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Subaru Legacy/Outback "Check Engine" Light Problems

406 messages,  Last post on Mar 07, 2013 at 11:38 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

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

Messages Page 16 of 42

#145 of 406 2003 Outback - engine overheating by mburns01

Nov 22, 2009 (4:52 pm)

I have a 2003 Outback with the 2.5L engine with 90k miles. At 75k the head gasket blew and based on other posts this issue is not uncommon. Now at 90k the engine keeps overheating when I go above 45 mph. I've had the radiator, water pump and thermostat changed based on my mechanics advice. Even after changing all these parts the engine is still overheating. The mechanic was stumped and called in Subaru and they said that they have seen some cases like this and that the engine is shot and needs to be replaced. I've never heard anything like this, the car idles and runs fine at slow speeds but once I start to cruise at speeds over 45 mph the engine will overheat. Has anyone else heard of a similar case?

#146 of 406 Re: 2003 Outback - engine overheating [mburns01] by ateixeira

Nov 23, 2009 (9:42 am)

Replying to: mburns01 (Nov 22, 2009 4:52 pm)
If the engine overheated badly, it can happen. The heads can get warped.
 
If it's not severe, they may be able to machine the heads so they're flat and true again.
 
This would be the case for any alloy block (as opposed to heavy cast iron).

#147 of 406 Re: CEL...2005 Outback XT [ateixeira] by cindy47

Nov 25, 2009 (9:14 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 27, 2009 1:41 pm)
Subaru did pay for the turbo. I had to pay for the labor. Since the turbo failed, I did have some metal shavings in the engine that left some scratches. But the dealer felt that I didn't have to do a major engine overhaul. The car is running great right now, but I fear that the catalytic converter will go next or something else. I've got 67K miles on this car...I was thinking I should probably replace the car in the spring -but I really don't want to. What are your thoughts?

#148 of 406 Re: CEL...2005 Outback XT [cindy47] by ateixeira

Nov 25, 2009 (10:05 am)

Replying to: cindy47 (Nov 25, 2009 9:14 am)
It will probably be fine if the dealer thinks so, but if it makes you worry about it all the time, then go ahead and trade it in, because it's not worth the stress.

#149 of 406 Check Engine Light Throwing P1502 Code by katielady22

Dec 15, 2009 (10:46 am)

Hi all,
  
I posted this in another thread, but I've got an update and wondered what some of you thought.
  
About 3 weeks ago, my "Check Engine" light came on in my 1997 Subaru Legacy. The day after the light came on, my temperature gauge in the car started slowly climbing, as if the car was overheating after 20 mins of driving. I turned on the heat and the temperature gauge went back to normal. I took it to have the code read, and it threw the P1502 code, which is for a radiator fan function problem. However, the temp. sensor and both the fans are functioning properly. I've checked the fluids, I don't seem to be having any leakage, and I just had the car tested for hydrocarbons in the cooling system and it came back clean.
  
The car is fine on long drives and on the freeway but starts to overheat when I’m idling or in stop-and-go traffic. I was concerned that this might be a head gasket issue, but all the posts I've read about HGs have the car overheating at higher temps. Any thoughts? A friend suggested a flush, so I'm going to try that next. I'm loathe to take it in and rack up $$$ while someone digs around trying to figure out what the issue is.
 
Thanks!

#150 of 406 Re: P0328/P0420 [kks5] by doggrandma

Dec 15, 2009 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: kks5 (Sep 16, 2009 3:26 pm)
Do you live in an area where you have to buy fuel with ethanol? When I stopped using that and went back to "real" gas, our cars are performing much better and getting better gas mileage.
 
Wonder when this ethanol boondoggle will end. Probably not until all our engines are destroyed.

#151 of 406 Re: P0328/P0420 [doggrandma] by xwesx

Dec 15, 2009 (4:56 pm)

Replying to: doggrandma (Dec 15, 2009 3:17 pm)
It's a shame, really. What a waste of corn.

#152 of 406 Re: CEL...2005 Outback XT [cindy47] by bobny57

Dec 26, 2009 (8:52 am)

Replying to: cindy47 (Nov 25, 2009 9:14 am)
Thank you Cindy for the warning about the turbo. My experience after six years and 36,000 miles has been extremely positive and I'm going to hold my subie until it reaches at least 100,000 miles.

#153 of 406 2001 Outback Check Engine Light by birdlandfan45

Dec 27, 2009 (7:46 pm)

This forum has been very enlightening. I have no issue with paying for maintenance but these repeated trips with no resolution and the "deer-in-the-headlights" expressions are getting old. The catalytic convertor was replaced at 105,000 along with the two related sensors. The CEL typically comes back on within three weeks of service. Dealership has checked the codes and reset things 5 or 6 times only to have the CEL illuminate again and again and again. It's been a good car other than this annoying issue.

#154 of 406 Re: P0328/P0420 [doggrandma] by morin2

Dec 28, 2009 (3:01 pm)

Replying to: doggrandma (Dec 15, 2009 3:17 pm)
If you've found one of the few places in the US selling real gas, please post the info on www.pure-gas.org. WI has a fair number of stations selling real gas, followed by 10 stations in AL and 9 in SC. Most states have none, a few have 1 or 2 stations. If the pump is not labelled, you cannot assume that its ethanol-free. Many states do not require pump labelling and you don't know what you're getting unless you test it yourself.

Messages Page 16 of 42

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