Head gasket

RAYNEBOWJEAN

MEMBER
2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
3.8L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
125,000 MILES

My ex had our car (listed above) after we broke up and drove it until he broke it. He said it overheated one day out of the blue and left him stranded. When it overheated he stopped and turned it off but it would not start again until the tow truck driver had arrived. They told my ex it was a blown head gasket and called it ruined. They trailered it back to the ex's and that was that; no confirmation or second opinion. It had always ran great before that.
He recently gave the car back to me and I really want to get it fixed up for myself and my little girl. So I was wondering if you could tell me any ways to tell if a head gasket is bad without the car running? It has been stripped of a few essential pieces and is bone dry in every area. Any ideas?

1 Reply

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

When a vehicle overheats what usually happens is the cylinder head warps, and that is what causes the head gasket to blow. When the head gasket is compromised and the cylinder head is warped your engine will then lose its compression and this is why it won't start. So, there are a couple of different ways to confirm that you indeed have a blown head gasket and I have included a couple of links below for you to go to. I am 99% sure that this is your problem, but there's always that 1% so here are your links:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you are able to find out. We have step by step directions for you on how to change your vehicle's head gasket if that is the problem and you wish to do the job yourself. Just let us know and we will help you through it.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros