My Volvo 960 was diagnosed with "traces of carbon monoxide showing up in tester."
"Coolant found in cylinders #2,3,4,5,6. Probable cause is either a cylinder head gasket leaking, cylinder head failure and/or fault in cylinder block coolant."

I am afraid of driving it, especially that a friend said I could damage the engine.

HELP, PLEASE!

 

You have to fix it before driving it.
Was it overheated?

 

I am not sure if the car overheated. I don't think so. Usually there's smoke that comes out of the hood when the engine overheats, right? There was no smoke.
I had the same mechanic shop for 33 years. When he retired this June he sent the records of all his customers to another shop. That's where I took my car.
They did work for $717.
The check engine light and radiator light came on again after I picked up the car the first time. I had to bring it back. They said that more repairs were needed that would cost $2,000+. The car is 20 years old. I asked to have the cost of the parts to be replaced and the cost of labour. The owner refused and demanded that I return the loaner and pick up my car, which I did on Friday.
Thank you for replying.

 

Your mechanic shop is not very good and even less ethical! You shouldn't spend $717 on whatever when there is another bigger problem which makes the car worthless! Yes, the head gasket is expensive on this car, and the car is not worth putting all that money into it.

What I'd suggest you do is use a product called Blue Devil Head Gasket repair. It is guaranteed to work and in the case you describe it works perfectly. Don't use the Pour N Go, use the full strength and follow the instructions to the letter. I have used it many times on cheap cars that were not worth spending a lot of money on. It is a bit of a procedure but any one with minor mechanical aptitude can accomplish it.
Good luck!

 

Oh, and as far as being safe to drive, probably not if coolant is entering the cylinders, it will overheat and cause more damage. And, no, a car doesn't have to billow steam to be overheating. And the head gasket can go even without overheating the engine...

 

I had surgery 12 days ago and I'm still in pain. Moreover, I cannot afford to buy another car now. My husband passed away almost 11 years ago and we used to buy used cars that had a full history from the mechanic shop we used for 33 years.
I have disputed the charges with AX for the exact reason you mentioned. The shop should not have done work for $717 if the car needed more costly repairs to be safe to drive. I have no other car and I am not feeling well at all.
Should I insist that they perform the work? I need a loaner if I cannot drive my car for necessities or doctors' visits.
It is widely known that mechanics take advantage of women. I don't know how to find another ethical, honest mechanic.

 

Regardless of what the outcome is with the shop and your $717. The 960 is dead.

You may want to look into Uber, Lyft, friends or families to get your rides you need.

 

Btw, it only has 137,000 miles. That's not a lot for a Volvo.

 

10 miles could be 10 miles too many if the the engine has an unknown coolant leak or any other cooling problem. Lack of cooling will kill the engine in no time. Sometimes there is smoke, lots of time there won't be any.

 

Mechanics take advantage of everybody, men and women. Your Volvo will be fine as long as you get somebody to perform the Blue Devil treatment I suggested.

 

Thank you Lev!

 

 

you need to post what was done for 717 and what is needed for the 2000.
where are you located