a couple days ago a pipe on my radiator cracked causing it to overheat. got a new radiator but this morning i started it up and it has a slight off beat rumbling that shakes the car alot and when i first started driving a large cloud of white smoke came out of my exhaust it did this for about 15 min. every time i started idling and took off. ive been told its probably my head gasket... but i have no idea what that is... is this something that will be under 1k to fix? because my pay checks only 8 something and i need new tires pretty bad too... i love my Woo would hate to say good bye to it...
Headgasket replacement isn't cheap. It is a special gasket that goes between your cylinder head and block. Normally everything is sealed up nicely, but if you overheat there is a chance you've warped the head (thus the gasket won't seal anymore) and now oil and / or coolant is leaking into your cylinders. I'm not sure the exact prices, but you may want to get some quotes from local shops. Depending on your area it might be cheaper to swap in a used motor from a wreckers.
How hot it got.......
If your head to block seal is not leaking than it is probably a internally blown head gasket. Meaning the seal is cracked/blown-out
inside and allowing coolant to go onto the cylinders.
I have had this happen before. I pulled the head and took it to a shop that does head work. They checked it for cracks and warpage. No cracks no warpage. I reinstalled the head (with a new gasket and bolts, of course.) I went on to drive that car for about 4 more years without a problem.
If his is your problem ? I think you can buy head gasket and bolt kit off e-bay for reasonable prices.
Other forum members may know actual prices.
"The three great essentials to achieving anything worthwhile are; first, hard work, second, stick-to-it-iveness, and third, common sense."
- -- Thomas Edison
ok... ya im taking it to mechanics tomorrow... but dad doesnt want to pay much to get it repaired hes kinda pissed at how much it costs to repair at mechanics and neither of us have time to work on it right now so if its not cheap then no car for me...