Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting blown head gasket on escort

how much would you guys pay to have a blown head gasket replaced on a 93 Escort. The first shop I took it to told me more than $1000 not more than $1500. Seemed high to me, but I had no clue how much a head gasket replacement cost. I'm going to get a second opinion tomorrow and see what they say. Is $1000-1500 too much???

He did tell me that I had an option of buying a "rebuilt" head gasket and that would cut the cost significantly. Still, I dont know if its worth repairing if it'll be that much. I think its days are numbered and I need to be looking for another work car/beater. I drive over 300 miles on most days and really dont want to be putting those on the SVT. Although I have been for the past week. But I need something reliable. There is a 95 SE 5-speed for sale in town. Might go check that out. It'd be one hell of a beater!

Anyways, just trying to get a feel of what a reasonable price to pay is. Thanks!

-neal

skid123 wrote:

how much would you guys pay to have a blown head gasket replaced on a 93 Escort. The first shop I took it to told me more than $1000 not more than $1500. Seemed high to me, but I had no clue how much a head gasket replacement cost. I'm going to get a second opinion tomorrow and see what they say. Is $1000-1500 too much???

He did tell me that I had an option of buying a "rebuilt" head gasket and that would cut the cost significantly.

  Sounds suspicious to me.  I don't think a head gasket itself should cost nearly as much as $100.  Nearly all the cost of having it replaced should be labor.  I've never heard of ?rebuilt? gaskets, but in any event, if such is available, the difference in cost between a rebuilt head gasket and a brand new one would be nothing compared to the $1000+ price that was quoted you.

A head Gasket might be in the $500 range, but not $1500. Are you sure he is quoting the gasket and not a rebuilt head. A rebuilt head might cost $1500 but $1000 should be closer to real cost.

Ask him to give you a detailed description of what he is doing for $1500.

Get a second opinion too...

FWIW, you can probably buy a whole 1993 escort for $1500. I traded in a 1996 for $1300 (high mileage though)

whoa...my bad guys. I didn't make myself too clear. The price he was quoting me was if the head was damaged and needed to be replaced. sorry, I've just had that $1000+ repair bill in my head all day. Which he said it was possible the head was damaged and he's suppose to get back with me and let me know this afternoon.

Just to repair the gasket he said it'd be 4-500. If the head was damaged and has to be replaced it might be bye-bye escort. It's been a good car though, 175,000+ miles with no mojor problems or rebuilds. I'm still going to get a second opinion and probably a third.

Thanks for the help guys

-neal

If you are mechanically inclined, you could get a head from a "recycling" yard and do it yourself.

Should be a bit cheaper and may keep the car on the road a little longer...

well, I talked to one of my friends who is mechanically enclined and he said we should try and do it ourselves. He knows what he's doing and said it wouldn't be too difficult. I dont know, gonna have to wait and see, my mechanic never did call me back this afternoon....

-neal

just thought i'd give an update. Head was damaged along with one of the pistons. Needs a new engine. Well, not new...the mechanic recommended getting a used engine. Total could reach $1500 dollars. I've decided I'm not going to pay it.

I've been looking at trucks to replace the escort. A used Frontier possibly. A friend of mine drives a 95 Nissan with 200,000+ miles and has very little trouble out of it. Oh well, the escort is going to be gone.

She has served me well for over 8 years and 175,000 miles.

a moment of silence please.

-neal

skid123 wrote:

just thought i'd give an update. Head was damaged along with one of the pistons. Needs a new engine.

  No, it just needs a new head, and a new piston.  If that's all that's wrong, then it is well possible to repair it for much less than the cost of another engine.  A professional mechanic might be reluctant to do so, because it can be very tricky offering any kind of warranty on such a repair; but if you are mechanically-inclined, then it's not all that difficult as a do-it-yourself job.

i'll be honest when I say this is a job that I would not be comfortable doing and my friend said he'd rather not. He did find a used engine w/ 50,000 miles on it for $850. He did tell me later today that the total wouldn't go over $1300 for sure. He said the repair would cost more than dropping a new engine I'm confused, really dont know what to do. I am leaning towards just buying another beater though. The escort has served me well and I enjoyed the car alot...i think its time to part our ways

-neal