Drip die

My sister bought a 1998 Rover 200 (1.8 engine) less than 2 weeks ago. The car had 105k miles on clock and she paid the sticker price of £995 and received a trade in of £250 on an old Transit van she had. The Rover is in excellent condition for the year and mileage and runs very smoothly. Given the head gasket problem with these cars she had a friend check for the signs of this ie mayonnaise and all was fine. She has driven the car for a week and noticed it is losing a lot of water, she has taken it to the garage I have used for years and they have told her that the head gasket has gone. She has spoken to the garage she bought the car from and the owner has said he has no responsibility as the car was sold as a trade part exchange with no warranty. On her invoice he has written along the top that it’s a trade sale with no warranty. Is this correct? I know you have answered a similar question before but cannot find it on your website. Any advice you may have is gratefully received.

Asked on 17 April 2010 by J.P., via e-mail

Answered by Honest John
These engines lose water because the 'O' ring gaskets between the cylinder head and the heated inlet manifold fail. This is no big deal if the gaskets are quickly replaced (before the engine is allowed to overheat). If the engine is allowed to overheat, then it's curtains for a 12-year-old car because the engine cylinder head gasket will fail, possibly followed by warping or cracking of the head itself and the cylinder wet liners. So fingers crossed it's no more than the former. Her rights are obviously diminished for a 12-year-old car, but you’ll find them at: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights
Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
    Select a few terms below
Similar questions
I have bought a car for £1,500 and part-exchanged my car. The newer car is a junk. The head gasket has gone and will cost £800. The private dealer basically told me to get lost. Help.
My 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, 125,000 miles, recently suffered catastrophic engine failure. Around 18 months ago, a new engine was fitted under guarantee. The cost of a replacement engine is higher than the...
The fan in my car isn't working properly. The temperature of the car is going up to 100 degrees and it only cools down when I put the interior fans on hot. Also, I checked the input pipe and the water...
Related models
Smart styling. The Vi is quick and economical, the 1.6 CVT responsive. Feels compact in town yet comfortable on the motorway.