1997 Rover 400 heating doesn't work, car sometimes switches off when driving!
Year: 1997
Variant: 414 IS
Categories:
Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
A few weeks ago my Rover 400 cut out when I was driving it. It was like I had stalled but hadn't. This happened when I was turning a corner. After a few attempts to restart the engine it started and was driving fine until I noticed steam coming out the bonnet. No warning lights were illuminated on the dashboard it all happened with no warning.
I phoned the AA and the mechanic they sent out had a look and said it was a head gasket problem and there was absolutely no water in the car but it should be ok to drive it to the garage so I took it in the next day. The mechanic at the garage said it wasn't a head gasket problem after all and the pipes were flushed out, antifreeze was put in and it was left running for 30 mins, everything seemed fine so I got it back.
Everything was fine for a weeks, no warning lights and it was driving normally then last night the heating stopped being warm at it just blew cold even when the heat was up full. When I turned the engine off I noticed a glugging noise like water rushing about somewhere! So the water, antifreeze and steering fluid was all topped up today and the car cut out when turning a corner again. No warning just like the last time except this time no steam came out the bonnet. The car started again after 5/10 mins & I was able to get home. I noticed the water glugging noise again when I turned the engine off. There is water/oil gunk in the water tank. Car has done 80,000 miles so is probably near the end of it's life I just wondered why it is doing this when the mechanic said the head gasket was ok. I don't really feel safe driving it anymore and it's freezing inside anyway!
Any help much appreciated!
I phoned the AA and the mechanic they sent out had a look and said it was a head gasket problem and there was absolutely no water in the car but it should be ok to drive it to the garage so I took it in the next day. The mechanic at the garage said it wasn't a head gasket problem after all and the pipes were flushed out, antifreeze was put in and it was left running for 30 mins, everything seemed fine so I got it back.
Everything was fine for a weeks, no warning lights and it was driving normally then last night the heating stopped being warm at it just blew cold even when the heat was up full. When I turned the engine off I noticed a glugging noise like water rushing about somewhere! So the water, antifreeze and steering fluid was all topped up today and the car cut out when turning a corner again. No warning just like the last time except this time no steam came out the bonnet. The car started again after 5/10 mins & I was able to get home. I noticed the water glugging noise again when I turned the engine off. There is water/oil gunk in the water tank. Car has done 80,000 miles so is probably near the end of it's life I just wondered why it is doing this when the mechanic said the head gasket was ok. I don't really feel safe driving it anymore and it's freezing inside anyway!
Any help much appreciated!
Posted: Nov 17, 2007 (16 years ago)
Get it booked in, sounds dangerous.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 (16 years ago)
Hi Wendy,
The gunk in the water tank would suggest that the head gasket has gone and water and oil are mixing in the system.
Seeing as it is cutting out when cornering there's probably a sensor being set off due to levels changing which is causing the cut out?
It's a little strange that the mechanic said the gasket is fine given that it's losing fluids and the oil and water are mixing.
80,000 miles isn't neccessarily the end of a car's life, they can and should go way past 100,000. I'd get a specialist to have a look over it rather than a general mechanic.
Good luck with it.
The gunk in the water tank would suggest that the head gasket has gone and water and oil are mixing in the system.
Seeing as it is cutting out when cornering there's probably a sensor being set off due to levels changing which is causing the cut out?
It's a little strange that the mechanic said the gasket is fine given that it's losing fluids and the oil and water are mixing.
80,000 miles isn't neccessarily the end of a car's life, they can and should go way past 100,000. I'd get a specialist to have a look over it rather than a general mechanic.
Good luck with it.
Posted Nov 26, 2007 (16 years ago)
This problem is archived
If you're having a similar problem please click below to re-post this problem, you can then customise it to suit your situation.
Join the community
Got a question? Can you answer other questions here? If so please...
More problems with the 1997 model year Rover 400
We have 7 problems and solutions in our database for this model year of the car.
View all Rover 400 Problems
Parts mentioned