subegrl

94Loyale, you rock! Just cranked it up after overnight and checked the lines, the line under the fuel filter lines to intake manifold was indeed seeping. Tightened that up... hope that's all that's seeping and many thanks for your help and everyone's suggestions!!!

My 01 forester has a gasoline smell after I drive it - outside the car not inside the cabin. It has 245k on it. I'd like to look for the leak source before paying a mechanic - any suggestions where to check?

Well, on the suggestion of a friend I took off the hose that connects the radiator to the over fill tank, and blew it out, poured some water thru it to made double sure it wasn't clogged; reattached it and drove the car all weekend - about 400 miles - without the coolant level in the radiator dropping. hmmm. I can only wait and see I guess.

It's a 2001. It's never had a head gasket replacement. I've been good about adding the Subaru coolant additive when I've had the coolant changed.

Here's the story: Forester, 230k miles. I was driving in town this morning and noticed the engine temperature going up.I stopped and popped the hood and added coolant to the reservoir. Infact I added too much and realized it was full to the top. I called my brother and asked if I had messed anything up by doing that and he said not to worry about it. I got back in the car and drove it about a mile and it started trying to overheat again. Called my brother again and he said to twist the radiator cap open and drive it over the hill to his mechanic (I was in my old neighborhood which is where he still lives and works). Radiator cap is Subaru OEM btw and about a year old. I twisted open the cap and it spewed coolant everywhere. We were thinking bad thermostat. The thermostat on my car is underneath the car, making it a pain to replace. It didn't over heat as I drove it over the hill, again about 2 miles to the mechanic. I parked it and talked to the mechanic; he asked me to drive it around to the garage doors. When I drove it around it overheated (not to the red). He expressed surprise and said it got so hot so fast he suspected head gaskets. But - he put water in the radiator itself, not in the coolant reservoir, and it stopped overheating. He told me to drive it around 15-20 minutes and see if it did it again. I did and it has not done it again. I drove it in stop-and- go traffic, a brief stint on the interstate, and ran the air on high the whole time and the temp didn't budge. I am going to get it pressure tested but in the meantime, what do you think? Head gasket? Or was just that the fluid in the radiator was low and did my overfilling the reservoir cause this somehow prevent it from flowing into the radiator when it needed it (vapor lock?)

I have the new a/c idler pulley. Does anyone have instructions on how to replace it? What wrenches will I need? Thanks.

A friend and I just checked and he says it is the idler pulley. I have one ordered. Thanks so much guys!

Is the tensioner pulley in this picture? If it is I can't figure out which one it is. If it's not , does anyone know the part number so I can order it? Thanks so much everybody.

What exactly is the part that consists of the AC drive belt tensioner pulley on subarupartsforyou.com? Because if it's one bolt I figure I could give 'er a shot.

How can I test which one it is? If it's the AC drive belt pulley, how do I replace it or is it a job I should take it to a mechanic to do? edit - my friend who listened to it said he thinks it is the bearing not the pulley itself. make sense?

Thanks Rooster, does anyone know of online instructions on replacing the A/C Idler Pulley? I will probably have to take it in unless it's something easy for me to do and I am worried the mechs will try to insist replacing the compressor even though it is blowing cold air.

01 Forester, 218k miles. I hear a whining noise that appears to come from the A/C. It makes this noise even with the A/C off, though the noise intensifies with it on. The A/C still blows cold air. Do you think it's the compressor dying, or a bearing going bad... if it's a bearing would I need to have the compressor replaced? And what kind of costs am I looking at?

Any website links, tips or pics on this procedure would be most welcomed!

01 Forester, 200k+ miles One or more? of the bulbs? that illuminates the tachometer on my instrument panel has gone out. How do I fix this? Can I do this myself? What parts should I buy?

Sorry, 01 Forester. No, I have not seen puddles or smelled anti-freeze. The oil looks fine. I will try the radiator cap first.

I had my timing belt changed at 190k and I'm at 203k right now. Yesterday my engine temp went up (not to the red) and I checked and found that my radiator was about a half gallon low. I am hoping it is a leaking hose. What hoses are there and what should I get replaced, they are old. Please Lord not a head gasket.

Are the aftermarket clutch kits OK in terms of quality? I've asked for Subaru parts but I'm also in a time crunch so if the only local parts are aftermarket are they OK?

Does a 2001 Forester have a plastic or metal separator plate?

I'm gonna say the "D" word - dealer. If I took it to the dealer what could I expect for cost? Let me amend that by saying my dealer has, in the past, been fair with me and done the work correctly, they did my rear wheel bearings and a few 02 sensors and so forth.

What is a reasonable cost to expect from a shop replacing my clutch? It's a 2001 Forester. I want to know what a fair price for the job would be.

I guess I've been fortunate, but I've had good service from the local Subaru dealer.

Got the engine cleaned and found the leak! It is a valve cover gasket!

That's a crazy story. You could buy a nice used car for the money you've spent trying to fix this one! I'd get a lawyer and sue their butts...

What if it is just the separator plate leaking? Should I get the clutch then too or is the separator plate easy to get to and fix?

01 Forester, 200k miles. Smelled oil and found I was at least 1 quart low. Got the oil changed and the mechanic said there is an oil leak, but the car needs to be cleaned up to see where it is coming from. He believes it is the rear main seal. So first I know I need to get the car underneath cleaned. And the engine compartment. IF it is the rear main seal, what then? I have a manual trans. and it is not needing a clutch yet. Can I get just the seal replaced w/out the clutch? Or go ahead and get it all done? It is the original clutch.