. I got rid of as much of the oxidation as I could and it is sealing well. I re-balanced the tire and it is straight as can be, no sign of a bend in it.

The crossover is done and I rechecked it after driving it to be sure everything was drying off and it looks good with the new white seals in place.

I got you a price on the hood liner, we don't have one in stock and it is pretty pricey so... if you ever want I can do it but otherwise I'd not worry too much about it.
The other work you can do when you want. We will be here.

I think that is it for now. I put the car through wash although the rain tonight might undo it.
It will be ready for you to pick up anytime tomorrow.

I will be late tomorrow because we have a social worker coming to the house to do a post placement report on the adoption and I think she comes at 9.

Thanks for your business and please let me know if you have any issues or need any more work. Always nice to have a forum member as a customer.

PS, if you buy some of those parts directly from Luke he might be able to give you a price break since you are a forum member.

(you can buy them from him at a discount and I will still put them in)

Bill

ryannel2003 · #24 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 07:29 PM

Man that car should run like brand new after having all that work done!

Sorry to hijack the thread but I was wondering about the cost of a new hood liner too? The cloth-like material on mine is hanging down and I ended up cutting some of it off but it still looks like crap. It's the only thing under the hood that doesn't look like it came off the showroom floor (besides the Northstar cover peeling). I would appreciate it very much.

Again sorry to thread hijack clem8fan. Hope you can finally enjoy your car!

ewill3rd · #25 (**permalink**) 10-07-09, 09:33 AM

I think list price is $184-ish.
If you check with Luke he might be able to shave some off of that but you'd have to pay for shipping and it is a pretty big box.
Get all new retainers too because the old ones will break when you take them off.
I think there are 7 and they are pretty cheap.

ted tcb · #26 (**permalink**) 10-07-09, 10:46 AM

This thread should be preserved as a "sticky", titled the importance of proper dealer diagnosis.

An indifferent dealer advises the consumer to scrap their pride and joy, and a competant, professional
dealership saves the car through dilligence, experience, and knowledge.
Boy, I wish I had a dealership like Lindsay near me, one where the dealer service department can actually
educate me about my own car, rather than me, the layman, teaching the dealership about their own car.

Hats off to Bill over at Lindsay!

Clem8fan · #27 (**permalink**) 10-08-09, 02:46 PM

All, no problem with jacking the thread, hopefully it can prove helpful to others in the future since I've been the beneficiary of many threads in CF. And yes, the car runs great, and with legal tags now too!

Hopefully someone can manage to "sticky" the convo because it can prove valuable. I'm quite versed in tearing down and rebuilding old GM and Ford engines, but the N* is a beast all to itself. Bill definitely took the time to go over some basic stuff and between conversations and reading all of the past posts that I can stand, I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable under the hood. And under the hood, as well as in the drivers seat, are the two places that lead to truly enjoying a car.