Cracked head after 2 days of ownership

[MOF@]

Hi everyone,

I purchased a used 2009 d40 Navara auto 2.5 diesel Titanium edition with 217,000ks on the clock on Wednesday. After buying it I only drove it for 150ks all up. On Friday on approach to a set of lights (after exiting a 15 minute highway drive) the car started running rough and eventually stalled when I stopped at the lights. I started it up again with a bit of extra throttle while turning it over and drive it up the road to a mechanic who had been recommended to me, who is a 4x4 specialist. They first listened for a timing chain rattle and then (restricted on time) diagnosed a fuel filter issue. I then continued to drive and under load there was a repetitive whine and again it stalled on stopping. I then began to return to the mechanics and the temps rose quite high. The mechanic had a lot going on that day so I left it there for them to take a look at when they had a moment. That evening I received a call and he said that he could feel pressure when covering the radiator cap hole with his hand that was consistent with either a cracked head or blown gasket. Tomorrow morning they will be doing a leak down test and let me know the results.

As you could imagine I'm devastated, I expect some issues that go with a vehicle of this age/ks but never this fast. It was quite a slap in the face.

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts?

Thanks
Brendon

 

[MOF@]

Just a bit more info, the car had been sitting for 2 months before purchase.

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Private purchase or from a Stealership of some type

 

[MOF@]

Private

 

[nuckin futs]

id be ringing the person u got it off. they might tell u to PO. but they might also be willing to give u some sort of a refund to help with repairs. worth a try

 

[MOF@]

Already tried, I didn't ask for a refund but they certainly didn't offer. Just told me that the car has always been great. Do the symptoms sound like that's the problem?
This is my first diesel.

 

[nuckin futs]

for compression to be getting to the radiator it would be head or gasket problems. is there water in the oil or oil in the water

 

[MOF@]

No water in the oil not sure about the other way round

 

[bods]

Might have only broken the gasket between cylinder and water jacket, you can't really tell until you remove the head and have a look...

 

[MOF@]

If I have to go to all the trouble of pulling it all apart, if it is just the gasket, should I do the lead anyway? Would you?

 

[bods]

May be worth doing it. Depends how hot it got, alloy heads don't take a lot to warp. If you're going to all that trouble too, probably worth throwing a double row timing chain at it while you're there....

If the head isnt warped, a light skim of the head and block, new gaskets and you're away..

 

[MOF@]

Cheers, I'll pop up an update tomorrow when they have done the test.

 

[d22dave]

Already tried, I didn't ask for a refund but they certainly didn't offer. Just told me that the car has always been great. Do the symptoms sound like that's the problem?
This is my first diesel.

Have a look at the coolant and ask the mechanic his opinion as to wether it might have had some sort of stop leak put in it, i,m not not sure what our consumer laws are like on private vehicle sale or court claims, but if it's had some sort of sealant put in it prior to you buying it that implies they new of a problem. But to be fair you just never know, I was about a fortnight away from selling my old hilux when it did a big end bearing, now if I'd sold it I would have had some irate person probably claiming i stooged them, as it was I sold it as is but I dropped about 3 or 4 grand in the process. I hope it turns out to be a simple thing rather than a head or gasket.

 

[bods]

Good luck. .. its always risky buying privately, but I guess you have to weigh up the difference in cost...

Hope it isn't too expensive to fix....

 

[MOF@]

I agree, I guess if I do the head and chain at least I will know where everything is at. It's just disappointing knowing mods planed will have to be put off.

 

[bods]

Yeah.. that's the only downside, the mods waiting. But as you said, at least you will know the condition of the motor....