Expansion tank pipe failure; possible problems?

[steve_m]

I have the chance to buy a 53 plate 3.0 litre SE for next to no money, 95000 miles, autobox.
The tank pipe failed causing the car to overheat and go into Limp Home mode; what are the chances of head gasket failure?
The car apparently runs smoothly at idle from cold and there is no evidence of emulsification in the oil.
Worth a punt or possible pit of despair?
I have access to a mechanic!

[Brakebuster]

worth a punt at the right price

common issue with the S

BB

[steve_m]

£100.
Is there any way of checking for head gasket failure without doing a compression test as I believe that involves removing the inlet manifold?

[J44EAG]

The inlet manifold has to come off to gain access to three of the plugs, Steve.. That will be the only way to do a compression test.

You could do an exhaust gas detection test via the header tank screw cap filler. That might help you to deduce whether there has been any damage between a cylinder and a water way.

Suggest you drive the car if you can and see how it runs. Given a good drive I`m sure you would be able to see via the temperature gauge and generally opening the bonnet to feel for an over hot engine. Most slight overheat or lack of coolant on these cars cause the radiator fan to operate. In normal use, even in hot weather, the fan should not switch on if all is ok.

Fortunately on the pre face lift and later models, the header tank is mounted just behind the radiator and access to pipes is very much easier than early models where it was buried under the wiper scuttle panel. The newer tanks do have a slight problem. The over flow pipe is small and not well reinforced. It tends to snap off. On the early models the tanks would just leak slightly then split wide open down their length.

Assuming the car drives well enough in the engine and gearbox department, unless a fair amount of suspension work has been done, you may have to spend time and money replacing front wheel bearings and ball joints on a car with 95K miles. Fortunately, parts are cheap on ebay. My recent post on the suspension section of this BB describes what you will be faced with.

If the car is cheap enough, it is worth a punt. If the engine is a duffer, you will probably find it more economic to find a second had motor. Prices from about £200-£500 for a half decent unit.

Mike

[steve_m]

Thanks guys.
For a £100 I think it is worth a punt. From what I can gather it is the pipe that has gone and I guess that it is part of the tank?
Just to clarify is the 03 plate car the one with the tank at the front or the rear of the engine bay? (I haven't seen the car yet so no chance to look at it).
The car won't drive properly yet until the tank is changed and the Limp codes reset; if I was to drive it 120 odd miles in 'Limp' mode would there be any further damage or would it just be unbearably slow (no motorways involved).

[J44EAG]

The tank is at the front on the later car, Steve. The stud pipe is I believe a by-pass.

If the owner can give you some reassurance that the car drives and will do 120 miles, then for £100 you can`t really go wrong. At that point it might be worth getting another tank to take with you and a box of spanners.. Second hand, they are not worth having unless very new to the donor car. A brand new one is the way to progress.

Call me if you wish when you are in front of the car and I`d be happy to give you some pointers.

If you fit a new tank and antifreeze, it is then worth disconnecting the battery for 20 minutes, then reconnecting and resetting the clock and radio code. If the generated fault cased by a coolant temp sensor and set off the MIL lamp and you have then rectified the header tank and put in new coolant, the battery disconnection and memory hard dump should clear the faults and extinguish the MIL lamp.

On the other hand, the MIL lamp illumination might perhaps be down to some other problem such as a throttle body. Limp home is common in such an instance. On the throttle it might be down to the large black plug on the side. Pull off and reconnect as a starter. I`d have no hesitation on driving with the MIL lamp lit but in the case of limp home mode, the term will certainly describe the speed of progress. Rather slow!

Mike

[steve_m]

Ta very much for the info, I think that I will go ahead with it although I am away at work and can't get to see it until Wednesday next week at the earliest; which is when I am supposed to be collecting the X Type!
Curses, you don't buy a car for ages and then 2 come along at once.

[steve_m]

Head gasket gone so walking away from that one.

[J44EAG]

Wise move especially at this time of the year, Steve. Sorting cars in depress temperatures is no fun at all.

A fair amount of work needed to strip out heads and repair. Then there are the unexpected things to deal with along the way.

The quickest option is an engine swap out and that is no mean task in itself. Again you would be shelling out cash from the moment of purchase.

I think you made the right decision. Better to buy the most trouble free car you can find for a few hundred pounds more. Even then by the time you get it home, there are likely to be a few issues that crop up on the drive back. All up together cars at this age are few and far between and it is always a gamble.

Mucking about with old Jags.....great fun, eh?

I have my eye on a 53 plate 4.2 that needs an MOT and paint. I want the engine. £595 in Essex on Gumtree. Mnnnnn.....wonder if it is a driver?

Mike

[steve_m]

Absolutely Mike.
It's not as if I haven't got enough to do at the moment. I'm still in the throes of sorting out the XJS; almost got the headlining changed but couldn't get one of the mirror screws out. Curses.
Then of course the ongoing saga of the instrument panel (you can drive an XJS with no instrument panel in it whatsoever!).
Then of course the boat; must install the diesel heater that I have had in a box for 2 years, it's somewhat chilly on there at the moment.
The S Type came by way of an extended family member (father of wife of brother of brother-in-law) and happened the same day that I had just put a deposit down on a 54 plate X Type (2.5 SE estate) so I'll have plenty of tinkering about to do when I pick that up on Wednesday.
If the Scooby gets me from Weymouth to Newbury of course!
Brother of brother-in-law fitted the new expansion tank that I had ordered and it ran fine up to temperature and stayed there.
But with steam coming out of the exhaust!