Expert: Sean Halliday - 2/10/2009

Question
My car doesn't technically overheat, it gets up very close to the red.  When I am driving on the interstate it is fine, but when I slow down or come to a stop, it heats up, the minute i take off again, the needle comes down.  I also feel and hear a noise through the floor board and brake pedal.  If it is in fact the head gasket, what is the average price for parts and labor for this to be fixed?

Answer
The head gasket is the last resort to fix and it could be the fans are not working.Watch and see they do come on when the engine reaches normal temp.If not,it could be the sensor or fan switch.Could also be low coolant,sticking thermostat.On the cost of head gasket replacement,it averages around $600,to $1000,for your car.