Picasso not restarting after being driven

Right can I first say I'm 64 yo female with a disability so please I am just trying to save hubby's car! I am ok with engines to a point, filters, etc but please bear the above in mind - thanks

2013 C3 Picasso 115,000 miles no previous problems

My daughter borrowed car and 3 times broke down. Car would start and drive fine but had slight oil smell in car. When she went to restart - nothing.

We live rural and I had one mechanic come out who spent few minutes looking then condemned head gasket. I have spoken to two others who's response was maybe but maybe
......... coolent valve????

So my question is do I pursue trying to find out more about this valve or just right off as head gasket? Don't totally trust any of garages locally and tbh I feel if head gasket why will it restart fine and drive OK when cold.

Thanks for anyone's help and advice

supersoozy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 2:31 am We live rural and I had one mechanic come out who spent few minutes looking then condemned head gasket. I have spoken to two others who's response was maybe but maybe
......... coolent valve????

So my question is do I pursue trying to find out more about this valve or just right off as head gasket? Don't totally trust any of garages locally and tbh I feel if head gasket why will it restart fine and drive OK when cold.

Hello supersoozy

My first step would be to test the head gasket myself. It is quick and easy to do with one of these head gasket test kits on amazon. With a test result you can make a better decision on how to proceed.

Headgasket failure is quite common and although may not be the cause of your problem, that doesn't mean it is not part of your problem. It is important to get a positive result either way.

Thank you - Reld on order.

Will update post when tested

Hi Supersoozy,

At the risk of too many cooks spoiling the broth I would like to add my 2 cents worth.

It has to be pretty catastrophic for the head gasket to stop the car. I am not saying it is not the head gasket.

Does the oil cap or the expansion tank (the spherical plastic tank with coolant) have a 'chocolaty' sludge in them? Is the coolant inexplicably disappearing? Is the oil disappearing inexplicably? Loss of oil but no oil leaks? Loss of coolant but no coolant leaks? White smoke or lots of steam from the exhaust pipe? The exhaust smells like burning tyres?

No engine light?

A lot of coolant or oil would have to get into the combustion chamber to stop the engine. Again I'm not saying that isn't the problem.

There is one failure mode of the head gasket that wont give any tangible symptoms (no oil or water leaks and wont show up on the dye test) and that is if the gasket is damaged between the cylinders. This requires a compression test.

Any other symptoms?

I have the Reld coming tomorrow and have set aside weekend to look at car.

I will take your list and will get answers BEFORE I use the Reld.

Im not mean but if I can look at this with Forum help it would be fab. I dont trust garages - i tjink they see an old woman coming and you can guess the rest.

I am really grateful for the help though.

supersoozy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 2:31 am My daughter borrowed car and 3 times broke down. Car would start and drive fine but had slight oil smell in car. When she went to restart - nothing.

What do you mean by "nothing"? Did the engine turn over but wouldn't run? The engine wouldn't even turn over? No electrics? Was the car running and just stopped. Any surging or hesitation? Was it that the car wouldn't start but when it did start the car ran fine until you turned the engine off? Any clue as to how she got the car running again? Wait a certain amount of time? Hold her tongue a certain way? Sorry but don't have much to go on.

supersoozy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 2:31 am I have spoken to two others who's response was maybe but maybe
......... coolent valve????

Not sure what you mean. The thermostat? If the thermostat was faulty the car could overheat and seize but the over temp indicator on the instrument cluster should warn you. Unfortunately the temperature senders (that warn you if the engine is hot) can be unreliable. If the engine seizes the car can just stop and the engine wont 'turn over' until it cools down.

The car 'broke down' 3 times in the same trip or 3 times over multiple trips?

You have had no problems with the car? Have you driven the car since?

Sorry for all the questions. You could take the mechanic at his word and go down the head gasket route but I am not there and I have to start from scratch.

I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you but I was ill and needed weather to be good - not good in Wales.

I followed your questions to the letter.

Oil ok
Water empty - refilled

Car started ok 3 times

Tried Reld - as suggested by other man - and its Brown

So think HG has probably gone.

I did take photos of everything I did

supersoozy wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:33 am Water empty - refilled

Car started ok 3 times

Tried Reld - as suggested by other man - and its Brown

So think HG has probably gone.

The coolant is leaking out somewhere, and a non blue RELD result would indicate something isn't right.

I think you have confirmed the head gasket diagnosis.

supersoozy wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:33 am I did take photos of everything I did

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