Just blew off my head gasket

[saab info]

Friday on the 13-11-09 driving home suddenly i heard a puffing noise and saw some white smoke from my back window .After 2-3 km i saw the temperature rise. Fell on the side and then the temperature went red . The upper hose from cooler to engine had split at length for about 25 cm . Naturally all the water was gone. I changed the hose filled some antifreese and tried to start the engine but no luck . While turning the engine i had bubbles from the expansion tank and the engine wouldnt start . I m expecting for the mechanic to open up to see but i expect a burnt out head gasket etc . The thing is that on the panel the red triangle is permanently on although there is water level and oil is O.K and i dont get any codes from OBD .How will i erase the red triangle signal because i think is working as a malfunction switch

By the way is it common after major repair if you have to machine the head cover that eventually will damage the turbo shaft because of contaminated oil

[Carson89]

What you just described is very similar to what happened to my 2000 9-5 9 months ago when it blew its head gasket. Only difference being I didn't get any white smoke out of the exhaust.

Generally speaking if you get a consistent stream of little bubbles in the expansion tank after the coolant system has been bled, its a head gasket and air from the cylinders is being forced into the coolant system.

I would suggest getting the cylinders pressure tested to check whether it is a head gasket or not.

As far as the warning triangle goes, I am not sure. Though you can pull the ECU fuse (No. 17 I think) and leave it for a minute or so which will reset the management system and should remove any error codes, etc.

Good luck with getting it fixed.