Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

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

You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.

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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.

#1920 of 19283 Oil Leaks by mjw1948

Nov 09, 2003 (9:43 am)

I just brought my 1997 Legacy Outback to the dealer for an oil change. The car has 83,000 and just over the last week, I noticed some small oil stains on the driveway.

The dealer recommendations---Norwood Subaru in Massachusetts were:

Oil pumpseal leaks $359
Both valve cover gaskets leak oil $397
PCV Plate/rear mainseal leaks oil $680
Both frt axles outer boots dry cracked $550

This from a car that was serviced regularly at the dealership and had no previous problems. What I do not understand is how a supposedly reliable car springs oil leaks everywhere seemingly overnight. Should I go ahead and make these repairs or could the engine experience these oil leaks again? Also, I have been advised that the prices quoted me by Norwood Subaru are very high. I have not gone back to them yet but I plan on asking them for a detailed breakdown of parts/labor.

Any advice would be appreciated and if anyone knows of a good independent Subaru repair facility in the Boston/Norwood Massachusetts area I would appreciate hearing about it. I really cannot afford a new car at this time as I am paying for my new 2003 Legacy!

Thanks
MJW

#1921 of 19283 98 2.5gt sedan--problems by surf5

Nov 09, 2003 (12:30 pm)

Thought maybe someone might be able to offer suggestions. I have a 98 gt with 40k.

At 37.5k I had the normal service completed and also had the front bumper painted because of the low front end and a high curb encounter scraping the paint. After this everything seems to be breaking on the car. Right after the bumper was painted the car started to smell inside through the vent.

I called the dealer back immediately and they said it wasn't due to the paint and just drive it a while. After 2k of smell took it back in. They diagnosed a header gasket problem. They replaced the left header gasket and a rear engine oil leak. They also replaced the belts at the same time. The car now has a click in the engine which did not exist before. The dealer said it's nothing that they did and I probably didn't notice it before. They also can't hear it. It's loud in the morning having sat all night and it clicks when the accelerator is pressed. They think it is piston skirting and it's normal. That my car just wasn't showing it. They said all Subie's have it. If that was the case I would have never purchased the car.

Anyone had similar circumstances? I'm thinking had I not had the bumper painted I would had been fine. It's interesting to note that they painted right over the bumper including the air conditioning unit underneath the car. The dealer said that won't have any effect. Sometimes those things happen. Anyone have any ideas? Or know of a GREAT shop in Oregon to take a subie too? I'm tired of driving a car that sounds like a bike with cards in spokes of the wheels. This car use to be the best drive around and quiet. Now it's just plain noisy and I'm not sure what the next repair will bring. I'm not even sure the shop knows what it is doing. Truly frustrating.

#1922 of 19283 Bad news, worse news... by rsholland

Nov 09, 2003 (12:43 pm)

Our '01 Forester S Premium (w/52K on it) has been very noisy for some time now. I was told it was probably because the tires had feather-edged,thus causing the excessive road noise, but was told this is more of an annoyance than a safety issue, so we lived with it up until now.

Today I brought the car into Mr. Tire to get new tires, and also had it aligned (again!), figuring this would end my noise problems.

Wrong! It's till noisy, although not quite as noisy. I immediately went back to Mr. Tire only to discover, in addition to the old feather-edged tires (caused by poor alignment), I also have a bad right rear wheel bearing! Arrgh!

Now I've got to get that fixed too! This was one expensive weekend... So it looks like I'm off to my Subie dealer to get prices on this early this week.

Isn't this wheel bearing issue a common problem with Foresters? I think I heard Ken mention this a few times.

Bob

#1923 of 19283 Mark - by subaru_team

Nov 09, 2003 (1:27 pm)

With the vehicle being 6 years old and at that mileage - it might be a bit of a challenge to get financial assistance on these repairs. I'm assuming you do not have an Added Security agreement or it's expired. That being said, you do have something in your favor. You own two Subaru's and you have the dealer do routine services on the vehicle. Please ask to speak to the Service Manager and review your service history with him/her. Emphasize your loyalty to their facility and ask for a break on the repairs. They may come through for you. You can also call us (1-800-SUBARU3) to see if something can be done, but it isn't really likely unless you've had reported a concern during the warranty period. I am sorry your having all of this happen at once. I know that it's frustrating. There might be some leeway with the pricing related to labor. If the jobs are being charged out individually, it would be high. If they are already "in there" with the repairs, I'd suspect that the labor would be reduced. Let us know?

Thanks!

Patti

#1924 of 19283 K. S. - you should call us at 1-800-SUBARU3 or by subaru_team

Nov 09, 2003 (1:34 pm)

ask your dealer to set you up with the District Service Operations Manager on his next visit. The DSOM can check out the noise and see if it is the normal operating noise that we sometimes hear or if there is something more serious going on. The DSOM is a good technical resource.

Thanks!

Patti

#1925 of 19283 Bob - could you please call us once the dealer has by subaru_team

Nov 09, 2003 (1:36 pm)

confirmed the failure? I'm really booked up this week, but ask the Rep. to let me know that they've started the case and I'll see what I can do to make sure it's handled to your satisfaction. Sorry - lord - what a bunch of nasty things to happen to folks this weekend with their Subaru's!

Patti

#1926 of 19283 I am very impressed with the Subaru_team responce! by iggso

Nov 09, 2003 (4:27 pm)

I only wish my last manufacturer - Audi treated customers with same respect.

#1927 of 19283 Impressed by originalbitman

Nov 09, 2003 (6:15 pm)

iggso - I totally agree. It is so unusual to have a manufacturer (of anything) represented on a site like this. And from my personal experiences I can say that Patti puts in a 110%. I mean... look its Sunday night and she is hear helping folks out.

bit

#1928 of 19283 by sebberry

Nov 10, 2003 (1:24 am)

I have an appointment coming up for my 24,000KM service, and I have asked them to look at my rotors again. This will be the 4th set of rotors (front) 2nd on the rear, that this car has seen.

I asked the service advisor on the phone how the mechanics put the wheels back on, if they used an impact wrench or torque stick and he didn't know.

I will specify that they use a torque stick this time to put the wheels back on, but this is getting a little silly.

Is there any other "sport" rotor that I can specify that may be heavier duty?

Second: What advantage is there going to a synthetic oil?

For the record: Everything else with the car is great, I like the car a lot, and wouldn't buy anything else.

Thanks for the input.

#1929 of 19283 Bob, by georgeinmd

Nov 10, 2003 (8:39 am)

if you do an internet search, you'll find chapter and verse has been written on the rear wheel bearing problems; Subaru has recognized it; see http://www.endwrench.com/archive/syssteer.html

George

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