Every car I've ever had (4, all used), as soon as I buy new tires, the car dies. I bought a very well maintained '80 volvo 242 with 140k miles on it, mostly because of the reputation for indestructability. I have really enjoyed the car (except for the average gas milage) and I'm sure it would have continued without any problems except that I moved to Wisconsin and, wanting to be safe, bought a set of michelin snow tires. Thus the curse was incured.

Here are the symptoms. Thursday I notice that the needle on the temp guage was a bit above the N. Usually it rides right at the bottom of the N. Hmmm. I thought, wonder what that is. Because I am very busy and because it only went a little above the N and not up to the H, I thought, I'll check it out this weekend. Then the next day my wife drove it to work and reported that the heater didn't get hot. Hmmm, I thought, I'm really going to have to take a look at that. Saturday we drove around, the car ran, fine with the needle a bit above the N on the temp guage, and the heater didn't blow hot. I'm thinking, thermostat or something. Heater valve.

So today I finally have time to try and figure things out and I open the hood and look into the coolant resevior and notice that it is empty. That makes sense. I think maybe there is a slight leak somewhere and maybe there is not enough hot water to get to the heater or something. I put a little more that a gallon of water and anti freeze into the resevoir. I start the car and look for leaks. Nothing in the engine compatment, the floor by the heater is dry, Where's the leak? I let it run for a while thinking that it would appear. While I'm waiting for it to appear, I go around the back to put the antifreeze back in the trunk and I see the exaust pipe spitting out water.

NEVER BUY NEW TIRES FOR AN OLD CAR.

What is this? Head gasket right? The car runs fine, although there is also a gasoline smell. Does that fit in anywhere? I don't see how it could be a cracked block or a cracked cylinder head. Is there anything else it could be? It's a head gasket right? How can I tell for sure? How hard on a scale of 1-10 is putting in a new head gasket? Does anyone want to buy a really nice 242 that spits water out the exhaust?

cw

madison, wi

mavarda@prodigy.net