CAN ANY ONE HELP. WE HAVE A MONDOE 1.8 P REG A NICE FAMILLY CAR THAT WE NEED,ON A RECENT TRIP TO MANCHESTER WE HEARD A NOISE AS I WAS PRESSING ON THE ECCELERATION PEDDLE. WHEN I DECREASED IT STOPPED. THE ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING WITH OUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOWING UP FINNALIY IT CUT OUT. AFTER LIFFTING THE BONNET THE WATER WAS BOILING OVER AND EVAPERATED. THE R A C SAID THE GASKET HAD GONE HOWEVER THEIR IS NO WATER IN THE OIL AS USUALL WITH A BLOWN GASKET. GOT TOWED HOME?NOW THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER THE ENGINE IS NOT SEIZED UP AS I HAVE CHECKED.IT'IS SPARKING, PISTONS MOVING UP AND DOWN, AND THE TIMMING BELT IS STILL ON. PLUS THE HEATER BLOWS COLD WHEN ON WARM,AND THEIR IS WATER IN THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL? HELP PLEASE BEFORE I SPEND HUNDREDS IN A GARAGE R CAN I DO IT MYSELF WITH A GASKET KIT

STUART, November 2007

Hi
Sound's like it could be the water pump that has gone which give's the same sympton's as the head gasket. Plus the water still boil's but has nowhere to go so the pressure build's up and you get a blow back through the heater pipe's which would explain the water in the footwell. The engine wont start because of no water to the water sensor thus protecting the engine. Try changing the water pump first .

paul, November 2007