Ask the Car People.SM


Subaru Legacy/Outback Wagons Maintenance & Repair

8644 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 4:04 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Wagon

Messages Page 799 of 865

#7974 of 8644 Re: 2004 Outback HeadGasket [tomr] by rmstaj6

Feb 02, 2009 (11:16 am)

Replying to: tomr (Jan 23, 2009 6:50 pm)
We have a 2004 Outback and just discovered the same problem. Head gasket leak on drivers side. Had an appointment at the local Subaru dealership this morning. Over the phone they said it would be covered under warranty because we only have 58k miles on it. When they ran the vin this morning and discovered original owner purchased the car in 2003 they said we were not covered. They gave us a phone # for Subaru and sent us on our way. Any suggestions before we make this call to negotiate the repair with them?

#7975 of 8644 Re: 2004 Outback HeadGasket [rmstaj6] by tomr

Feb 03, 2009 (9:57 am)

Replying to: rmstaj6 (Feb 02, 2009 11:16 am)
After explaining to the Subie Rep about the known headgasket problems on the other 2004 Outbacks, I was offered $500. It was the dealership that negotiated for me. Maybe you can try another dealership and explain to them before you go. I found the Subaru Rep that I talked to very difficult to negotiate with. I suggest you try and find another Subie dealer feel them out before calling Subaru Rep.

#7976 of 8644 Re: 2004 Outback HeadGasket [tomr] by ted55

Feb 03, 2009 (10:50 am)

Replying to: tomr (Feb 03, 2009 9:57 am)
Why don't you do what I did when the transmission in my 2000 Outback died with only 50K on the car - I checked through all the forums and found a rash of people with the same problem which (in my opinion) constituted a factory defect. I was offered a rebuild for $2K or a new trans for $4K. I called Subaru N.A. direct, asked to speak with a manager and after I threw the words "class action suit" around a few times along with the URLs of the sites with the other victims of this "defect", I was quickly offered a new trans for $2K. They delivered the trans to my dealer, installed it and guess what - it too had a problem. After still more haggling, I was offered another new trans for $1K. It has been problem free ever since. It just seems to me that I'm constantly reading about head gaskets going on these cars and when it affects so many vehicles, this is not a coincidence but rather a "defect" and should be handled accordingly. Remember - "the squeaky wheel.............

#7977 of 8644 Re: 2004 Outback HeadGasket [ted55] by gjksn

Feb 04, 2009 (10:17 am)

Replying to: ted55 (Feb 03, 2009 10:50 am)
I'm confused. From reading this forum, I'd come to understand that this head gasket problem had been remedied beginning with the 2003 model year. Now, it sounds as though it persists beyond 2003. I'm concerned, because I have a 2003 Legacy wagon with 46K-47K miles. Can't decide if I should keep it beyond the expiration of my Subaru Gold 7 year extended warranty later this year or replace the car before that. I'm not mechanically inclined and hate car problems which is why I switched to Japanese cars after years of unreliable VWs.

#7978 of 8644 Re: 2004 Outback HeadGasket [gjksn] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Feb 04, 2009 (10:48 am)

Replying to: gjksn (Feb 04, 2009 10:17 am)
This might help clear things up for you:
 
Subaru Head Gasket Problems

#7979 of 8644 Head gasket by mdgirl

Feb 05, 2009 (3:00 pm)

We had the head gasket replaced in our 2004 outback. While they were replacing it we had the timing belt and a few other things done, since they were already in there. Do they take the engine out of the car when they do this? And if so... is it usually done thru the top or by taking out the drive shaft and dropping the engine out? Thanks

#7980 of 8644 Re: Head gasket [mdgirl] by xwesx

Feb 05, 2009 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: mdgirl (Feb 05, 2009 3:00 pm)
The work can be done with or without the engine out. My preference is to pull the engine, which comes out the top. I am really not sure whether shops typically leave the engine in.

#7981 of 8644 2005 Taillights out by orangelebaron

Feb 07, 2009 (10:23 pm)

I got pulled over twice last year for two separate brake light bulbs burnt out. Thought I'd be ok for awhile with two new bulbs. There is NO bulb out indicator on this car... so how will I know?
 
Anyway... pulled over AGAIN!!!!!! tonight. BOTH TAILLIGHTS OUT this time... but the brake lights work!!!! WHAT is GOING ON with this car?
 
Anyone know why the taillights are out?

#7982 of 8644 Re: 2005 Taillights out [orangelebaron] by xwesx

Feb 09, 2009 (9:45 am)

Replying to: orangelebaron (Feb 07, 2009 10:23 pm)
No; that blows me away! I have never had a tail light go out on any of my Subaru vehicles. Well, no, I take that back. I had one go on my '96 Outback, but that was at about 180,000 miles, with lights used every time the vehicle is on.
 
I suspect you either have an over-voltage situation or some other electrical curiosity, so you may have an isolated problem.

#7983 of 8644 Re: 2005 Taillights out [orangelebaron] by jay_24

Feb 09, 2009 (12:01 pm)

Replying to: orangelebaron (Feb 07, 2009 10:23 pm)
Are your headlights on? Might sound like a silly question, but on a Subie (at least older ones) With just the daytime running lights the tail lights are not on. If your driving in town its sometimes hard to notice that the headlights are in the "off" position, becausse the daytime running will appear bright enough if there are a lot of street lights.
 
I caught myself doing that when my 2001 OB was new. Since then I just leave the head lights in the on position.

Messages Page 799 of 865

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement