Nissan dealer diagnostic results

[mr_wizard]

Alright so I finally gave up trying to figure out the problem on my S13 and brought it where they have the time and diagnostic tools. Here is my post when I first started having problems

zerothread?id=201534

A month or so later the symptoms got worse and it started running hotter and hotter. I think since because I have a 97 DE in my 91 the temperature may have been reading wrong, because you could see the heat radiating off the motor and it never got over half way. It got to the point where it would not idle at all and the bogging would be even worse and I would have to rev it more to get going. It wouldn't idle by itself and if it died, I would have to wait for the motor to cool off. At first all I did was unplug the injectors and clear out the gas because I thought it was flooding itself, and it would start back up.... but never would unless I did that or let it sit for a long time. So now I also have to wait for the motor to cool off it seems. Anyway, the Nissan Dealership called me back and told me the head gasket is blown, the water pump is leaking, the timing chain is stretched, and I had no coolant in the car. I put the 66k motor in myself from blowing the last one 5 months ago, so I'm wondering if I could fix this head gasket thing myself, or if it's even worth it. They also said it's possible the head could be damaged or worn as well. I'm leaving for the military in a little over a month, and I have things I have to pay off before I leave. I'm really hoping to get as much as possible out of this car before I leave, I'm curious as to how I would go about doing that. Is it worth fixing myself or should I sell it as a possible blown head gasket for much cheaper?

[mr_wizard]

It actually will idle if it's slightly warmed up but not too hot or too cold.

[AZhitman]

Doing the HG is a big job, but can be done if you've got a FSM and some skill with tools.

If you're leaving in a month, I'd say let someone else deal with it. Ideally, you'll want to pull the motor, put it on a stand, and do it RIGHT.

Changing a HG in the car is a HUGE pain, and this way you can take the block and head to a machine shop and have it checked for trueness.

[mr_wizard]

If taking the motor out of the chassis is whats needed to replace the head gasket, then I think I will pass on that. The whole taking the entire motor out of the car then completely apart without knowing if it's even worth it doesn't quite appeal to me. I still don't understand what is causing the bogging issue. If I can fix that, at least I can drive it temporarily until I sell it. Would a bad head gasket cause those sort of symptoms? Thanks Hitman.
Modified by mr_wizard at 7:44 PM 1/16/2007

[180fan]

You can do it in the car, just it makes the job a bigger pita. Sounds to me like you picked up quite the engine though. Sounds to me like they want you to do a timing chain job along the way. If you're doing an hg and a chain job, pull the engine, faster, easier and if they're doing the work well...maybe not necessarily cheaper but it'll make it more doable on your end.