kai2k1 0 #1 December 16, 2003 Ok i just got back from the repair shop. How much would you expect to pay to have the head gaskets replaced on a 1999 Monte Carlo?? There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pop 0 #2 December 16, 2003 Just replace the whole car 7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #3 December 16, 2003 I wish i could, Im in a chapter 13 now, Im tempted to tell them to come and get it There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldnewbie 0 #4 December 17, 2003 I'd guess $1173.49. Assuming of course that you don't have to replace the head! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kramer 0 #5 December 17, 2003 By the title of this thread, I thought you were going to be asking about something much different than a Monte Carlo. -Kramer The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 221 #6 December 17, 2003 1179.49? Wouldn't that seem a bit high? I'm thinking more along the lines of 2- 300I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kramer 0 #7 December 17, 2003 I was thinking more along the lines of telling the girl down the hall that she "looks nice today". -Kramer The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marks 0 #8 December 17, 2003 QuoteOk i just got back from the repair shop. How much would you expect to pay to have the head gaskets replaced on a 1999 Monte Carlo?? first off i would ask.. why do you have to do a head job on a 1999 car?... whats the mileage?... engines should not really have to be torn into now aday unless somthing catostrophic happens.. and in that case it is usually a chain of things wrong with it... 4 cyl or v6? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #9 December 17, 2003 the estimate is 600.00 thats just for the gaskets and labor. I hate haveing an engine thats side mounted!! if this was my old mustang (1965) id be done for about 50 bucks\ edited to add, i have a head gasket leaking antifreeze. Current mileage is 53000, I think its a crock for something to go out like that. The shop owner is blaming it on the Dex-cool anti-freeze that GM uses now There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Layton 0 #10 December 17, 2003 depends on why the gaskets blew.if the heads are warped then you are talking big bucks.did the car overheat?if it did then you are looking at head damage,piston or rings being damaged.i did all the work on my wifes bmw. it broke a timing belt and bent 3 valves broke a rocker and damaged the head.i did all the work and got out for under 500$.course im a cheap bastard and i wont take anything to the shop.good luck.***if you're on the edge ya might as well step off Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLYBERT71 0 #11 December 17, 2003 Here labor is about $750.00. Labor rate is $65/hour. Parts (gaskets etc.)are about $230.00. If you had cracked heads that would be more. "If you have time to panic, you have time to do something more productive." Josh Whipple 7/15/70-2/10/05 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marks 0 #12 December 17, 2003 QuoteOk i just got back from the repair shop. How much would you expect to pay to have the head gaskets replaced on a 1999 Monte Carlo?? im willing to bet they will find further problems when they tear it down.... but i could be wrong.... and if you ask them... they are going to tell you that they will not know untill they tear it down... wich in reallity is the truth... did it over heat? is it a straight 6 v6 or 4 cyl. i dont know much about those cars... also do you know if the head is alluminum? or steel? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #13 December 17, 2003 3.1L V6, im willing to bet that its steel heads There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmsmith 1 #14 December 17, 2003 QuoteI wish i could, Im in a chapter 13 now, Im tempted to tell them to come and get it Repair it and continue the payments as originally agreed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLYBERT71 0 #15 December 17, 2003 The 3.1L v-6 should have aluminium heads. I have had problems with the Dex-Cool causing leaks from gaskets and hoses. It is usually a problem on cars that had been switched to Dex-Cool from other types though. It started to seep through the hoses on my Camaro (73) when I tried it. "If you have time to panic, you have time to do something more productive." Josh Whipple 7/15/70-2/10/05 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #16 December 17, 2003 OK, so it hasnt overheated, does this mean im not as bad off as i thought, but still to replace the gaskets is going to be around 600.00 I havent replaced the coolant from what was the original that came with it, but when the gaskets are replaced would it be a wise idea to flush out the cooling system and put just good ole regular prestone anti freeze in it? There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conundrum 1 #17 December 17, 2003 Damn. And here I thought this was going to be WAY more interesting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marks 0 #18 December 17, 2003 QuoteOK, so it hasnt overheated, does this mean im not as bad off as i thought, but still to replace the gaskets is going to be around 600.00 I havent replaced the coolant from what was the original that came with it, but when the gaskets are replaced would it be a wise idea to flush out the cooling system and put just good ole regular prestone anti freeze in it? it is alot better off that it didnt over heat... steel warpes fairly easy.. so it may be ok.... if it is aluminum heads then im willing to bet there is more problems.... since it is a v6 the head is fairly short wich usually reduces the amount it warpes..... but how did it start leaking usually there is an over heat then you have to replace the head gasket.... is it smoking white smoke out the tail.. or is the head just leaking oil? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marks 0 #19 December 17, 2003 QuoteOK, so it hasnt overheated, does this mean im not as bad off as i thought, but still to replace the gaskets is going to be around 600.00 I havent replaced the coolant from what was the original that came with it, but when the gaskets are replaced would it be a wise idea to flush out the cooling system and put just good ole regular prestone anti freeze in it? there is nothing wrong with dex cool anti freeze exept for the fact that it is pink..... but use what the factory recomends... it is recomended for a reason.. p.s. 600 soounds about right! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #20 December 17, 2003 The prob started this way. Saturday i went to do some running around in the snow, i went to the store and when i was pulling out i noticed that it wasnt blowing hot air, i looked at the temp gauge and it was reading hot but not in the red. So I thought that i was going to have to replace the thermostat. When all of the sudden it clicked back in and the temp returned to normal. I got home and checked all the fluids again and noticed that my coolant resivoir was low since i had just filled it earlier in the week. Now im getting temperature fluctuations of about 50 degrees. and the thermostat is opening and closing as it should. Today when i took it to the shop is where we found the leaks. Pretty much on the front right corner of the engine below the exhaust manifold. There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl03 0 #21 December 17, 2003 sounds Almost like my problem except i didn't have the temp flux. the temp was always normal. for about 1 1/2 months i kept smelling a chemically ordor when the car was hot. i had my oil changed (routine) and asked my mechanic to check for what was causing the smell. he didn't find anything. (it was raining and the car was all wet... hard to dectect a leak) a week later the odor was worse and i now had a puddle in my garage. i made an apt with the mechanic and he told me to soak up the puddle in a white paper towel and bring it in for hime to ID. definately anti-freeze. knowing this, he knew where to look and found the upper manifold gasket leaking...a slow drip. he couldn't fix it and referred me to another mechanic. 570 $ and it runs great * interesting comment about dex-cool as that is what my car uses. * hope everything works out for you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marks 0 #22 December 17, 2003 QuoteThe prob started this way. Saturday i went to do some running around in the snow, i went to the store and when i was pulling out i noticed that it wasnt blowing hot air, i looked at the temp gauge and it was reading hot but not in the red. So I thought that i was going to have to replace the thermostat. When all of the sudden it clicked back in and the temp returned to normal. I got home and checked all the fluids again and noticed that my coolant resivoir was low since i had just filled it earlier in the week. Now im getting temperature fluctuations of about 50 degrees. and the thermostat is opening and closing as it should. Today when i took it to the shop is where we found the leaks. Pretty much on the front right corner of the engine below the exhaust manifold. it overheated then... the reason the temp guage didnt read it is because the sensor has to be submerged in fluid to read... if there is no fluid it doesnt read correctly... it probably overheated due to low coolant... now you need to have them find the reason why there was low coolant in wich caused it to overheat and caused the head gasket to blow..... the reason the gasket blew is because the metal got so hot it warped... alot of times this will cause the metel to break or crack.. this is the catostrophic failue i was talking about..... hopefully it is a very therough tech and he will look carefully at the engine block... it is metal to.. and they warp or crack also...... usually overheats can cause alot of problems... so dont be pissed if they tell you there is further problems..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLYBERT71 0 #23 December 17, 2003 Since it did not overheat you probably did not warp the heads but when they remove them they should, and probably will, check the surface for flatness. It is possible to have an external coolant leak without actually blowing the headgasket. The cylinder is sealed by a steel compression ring that is part of the headgasket. The coolant passages are not therefore they can leak on the outside and still seal the combustion chambers. I would not switch the coolant types. You could cause more harm than good if you do. "If you have time to panic, you have time to do something more productive." Josh Whipple 7/15/70-2/10/05 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #24 December 17, 2003 A head job on a 3.1l chev engine is around the 8 to 10 hour mark labour wize....parts will depend on locality and buying aftermarket or from the dealer....dont forget machine shop costs to check and plane the heads if necessary(hope like hell there reusable...they usually are). The 3.1l is a dependable engine that has been used for many years...very similar to its predecessor the 2.8l...these engines have always been know for head gasket problems...but of late...moseso lower intake gaskets leaking coolant( I have only done one 3.1l head job with in the last year...prob 3 have been done im my shop....but I have done prob. close to 30 lower intake gaskets....50 or so for the shop...I do most of the engine work. I have heard different ppl. blaming Dexcool for problems asscoiated with gasket failure on the 3.1l and other engines...however.....as a tech I cannot tell customers to go against the manufactures recomendations..that would be just silly and open me up to liability concerns.....another however....if I owned a chev...I would have no problem with replacing the Dexcool with green coolant(properly flushed of course....mixing the 2 diff. coolants can cause them to gel) Prices for jobs vary forn shop to shop.....there is always the over priced place and the "WOW" im going there place....I would suggest staying away from both extreems...and as always...the shop...dealer/aftermarket/smaller shop/backyarder...depends on the tech doing the work....morons work in all of them and great techs do also.......... It never hurts to shop around and get second oppions...It also never hurts to check with the dealer for warranty and "hidden" warranty....or to contact the manufacturer's customer service reps and raise a little hel...the squeaky wheel always gets greased before the non squeaky one Sorry for the rant...and I've lost my train of thought.....damn 14 hours shifts followed by a few beer edited to add....Im a Class A , Interprovincial Automotive Technician , ASE Master Tech. , ASE Advanced Engine Performance Tech. and have 15 years in the trade. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee03 0 #25 December 17, 2003 Sorry, but I'm afraid it will cost you quite a bit. Gone are the days when you can do the majority of the work on a car yourself. Engines today are crap, heads made out of alumimum (sp) warp and crack and have to many other problems. I long for the old days, and cast iron!-------- To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities. --Nevil Shute, Slide Rule Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
