Nissan Repair: Thermostat / Head Gasket, nissan xterra, head gasket

Question
My 2000 Nissan Xterra began to overheat about 5 miles from my home.  I turned on the heat & drove it home.  It drove fine when I took it to the shop (about 3-5 miles) the following Tuesday, didn't begin to overheat or anything.  The dealership told me that it was a stuck thermostat, which they replaced.  The next day they told me that during the road test it was hesitating & backfiring so they did a compression test & my head gasket is blown.  My question is should their original diagnostic test have shown that the gasket was blown & is it possible that the thermostat didn't need to be replaced after all?  The car was not hestiating or backfiring when I drove it home after I first noticed the high temperature, nor when I drove it to the shop.  

Answer
Sherry,

It is POSSIBLE that the shop blew the gasket when they test drove because of the thermastate sticking and it overheated it could have blew the head gasket.

It could have happen to you but it just so happen to occur when they drove it.  These senerios or both possible.

If they did the Diagnostic BEFORE they test drove it, then NO it would not have shown up on the test.  

If they did the test AFTER the test drive then YES it should have shown up.

The first thing you need to do is call the shop and see if they TEST DROVE it before they CHANGED the thermo.

If YES, you need to find out if that's when the gasket blew.

It's a win/loose situation.  They more than likely will not admit to it happening in their care.  They don't want to pay to have it fixed, however it will give you a better idea, as to who is really at fault.

If you HAVE THE VEHICLE in your possesion take it to another shop and have them check it out.  Try to take a MALE friend with you this time.

Unfortunately, there are some shops out there that just love women and thier pocket books.  My wife had the same thing happen to her.

Good luck

Darrel