In general, is it worth replacing the head gasket in my 2010 HHR LT with about 107,400 miles on it? I could probably get only about $2000 to $2400 on it in my local market, and it seems this replacement would cost nearly the entire value of the car.

 

Why replace it?

 

Depends on your intentions for the car, are you gonna keep it? Then yes! Are you gonna sell it , then no!
are you capable and have the tools? Or do you have to pay labour and machine shop fees?

 

Thanks, the problem is it heats up too quickly, especially in hot weather. But I think the best thing to do is to not drive it much and sell it in a few months.

 

Heats up too quickly, is it losing coolant? How was the head gasket diagnosis made?

 

Randy. Read their other thread about the car overheating. I suggested then that they could have serious engine damage.

 

"heats up too quickly" by itself does not suggest head gasket. Sounds like you are looking for an excuse.\ for a new car.

 

This is the one that was driven dry and severely overheated.

In such a case, if the head head gasket is now leaking, the head is surely warped, and it will need more than a head gasket.

How nice is the car? The question is, will properly repairing the car result in a car that’s worth more or less that the cost of replacement with a similar car?

But it’s not even clear what needs to be done.

I don’t understand what is meant by “heating up too quickly.” This needs clarification. Heating up promptly to the proper operating temp of 180-190 is good. Continuing beyond that is bad. The severe overheating probably ruined the thermostat. Was it replaced? From the prior thread, the OP doesn’t understand what a thermostat is or does.

 

Usually heating up quickly is from low coolant . Have you done a compression test to verify a bad head gasket?

 

*poof*