How to Repair a Blown Head Gasket

A blown head gasket means trouble for car owners. If your car overheats, the radiator hose explodes, you hear a bubbling sound coming from the radiator and it's not the radiator cap or you lose coolant without any visible leak, chances are it's your head gasket. Replacing a head gasket is a do-it-yourself job with the right tools and some experience getting underneath the hood of a car.

  • Disconnect the negative battery terminal. The battery terminals are located at the top of the car battery.

  • Take off the intake hose and the air box.

  • Remove the air conditioner compressor. You'll need to remove several bolts and lay the compressor to the side to get to the gasket.

  • Disconnect the water pump hose and then remove the alternator and set aside. You can rest the alternator on the radiator hose without completely removing the harness.

  • Drain the radiator and remove the radiator hoses. Disconnect the different lines that run to the air conditioner. The head gasket is now visible.

  • Pay attention to the head bolt tightening sequence, loosen the bolts on the head gasket accordingly and remove.

  • Clean the head and the bock thoroughly before putting on the new gasket. Your head may need machining if the fit is not perfectly flat.