Car cutting out

1. user_54159 L-plater Joined: Aug 2011 Streatham, London Posts: 37 MK1 Citroen Saxo 1.4i SX

   #1 9th January 2013, 09:25

   I gave my 1.4i sx Saxo to my dad to run around in.
   
   but now if the engine gets to hot the fan kicks in the idle is poor then the engine cuts out. He also has to keep topping up the coolant.
   
   What could this be?
2. user_54391 Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2011 Cleethorpes Posts: 137 Saxo VTR

   #2 9th January 2013, 13:54

   first things first, open your coolant lid and look for a white gunk, then switch the engine on and look for bubbles also have a quick smell to see if you can smell hydrocarbon, if any of these are present take it to your local garage and get a compression test but from reading this it sounds like a head gasket.
3. user_54159 L-plater Joined: Aug 2011 Streatham, London Posts: 37 MK1 Citroen Saxo 1.4i SX

   #3 9th January 2013, 17:54

   Ok will look at that, if need be I can do a compression test.
4. user_54159 L-plater Joined: Aug 2011 Streatham, London Posts: 37 MK1 Citroen Saxo 1.4i SX

   #4 9th January 2013, 17:55

   forgot to say the head gasket was done 2500 miles ago.
5. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #5 9th January 2013, 19:43

   have you bed it correctly and was the head good and flat with no cracks?