1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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Swede, I have never called on you before. But, after the dealer replaced the head gasket, the car still loses fluid. No drips or visible leaks. No oil in coolant tank. Oil in crankcase looks good. No clouds of water vapor visible in the exhaust.
I have a 2001 Base 9-3 five door, automatic. At about 149K mi., the fill fluid warning came on. Fluid needed to added after short or long trips, the rate of fluid loss seemed more related to trips (hot cold cycles of the engine) rather than the length of the trip. E.g., 50 miles as good as 350 miles, same fluid loss. This info provided to dealer.
Dealer does flourescent dye test and is proud to announce that they found dye near an "O" ring on one of the heater core connections, which O ring they replaced for nearly $400.
The car still lost fluid at the same rate. The dealer desk man at first said, well it might need to burp some air out. After the better part of 2,000 miles, frequently adding fluid after every few trips, they admitted that it was not burping. Back to the dealer for what I was convinced a head gasket.
They called me late the day the head gasket was to be replaced and announced, golly, Sir, your head gasket needs to be replaced. Right, so do it please.
Head gasket was replaced. No new head bolts on the bill. Car immediately starts to lose fluid in the very same fashion, that is, fluid loss rate is related more to the number of trips rather than their length. Hot cold cycle makes me think the head gasket is the problem, still.
I did not think 2001 9-3s were part of the head bolts not torqued properly class of cars? Bolts were not replaced, so I guess they are not stretch bolts in a 2001?
I feel the dealer should make it right. But, at this point, I do not trust their expertise. Is there anything in the factory manual for this problem? Are they any factory bulletins on 9-3 fluid loss, special procedure for 2001 head gasket replacement?
Thanks for anyone's input. DER
posted by 74.65.7...
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