Sold my beloved Townace a few weeks ago to a guy in Exeter (I`m in Maidstone). We met halfway in S`ton (him via train), and exchanged. He was in a rush to get back to Exeter. He calls the mobile an hour or so later and says it`s over-heating and in the red... what should he do? I tell him to pull over straight away as he could damage the engine.
I haven`t had a problem with that van since I replaced the head-gasket more than 6 months ago. It`s been all over the SE of England (even Dorset and back last week).
I said to them not to drive it like a car uphill and push it too much but it seems they didn`t listen or notice it getting hotter however they were driving it.
He says the RAC came and checked the van out and they say the head gasket is stuffed (was fine for us), water in radiator is dirty (never noticed to be honest) and foam in the Oil tank (never saw foam in there for us... am assuming that would have happened when they over-heated it).

Any idea`s on a good mechanic in the Exeter area? I`m emigrating on wednesday to Australia but don`t want to have someone thinking I sold them a lame duck..

This van has been driving around fine with my pregnant wife and little baby girl, and I`m quite shocked that as soon as I sell it to someone that this happens.

- (#1561) Storm, 29 May 05 15:54

storm i would not worry too much as with any vehicle, anyone with any sense does not push a strange and unknown item in this way.

it happened to me i suppose, i picked up my petrol cruiser and had to drive 50 miles back down the m11, i had a lift up there and followed my lift car back at 70 all the way.

but in this instance the vehicle felt perfect to drive before we hit the motorway and i saw no reason to slow it down at all. in fact it felt like it could cruise at that speed all day....just goes to show that ignorance is bliss.

there again my eyes and ears were open and listening all the time for the slightest change in engine note or strange vibration.

the report from the rac man could be a bit flowery and he may have said the head was caput to cover himself.

if it did get overheated and then the water bubbled out of the overflow, this would increase the pressure and loose all sorts of particles in the engine/radiator ....you do not have to drink the discoloured water so it is no real hassle...

be interesting to see what a toyota mech would say.

.

- (#1561) Rik, 30 May 05 03:26

Thanks Rik.

I`d like to try and help him find a decent mechanic in the Exeter area if possible.

As we`re emigrating to Aus in a day though, if anyone could please offer any advice and contacts direct to:
Paul Michaels mailto:paul_e_michaels@hotmail.co.uk . He`s a really nice guy but just a little naive to vans atm I think. I`m hoping the engine etc weren`t damaged by what happened, especially the head gasket as I`d replaced it with a brand new one (not 2nd hand) 6 months ago.

Anyway, this will be my last post on the forum for a while, until we get to Perth and start looking for another great MPV (but probably something a bit newer), so thanks for all your help and if you could help out Paul with trying to sort out the `Ace it`d be great.

- (#1561) Storm, 30 May 05 15:47