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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

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

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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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Messages Page 617 of 1929

#6158 of 19283 Coolant leaking from head gasket? by drgon

Jan 19, 2006 (11:01 pm)

Hello,
My Outback wagon (2002) got an accident two month ago and fixed (body work, replace radiator). After repair, I found coolant level in the coolant tank was decreased and smelled coolant burning. I brought it back to bodyshop and he said leaking from the upper hose between radiator and engine. So, he fixed it and test drove it and then said no problem. But, it wasn't. Happen again. Brought back again. Blame hose again and install new hose. I was nervous so check coolant level everyday after that. And I found it decreases again!! (but much lesser than last time). Brought car back again. Now, he changed the story. The leaking is from engin e head gasket. He called my insurance company and, after inspection, the insurance told me it seems not related with the accident. So, they don't want pay. They also said that they contacted several Subaru dealerships to ask whether this could be happen without accident and some of dealers told them it could be happen between 60,000 and 80,000 M (my car has 60K). Is it true?
Now, they say it would be possible that head gasket blown-up could be caused by driving a car after accident (I drove back to my house (0.2 miles) and towed to bodyshop). But there was no sign of overheating when I drove my car back to home (no change of temperature gauge, no leaking of coolant on the scene of accident). Also, I drove my car around 500 miles after the first repair. So, my question is if head gasket was the problem in the accident, the car has no problem for driving of 500 miles after that? I heard that, if head gasket is leaking, oil and coolant can be mixed and get into inside of cylinder and make some symtoms and engine failure. But I have had no problem to drive my car. Coolant can be leaked to outside of engine?

#6159 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [drgon] by xwesx

Jan 20, 2006 (11:14 am)

Replying to: drgon (Jan 19, 2006 11:01 pm)
Interesting situation.... and remarkable timing if the two events were not related, but it IS possible that the head gasket leak is unrelated. If it is leaking toward the outside of the engine, that is better than leaking in! If the car did not overheat, then the accident was likely not the cause. But, if the coolant level fell dramatically then or when the upper radiator hose was leaking, then there could have been hot spots due to air pockets without the temp guage registering an overheat situation and THAT could have popped the gasket seal.
 
Anyway, I think that there is a TSB out there for at least part of the 2002 model year. Some of the other folks here can give you more info on that and perhaps you can get the car's gasket repaired under warranty.
 
Good luck!

#6160 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [drgon] by xwesx

Jan 20, 2006 (11:17 am)

Replying to: drgon (Jan 19, 2006 11:01 pm)
Also, I am wondering if the gasket was not leaking prior to the crash and you just did not notice it at the time because you were not paying as close of attention before the damage as after (or the leak was not as bad at that point!).

#6161 of 19283 legacy wagon sunroof fuse by ron539

Jan 20, 2006 (11:52 am)

I have a 1994 Legacy wagon. the sunroof does not open when I push on the switch. Cannot locate the fuse . Anyone know where it is located.
 
Thanks in advance.

#6162 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [drgon] by demonscooby

Jan 20, 2006 (12:12 pm)

Replying to: drgon (Jan 19, 2006 11:01 pm)
I just had my head gaskets replaced. My car is a 98 so there really isn't anything in place by subaru for me, but if you car has the 2.5 SOHC, try e-mailing subaru directly through their site and ask them about the WWP-99 Service Campaign. It covers 2.5L SOHC engines from 99-02 with external head gasket leaks. The tried to help me, but my leak is enternal and the car has 75k. The campaign covers cars up to 8 years or 100k miles, so it's worth a try. good luck

#6163 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [drgon] by fibber2

Jan 20, 2006 (12:22 pm)

Replying to: drgon (Jan 19, 2006 11:01 pm)
2002 is a 'difficult' year. Subaru claims that the problem was largely solved by then, so WP99 only covers part of that year with the extended (100k) warranty. The rest of the cars only have the standard powertrain warranty of 60k miles. Hopefully you are either at and not substantially over 60k, or your car falls into the WP99 segment with the extended coverage.
 
I contend that their data is flawed, give cars like mine that blew a HG at a lowly 15k miles!
 
Steve

#6164 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [fibber2] by locke2c

Jan 20, 2006 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: fibber2 (Jan 20, 2006 12:22 pm)
I contend that I'm not sure the problem is really fixed in >2002, it might just be that those cars haven't yet accumulated enough miles to start blowing headgaskets in large numbers yet!
 
~Colin

#6165 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [xwesx] by drgon

Jan 20, 2006 (4:58 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 20, 2006 11:17 am)
Thanks for your advice.
I purchased the car a week before the accident and paid close attention when bought it and during that week (I drove 400 miles in one week) since my car has half-warranty from the dealership (3K/3 mo), I tried to checkup everyday to repair it when it happend before warranty expire. And,after the first repair from the bodyshop, I smelled coolant burning when stopped at red right but no smell during running. However, no smell at all before accident. So, I am pretty sure there is no leaking before the accident.

#6166 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [locke2c] by ateixeira

Jan 20, 2006 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: locke2c (Jan 20, 2006 2:47 pm)
I think we would have observed a pattern of failures by now...but I may have just jinxed our 2002 Legacy.
 
-juice

#6167 of 19283 Re: Coolant leaking from head gasket? [drgon] by xwesx

Jan 20, 2006 (5:50 pm)

Replying to: drgon (Jan 20, 2006 4:58 pm)
Purchased only a week before?! Bum deal! I thought that only happened with NEW cars.... Well, then it may or may not be somewhat related to the accident. Tough call on this one, but I would definitely pursue the 1-800-SUBARU3 route as those darn head gaskets are certainly a weak point on the 2.5L ('96 to '02, anyway).

Messages Page 617 of 1929

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