1996 Tarago need help :(

[timncat]

Hiya,

My partner and I bought a 1996 Tarago from a dealer 2 months ago. A week after we got it it started to idle roughly then it started making this awful clunking noise. Within a couple of days of this happening the car overheated.

We took it back to the dealer, they said it was a broken thermostat and apparently replaced it. We'd done less than 300kms in it.

Fast forward to the weekend just gone..it happened again. We've taken it to Toyota (we've done less than 1000km since we purchased it) today and they are telling us it's a blown head gasket or a big fracture in the head gasket that is going to cost us 5-6K to fix!!!!!

Does that sound right?

We have contacted Consumer Affairs and are waiting on a call back but as the car was older than 12 years old and had done 240K on the clock (we paid 5500 for it) we are thinking we are basically screwed with no leg to stand on.

Anyone have any suggestions on what you would do from here? Do we get a second opinion on what's wrong with it? Does the price seem extreme? Would a reconditioned motor put in be a cheaper option?

*sigh*

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

[teguy]

Hello, I may be new here but I've had my share of dealing with dodgy car dealers. Clunky noise is definately not the thermostat. Thermostats do not make any noise, they just sit there and simply contain a spring. When the engine is cold, the thermostat is closed. When the engine warms up, the spring gets compressed and allows coolant to circulate through the radiator. So I would trust what the Toyota guys are telling you. I also know from experience that a blown head gasket WILL cause overheating as well as other problems. The price to repair seems a bit high but probably makes sense if done at Toyota workshop.

I know at least in SA any car sold from dealer is covered with 3 months warranty. If you have a major problem like you describe, they have to fix it. So they will give you all sorts of stupid "fixes" to your problem to get through the 3 month period. If it is less than 3 months you should get on their case fast. Especially if it is engine / transmission issue. If you have a written quote from Toyota, shove that in their face and get them to fix it.

I hope you get it sorted the cheap way.

Let us know how it works out.

[viper33]

A thermostat that doesn't let coolant through can cause a blown headgasket

But like teguy said it doesn't make any noises, the 2 issues could be related or maybe they're not

Where does the clunk come from? Is it when the car is in gear, neutral, park? Does it happen when its not moving or when its moving? Does it happen all the time or is it intermittent?

Either way like teguy said im pretty sure dealers provide a 3 month warranty or something so definitely take it back and get them to fix it