Volvo Repair: 940 Volvo No Heat, cylinder head gasket, dimauro

Question
Hi Roger,

    I've got a 1993, 940, no turbo.  Lately the car has no heat unless the dial is turned all the way up.  Yesterday the car overheated.  A repair man checked the car and determined radiater fluid is entering a cylinder and burning off. I was down about a gallon of antifreeze.  He recommends a new cylinder head gasket to fix the problem.  The car has 190,000 miles, and lately it's needed alot of repair,(new fuel pump, new hub left front wheel,muffler, and I should change the timing belt and  maybe replace the front pads and rotors, jobs I can do.  Oh yeah, I also replaced the radiator last summer.  The bill for the head gasket may come close to $1000.  I always think that overheating is one of the worst things that can happen to a car.  I am afraid if I go ahed with this repair the car might continue to be a problem.  I'm wondering if the car is no longer worth putting money into, or if this last repair might keep it running well for another few years.  Any thoughts on the head gasket job, and the odds of getting the car back to reliability given its recent problems.  Thanks,  Donald DiMauro  

Answer
Donald, First, how badly did the car overheat?  if it was in the red for a while then there is a chance that the head is warped.  what is this man charging you for?  Sounds like the estimate is way high.  That should only be a $600 job.  If he is sending the head out to be resurfaced then there is where the extra costs may be.  He should only charge you for the timing belt and seals since they have to come off anyway to do the job.  That car is still by far the best Volvos out there.  I would keep it on the road because then you may be forced into driving these newer garbage made Volvos like the S80.  Take care.  Roger