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a bit of trouble with my monaro

2K views 33 replies 14 participants last post by  fluff 
#1 ·
hi, my name is Vicki

i am new to this site, and have only just registered. my husband and i bought a monaro 18mths ago (my pride and joy) my nephew named him mcqueen which has now stuck!! i have only just got him back, as he was in the garage for 17 days (don't know if i'm allowed to name that garage) but we received the most horrendous service and aftercare from them. the head gasket had gone on mine, and i was charged £1,800 for the privilage of putting it right. i have since been in contact with another garage who specialise also in servicing monaros/vxr8's that this is unheard of, these cars are built to last, and they have "never" had to replace a head gasket on one of these cars. the garage also said they did a "block test" on my car??? again this other garage say they don't know what a block test is, they have never heard of it....... i am very confused, and would love to speak to another owner, to see what, if any problems you have had. and if allowed, would love to name drop this awful garage, to make sure no one else suffers like we have for the last 18mths. i hope to speak to someone soon. :)
 
#3 ·
It has 2 heads and gaskets, did they replace both gaskets? Block test... Its an easy check, open the bonnet, yep, its got a block, next! (Never heard of a block test myself)

Welcome to the site and feel free to name and shame the garage.
 
#6 ·
i have spoken to "BROWNS OF LOUGHTON LTD" and am trying to get an explanation from him, as i told him that another garage had never heard of a block test..... he couldn't answer me, and said he would speak to the technician and get an explantion from him!!! let's see if he calls me back eh??
 
#7 ·
hummm....

Why did you take the car to the garage in the first place? what was the symptoms?

Block test might have just been a normal compression test done on the engine.
 
#8 ·
very good (he he) if i drive it like a lady (lol) i can get about 26mpg. my kind of driving only 17mpg. it has been one disaster after another with Browns of Loughton since we had the car....... but this last stint with them is the last straw. they won't be getting anymore of my dosh, and have just found another garage in Northampton, so will be giving them a go.
 
#14 ·
i was out driving, when the computer started to bleep, saying the engine temp was hot, when i looked at the gauge.... it was well in the red!!! pulled over and switched off, waited about 10 mins before heading home (was only just down the road thank god) called the AA who seemed to think it was just the thermostat. off it went on the back of their truck to browns of loughton, who then rung the next day to say it was the head gasket.
 
#17 ·
if the engine has got too hot i may have damaged the heads/gaskets..ect. if it was running with no water i would over heat fast.
Loss of water can be a sign of head gasket failure.
How many miles has the monaro done?

and linden special vehicles is about 10 mins from me... ;)
 
#18 ·
This thread does nothing for women driver stereotypes. I'll never understand how you can spot us watching women from the other side of the room who aren't you, but you can't see the temp needle bending round the max pin as the engine begs for mercy. :(

From what you've said though, Head gasket would be the most likely diagnosis.
 
#24 ·
This thread does nothing for women driver stereotypes. I'll never understand how you can spot us watching women from the other side of the room who aren't you, but you can't see the temp needle bending round the max pin as the engine begs for mercy. :(
From what you've said though, Head gasket would be the most likely diagnosis.
lmaolmaolmaolmaolmao
 
#20 ·
i don't think i have heard anything bad from them...

48,000 is ok.

the only main faults i know with the monaro engines was the pistons and rings and the odd power stearing pump. Have seen one or two with head gaskets gone but there was no water in them. Its a hard one to say as it could have lost a gasket or you have paid a lot of money for a thermostat.

I have a gut feeling on this that it is a head gasket. Whats it driving like now the repairs are done?
 
#21 ·
If you seriously overheat an engine the cylinder head bolts expand because of the heat, and you can easily blow your gasket or warp the head if you continue to drive the car.

A block test is also known as a sniff test, some special liquid is put in what looks a bit like a big turkey baster and the gasses from the cooling system header tank are drawn up through the liquid, if the liquid changes colour it indicates exhaust gasses in the coolant which is a sure sign of a failed head gasket.
 
#23 ·
have to say I went to Browns when looking for a VX and the monkeys in the showroom left me with little to no confidence in the entire establishment. And also as it turns out the VX I have was "serviced" there before I purcahsed it and I can 99% garantueeeeee that it didnt have a single item of the service schedule/invoice claim done to it.
 
#27 ·
Are Browns of Loughton authorised to work on Monaro's from Vauxhall?

Sounds silly but only a few dealers are vxl approved, were not so have to order parts through another dealer (for customers we dont touch them).

I can find out 2morrow when i find there dealer code
 
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