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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 31 of 41

#299 of 406 Re: Check Engine Light, Cruise Control Light, Brake Light [lauraanne] by kram5

Sep 29, 2011 (5:36 pm)

Replying to: lauraanne (Sep 26, 2011 6:39 pm)
Same thing here. 2011 Outback has 230 miles on it and was purchased 1 week ago. Mechanic did a "system reset." Got on the freeway and within 1 minute from leaving the dealer all lights that you mentioned in addition to AT Temp light were all back on. We were back to the dealer within 5 minutes. Have a loaner car for the evening. My gut says the mechanic and Subaru of America are clueless on how to resolve the issue. To say the least, not happy at all.

#300 of 406 Check Engine light and cruise control blinking/Whining noise when accelerat by subiegirl1

Oct 08, 2011 (2:54 pm)

Two weeks ago my check engine light and cruise control came on and was blinking. I thought I got air in my gas line because the low fuel warning light came on right before and I did some research and it was a common thing. So I reset it by unhooking the battery cables and tapped the brake three times. It has came on a few times after that but my research said this was a possibility until all the air was ran out. Today a whining noise is coming from the engine when I accelerate. I haven't experienced any loss of power or fluids leaking....so far. But I parked it as soon as I noticed the noise. I'm afraid it might be the Turbo. It has 77K miles. Any suggestions would help. Thanks

#301 of 406 Re: "Check Engine" light + flashing Cruise Control light = ? [dswiss] by subiegirl1

Oct 08, 2011 (3:16 pm)

Replying to: dswiss (Dec 07, 2007 11:01 pm)
What does an "emission control system problem" consist of?? =/

#303 of 406 Randomly overheating by subiegirl1

Oct 08, 2011 (3:29 pm)

I have a 98' Subaru Legacy GT with 270K miles. About 8 months ago my car overheated while sitting in traffic. When I squeezed on the tubing a gurgling noise happened like it was clogged. So I took it to a terrible mechanic to have the radiator flushed. Which they ended up breaking the radiator so I replaced it with an aftermarket one. Drove fine for about a month then suddenly overheated again. Thought it was the thermostat sticking so I replaced it. Ran fine for a week then suddenly overheated again. Noticed that there was air in the system so I let it out to the best of my abilities. Now when idling runs fine until I try to drive it then suddenly overheats but cools down when I stop and idle. I think it's something simple but am out of ideas.

#304 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [subiegirl1] by xwesx

Oct 10, 2011 (3:06 pm)

Replying to: subiegirl1 (Oct 08, 2011 3:29 pm)
Are all of these problems on the same car? If so, you have an aftermarket turbo on your Legacy?
 
The problem with your overheating is either head gaskets or water pump....

#305 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [xwesx] by fibber2

Oct 11, 2011 (6:30 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Oct 10, 2011 3:06 pm)
Nah, I think she's going thru Subi Hell right now with a 2005+ turbo (77k miles?) and a 1998 with 200+k miles.
 
The older one sure does sound like a HG problem given the air in the system, although checking the water pump is still a good idea.
 
Subiegirl - an emission systems problem is a rather broad brush description of every component and software that helps the engine run right and clean. Computer, fuel injectors, vapor recovery, airflow measurement, spark plugs - the whole works.

#306 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [fibber2] by xwesx

Oct 11, 2011 (8:31 am)

Replying to: fibber2 (Oct 11, 2011 6:30 am)
Ah, okay. Thanks for clarifying, Steve - I didn't catch that and just don't have the time to review.
 
If the turbo car is throwing a code, now's the time for a diagnostic tool to help point us in the right direction. I certainly wouldn't want any whining sounds with a turbo mounted onto the engine, either!

#307 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [subiegirl1] by johnsub01

Oct 13, 2011 (11:59 am)

Replying to: subiegirl1 (Oct 08, 2011 3:29 pm)
I just fixed this exact problem I was having with my 01 Subaru Outback VDC. I believe you still have air in your radiator cooling system. You need to burp your system again believe it or not and it may take several times to get all of the air out.
 
After the car is cool, take the radiator cap off and start the car. Let it run until it warms up so the fluid flows. Keep fluid in your reserve tank because as the air burps out of your radiator the fluid will back fill from the reserver tank. Check it every day for a while.
 
I had my thermostat replaced three weeks ago and everything was fine until this week. I burped the system and it gurgled for 1.5 minutes. It sucked in more than half of the reserve tank fluid. Everything is good now. I probably did not have a bad thermostat in the first place.
 
Two ways to check if you have a head gasket problem - check reserve tank fluid and oil; Smell reserve tank fluid. If it smells like exhaust or fuel there may be head gasket problem. Check your oil to see if there is water in it. Also indicative of a failing head gasket.
 
Typical HG problems occur on 1996 - 1998 models. It was fixed after that I've been told.

#308 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [johnsub01] by xwesx

Oct 13, 2011 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: johnsub01 (Oct 13, 2011 11:59 am)
Unfortunately, the problem was very common on the 2.5L engine all the way up through 2002 (and even a little later). Problems on more recent models still exist, but are not as widespread due to revised gasket material and the requirement by Subaru to have "stop leak" in the coolant as a matter of course.
 
It has never been a problem on the 3.0L and 3.6L H6 engines.
 
As far as the radiator goes, for a while there was a "burp plug" on the top of the radiator near where the upper radiator hose enters the unit. That is good to remove when trying to get the air out. On newer models, the shape of the radiator was revised to make the cap the highest point, with the rest of it sloping toward the cap.
 
Parking on an inclined surface (with the nose up) or on automotive ramps will help as well.

Messages Page 31 of 41

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