head gasket

**jools** · 29th December 2008, 13:53

Hi I wonder if anyone can help .....

I was taking my vectra-c to france a couple of days ago, and after stopping at a petrol station on the way to eurotunnel the engine/transmission electronics light (car with spanner) came on. I called the RAC and the mechanic said I should get it to a garage asap, although if the car was running ok then it is probably ok to go on. As the engine seemed fine, I decided to go ahead with my journey, as I went the light went off again and got the car to eurotunnel eventually in Dover. As I was about to board the train the engine cut out and the light was back on. The engine was now difficult to start again. Anyway the eurotunnel mechanic came out, opened the oil cap and noticed a thick sludge under the cap. He immediately thought it was a head gasket fault.

The car is 4.5 years old, serviced by main dealer and had a winter check with them only a couple of days before setting off to europe in which they informed me that they had to top up the oil as it was low.

The AA man who came out (I also had AA european breakdown insurance - thank god, so I had a replacement car hire to continue my journey to france) does not think it is a head gasket problem because I told him I did not see smoke from the back and coolant seemed fine, but something to do with crankshaft or camshaft sensor.

Anyway the car is now with my local vauxhall dealer and the guy at the service desk is telling me it failed a head gasket test which by his tone is going to be very expensive to fix.

Are head gasket failure common with such a 'young' car? It's only done about 55k miles.

Thanks,

**Sean-2.2Direct** · 29th December 2008, 14:26

Hmm not somthing Im wanting to hear

as im heading to paris on sunday in my car

and it had made a rattling noise on start up the other day after a cold night

**jools** · 29th December 2008, 14:43

My advise to you ...

Get yourself a european car breakdown insurance (it cost me £31 with the AA for 5 days). Without it I would have had to cancel our family trip to euro disney but the insurance covered towing the car back to my local vx dealer and a replacement car hire so we could continue our journey only 4 hours late.

**Sean-2.2Direct** · 29th December 2008, 14:44

Hi mate have you got the link to it going to buy it today or tomorrow

**jools** · 29th December 2008, 17:27

http://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover...down-cover.jsp

I am normally an insurance sceptic, but this really saved our christmas as I was ready to get the RAC to tow us home (thanks also to the guys at eurotunnel, who were very helpful). After speaking to a lady at the AA, she sent a mechanic and as the car was going nowhere he then drove me to Dover where I got my replacement car. Everything went smoothly and I will never forget this.