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1996 Subaru Legacy Outback overheating

41 messages,  Last post on Aug 30, 2010 at 10:04 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

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

Messages Page 4 of 5

#28 of 41 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Wagon [madrona1] by xwesx

Mar 29, 2010 (11:54 am)

Replying to: madrona1 (Mar 28, 2010 7:27 pm)
White smoke, loud pop, rough idle.... I'd say the car either blew a head gasket, threw a rod, or something similar. White smoke means there is significant coolant getting into the cylinder(s), so that is a real problem. I think I would label this one as a catastrophic failure.
 
It could be related to the fix, but it is really hard to say. More likely is that you had a head gasket issue (that caused the overheating) and it was misdiagnosed as the water pump. If so then that work essentially did nothing to address the root problem.

#29 of 41 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Wagon [xwesx] by madrona1

Mar 29, 2010 (5:25 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Mar 29, 2010 11:54 am)
Thanks, turns out it was the starter... it went out with a bang!

#30 of 41 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Wagon [madrona1] by xwesx

Mar 30, 2010 (9:14 am)

Replying to: madrona1 (Mar 29, 2010 5:25 pm)
Really.... well, that is a first!

#31 of 41 HELP by twinpeekz

Apr 24, 2010 (7:36 am)

now that the weather is getting warmer my car overheated last week. replaced the thremostat yesterday and it ran fine. went to the store today and it overheated again. dont know what is wrong. please help.

#32 of 41 OEM Thermostat is a MUST by bigdadi118

Apr 24, 2010 (2:37 pm)

Subaru's thermostat is unique and aftermarket TStat won't meet Subaru's spec on Open / Close ... be sure to buy the factory TStat.
 
Radiator cap is cheap, replaced with a new one also.
 
Coolant goe through heater core. If there is H.C. problem then it'll block the flow of coolant, thus overheat. I think there is a by-pass short-cut the coolant to flow back without get into cabin heat sys to pinpoint this rpoblem. Use hand to feel warm and cold of hoses might tell also.

#33 of 41 96 subaru legacy outback by doc54

Jul 21, 2010 (3:38 pm)

so, what a nightmare, three different foriegn garages and one dealership and still over-heats!!!!!!!!!
 
New radiator, waterpump, thermostat, head gasket and all the other stuff that a dealership does when replacing gaskets. Cost at dealership in S. Carolina $2o22.47 and still overheats-Great hey?
 
Overheated leaving the dealerhip about 25 miles away after being on the highway, got off the expressway and temp guage went sky high, called dealership and they recommended getting a new thermostat. Still overheats.
 
Anyway, do not want to put much more money into it with almost 200.000 miles. Good enough to run wife to work about two miles each way. Still feel like i was burnt.
 
Auto Zone worker felt it might be a hairline crack in the head or block and when it gets hot the crack opens up, dispells the fluid and sucks air and gets hot. When cold crack closes and i end up adding anti-freeze. Damn and i love the handling but probably won't get another one...

#34 of 41 Re: 96 subaru legacy outback [doc54] by xwesx

Jul 21, 2010 (4:33 pm)

Replying to: doc54 (Jul 21, 2010 3:38 pm)
The dealership did the head gasket work , it still overheats, and they will not warrant the repair? That sounds suspicious to me and I would contact Subaru of America about it.

#35 of 41 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback overheating [xwesx] by kidali

Aug 03, 2010 (11:10 am)

Replying to: xwesx (May 22, 2009 2:47 pm)
Out of curiosity, how much did it cost to have the head gaskets replaced?
Mine seems fine at the moment, but at 206,000 km, I'm a little worried (97)

#36 of 41 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback overheating [kidali] by xwesx

Aug 03, 2010 (11:51 am)

Replying to: kidali (Aug 03, 2010 11:10 am)
I replaced the head gaskets myself; the total cost was about $550, which included a new timing belt and pulleys (the lion's share of the expense). I think I estimated, at the time, that the work for me was about 18 labor hours. Commercially, I think full (both) head gasket replacements tend to run $1600 to $2000.

#37 of 41 Re: HELP [twinpeekz] by bigdadi118

Aug 28, 2010 (2:09 pm)

Replying to: twinpeekz (Apr 24, 2010 7:36 am)
Thermostat has to be OEM because Subaru one is unique that aftermarket T-Stat is not same. Make sure you installed the OEM one.

Messages Page 4 of 5

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