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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

19283 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 9:15 AM

You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, SUV


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Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 1929 of 1929

#19274 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [steve_] by hammerhead

Apr 30, 2013 (6:55 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Apr 30, 2013 4:31 pm)
My '99 just flew north of 210k. Had the HGs, timing belt, etc. done at 124K, about 20K before I bought it. Nice timing, huh?

#19275 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [girlcarbuilder] by sgloon

Apr 30, 2013 (8:50 pm)

Replying to: girlcarbuilder (Apr 30, 2013 3:55 pm)
So, do you think the "new" foresters will have the HG problem as well? Has the engine design been changed enough yet to avoid that problem?

#19276 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [hammerhead] by steve_ HOST

Apr 30, 2013 (8:58 pm)

Replying to: hammerhead (Apr 30, 2013 6:55 pm)
Better sell it Pauly- the timing belt will be coming due again soon .

#19277 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [steve_] by hammerhead

May 01, 2013 (7:56 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Apr 30, 2013 8:58 pm)
I did the math - not til 129K, 19K from now. Heck, that's maybe 2 years around here! Plus, we've got the '95 for the kids to share, so that will keep the miles down on the mom & dad fleet. And I'd much rather drive this one than one with too many gadgets... although financially, I should think about getting something a bit fresher & getting it paid for before I retire.

#19278 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [sgloon] by ateixeira

May 01, 2013 (8:08 am)

Replying to: sgloon (Apr 30, 2013 8:50 pm)
Well, we won't see any coolant leaks, because now the coolant no longer flows through the gaskets. The heads have separate cooling lines.
 
That also means the gaskets have far fewer holes and seams, so certainly the odds of failure are much lower.
 
Don't worry, we still have front and rear main seals to worry about.
 
Just teasing, no car is perfect. I'm sure Dodge and Honda owners would be delighted to get 160k miles out of their transmissions. $1300 repair bill they wish!
 
Per Steve:
 
He pulled a recent ticket and the bill was around $1,300. He typically doesn't see them until 160,000 miles or so though.

#19279 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [sgloon] by girlcarbuilder

May 01, 2013 (8:26 am)

Replying to: sgloon (Apr 30, 2013 8:50 pm)
Very good question......if you read that website link I sent, the answer could very well be no. Most of the units here have been hit with high usage until later in age. There is a lot on that link about oil changes and usage, not to mention other issues. Open road units here seem to pull 250K+ regardless of year which leads me to think their comments on that website have a lot of bearing. These issues come down to the H design and the materials of the HG itself. Basic nature of the beast! Time....will be the only indicator. It takes 20 years for an auto maker to get a good rep. Only a few bad years to get a bad rap! Ford for example would have to put out 20 years worth of good cars for me to even consider one of them. By then I may not even care about cars given my age!

#19280 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [ateixeira] by girlcarbuilder

May 01, 2013 (8:35 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (May 01, 2013 8:08 am)
So with this newer design we got rid of the possibility of sucking coolant, but now the only indicator of trouble will be increased oil consumption and blowby! Goodbye seals! Blow them all out so now we have to pull the engine to do a HG and replace all seals......not to mention the notorious oil galley! We now have no early warning feature! They must have hired some Detroit engineers!
 
Maybe we need to wait 20 years for Subaru! Then again, my new Toyotas are all plastic! I wonder if that plastic can be used to buy the next car! Charge it! Fake money for fake cars?

#19281 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [girlcarbuilder] by ateixeira

May 01, 2013 (8:59 am)

Replying to: girlcarbuilder (May 01, 2013 8:35 am)
I looked at the 2010 Siennas when they came out, and I'll keep my 2007, thanks very much. A lot of soft touch materials became hard plastic. The floor also is not longer flat.
 
Cost cutting, big time.

#19282 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [hammerhead] by steve_ HOST

May 01, 2013 (9:00 am)

Replying to: hammerhead (May 01, 2013 7:56 am)
Retirement? I see you segueing into the Chile/Lookout ski patrol scene full time.

#19283 of 19283 Re: 03-07 Forester Head Gasket Failures [steve_] by hammerhead

May 01, 2013 (9:15 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 01, 2013 9:00 am)
Retirement will mean just shifting gears (remember, I'm a stick guy) - something part-time, without the life-and-death component. And I'll stick around here & use the ski off-season to try to resurrect my long-dormant golf game. DW has a few years left before she's eligible to pull the pin, so there will be house-hubby duties as well.

Messages Page 1929 of 1929

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