Your VW or BMW may have its plastic water pump impeller broken, like they always do unless replaced with a metal one. All cars aren't the same. A head gasket, just as a part, may be cheaper than dinner, or very expensive. The labor of changing it can be pretty expensive in the more complicated engines.. Overheating can happen for a variety of defects. Have a good mechanic check the car before you settle on one solution. A car with a bad fan relay might get hot while standing still, but cool off when the car is moving, and that part costs about $15 and plugs in, taking 5 minutes. Some cars cost about $1500 to repair the head gasket. How much would you like to make fixing a car- $15 or $1500...regardless of the real problem? There's some crooks out there.
If the car will not start, a head gasket is not the solution. Why are you asking about a head gasket for? Since you ran the car without a proper cooling system working correctly I can guess the engine has been ruined and needs to be replaced. The cooling system issue was much more cheaper than what you now face. Since you know little as to cars I strongly recommend finding a professional mechanic for an evaluation.
You must identify the vehicle.
You say yourself you have driven after knowing there was a problem.
If the car is OBDII, it could be shutting itself down in an attempt to save itself.
FMEM is the first protocol, LOS is the second when there is a potential polluter.
Then the plugs foul.
You can run your own code reader tests, and call for parts pricing.
You can even buy a book and some tools.
But you cant get a technicians education and experience.
You cant blame your cost on him either.
What you can do is ask a tech for help and an estimate after some tests and evaluating the engine condition.
The cooling system has many or multiple ways to go wrong and it is time consuming. It requires experience and tools to complete an accurate diagnosis.
At this point, if it won't start, the engine is likely water-locked with coolant in the crankcase. Simply put, you'll need an engine, or full block up rebuild. one thing to do, pull the dipstick. See if A) theres anything on it at all B)if theres straight coolant on it and C) if there is a milky off brown substance on it. Anything except straight oil is a bad sign.
What often happens with bad head gaskets is after the coolant passes through into the crankcase, it mixes with the oil, and gets very thick. The motor then stiffs up and becomes hard to turn. Starter will engage and burn itself out trying to turn the water locked engine.
On a 1947 Foonblotz HooptyCoop a head gasket costs about $12.73 with some assembly required.
If you don't have a 1947 Foonblotz HooptyCoop, it would be difficult to really answer . . .
I don't know how much doeas a head gasket will cost you BUT I know this, it will cost you more than 10 times more to get it fixed just because you did not fix it when you first had the chance to save the extra $$ you will spend on fixing it.
GL.
this is one of those expensive lesson IF you care to learn anything from it.
Depends on the car, but they are usually pretty cheap for a gasket set. It's just the labor that is expensive if you take it to a garage as it is quite a big job
Maybe a hundred dollars for the gasket set. But there is also machine work required to flatten the head. This is going to end up costing $1000-$1500 easily. You might also need addition parts. You by no means have the basis of a head gasket diagnosis based on what you've said. I am concerned you may have run the engine too hot and destroyed it. They will usually improve on cooling but not be the same. Or you just may need to add coolant. These leaks are invisible because they may be tiny and the coolant vaporizes on account of the heat.
Question #1: Does your temperature light work?
First, have an inexpensive *cooling system pressure test done which will find any external or internal cooling system leaks. If an internal leak is found, a cylinder leak-down test will show exactly where the leak is.
If you remove the cylinder heads, an automotive machine shop should check them for flatness and machine them flat if they need it BEFORE replacing the head gaskets. If this step is skipped the head-gaskets will leak again very quickly.
To be honest Head Gaskets are pretty cheap, just kinda a pain to change one out.
My car has been over heating a lot, and now it won't start
Probably about $50. The installation on most vehicles is a lot more than the price of the parts.
HI head gaskets its self is cheap its the labor that is expensive.
good luck
tim
What kind of car is it? Head gaskets are not that hard to do. Most anyone can due it with basic skills.
don,t just assume it,s the head gasket ! it could be the thermostat stuck closed and causing it to overheat !
U have any coolant ( Cheak coolant was running in the engine I guess not
How much is head?
