ThosL

It was regularly maintained but the sporadic loss of power has stumped a number of garages.

We're in the Norwalk, CT area; by the way, I went down to AZ to get the CEL read, and what a crappy ride my sister has and the guy at AZ said it was too late for him to go you. On the highway, driving around with trying to get power out of it, it was very sporadic, even after the car warmed up fully. I have no idea what sensor is the issue. A friend of hers called with an Hispanic mechanic who comes to you to work, but you know how that would work out with the language barriers.

Thanks a lot for that information; the next step will be to get the codes which I will try to do later. It makes perfect sense that it is a sensor; my sister paid for a radiator flush which did nothing for the core problem. Mechanics may not know how to diagnose these problems.

I'll have to run it over to Auto Zone to check codes again. Is the engine temp. sensor an easy fix? Starter issue cost around $200 installed, Bosch rebuilt from Napa.

A number of mechanics have checked it out, none of them figured it out. Wires etc. have been changed out. Every single time it starts up, if you drive right out as soon as you go up a hill it loses power and the CEL flashes, happened to me yesterday on the way to the mechanic. I asked them to check it out, they said the codes would point in the right direction; unfortunately in many cases the codes don't nail down the cause.

Thanks for the advice; I dropped it off at my mechanic today and they are putting in a rebuilt Bosch from Napa. I also asked them to check on the flashing check engine light that happens every time when the car is run without being fully warmed up.

Thanks for the feedback. She has been having the problem nearly every day now. Yesterday at the Y a nice man recommended a mechanic she went to today who replaced one of the battery cables; it failed to start again later. AAA came when my disabled sister was looking at swimming suits and it didn't start, she does not have a cell phone. Someone called for her as has happened every time. Hopefully if I run the problems by my mechanic or a guy my brother knows they will get to the bottom of this.

Night and day difference; terrible, horrible ride with the broken spring and non-functioning strut. Now the ride is pretty smooth. I had contacted the highway department about the crappy roads and the state representative about the state roads (numerical).

I had the suspension fixed this week; turned out the spring also broke. I got a strut, spring, etc. for $50 for passenger side, installed, etc. for $80 plus tax.

Very sorry that happened, too bad it wasn't caught quickly, not sure that would have helped because lubrication protects in so many ways. I hope you find the best solution.

I was just looking at my sister's bill from Valvoline, instant oil change in Norwalk. $81.85; add ons were two 1157 light replacements and a drain plug gasket. Valvolline MaxLife 5 w 30 oil. Just crazy. I tell her over and over again she drives like "grandma Millie" why is she going there every 3 months at the longest?

https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2017/10/03/oil-change-pratfalls/

My disabled sister was at the local YMCA again today, came out and the car wouldn't start. Last week same problem, someone put the jumper cables on last week and it started. The battery is relatively recent from AAA. The next day AAA made a house call spoke to my sister and said it may be an electrical problem, the tow truck guy said he once worked at a Subaru shop. Today, same problem the brother's mechanic took her to the YMCA banged on the starter probably with a hammer and it started up. My sister thinks this is the end of the story, I think she may need a new starter. What are the best options at this point? Thanks.

Fairly common to the fill spout or top end to leak at some point, I think I may have that, I just don't fill it up; the last had that problem.

Junkyards are clearing out over half their yards and renting them out in this pricey part of CT; so they did not have them when I stopped in this week. So assuming the spring is still good maybe the mechanic will just to the strut for me; I'm hearing rattling metal when I go over bumps on the passenger side.

I have tried all of the stop leak products, email me if you want my experience.

i'm sorry to hear of your problem and hope it isn't a bad head gasket. Thankfully my 97 2.5 engine is running well; I bought the recommended leak fix with a minor issue. HG jobs are quite expensive so hope you don't need it.

This is a common defect, most of the ones I've had have had rusty latches. Hit with WD40 or PB Blaster?

I don't have much in the way of tools, no power tools or breaker bar, etc., but I appreciate the encouragement on do it yourself. I'll try to get to the junk vehicle place, $100 for a set of springs/struts if they are in good shape seems cheap, installation around $200 for the pair. I'm hearing clatter of loose parts in the front right unit.

I have been using the Walmart Supertech regular motor oil at around two and a half bucks, is this a decent oil? Also last oil change I added the Lucas stop leak product. https://www.google.com/search?q=SuperTech+10W30+Motor+Oil,&rlz=1C1AOHY_enUS711US716&ei=bTOzWaPgBYzZjwSVu7PwCQ&start=10&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=711 Thanks.

Here is a list of water pumps for my 2.5 Legacy: http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/subaru,1997,legacy,2.5l+h4,1269985,cooling+system,water+pump,2208 No significant pricing difference from the substandard to quality.

I checked around with a local junkyard, you can get full strut/spring assemblies for around $100 a pair, installation is a lot easier than just the strut.

I've been checking out Rock Auto for reasonably priced Subaru parts, I could have gotten a Bosch water pump for what I paid for a Carquest unit, only drawback is the shipping wait.

Glad to hear; the only place to go with stolen vehicles is either as a fake plate car or the chop shop, and used parts aren't worth that much.

I'd never do a loan or a big ticket purchase when it isn't hard for find Subarus under $3K that are fully serviceable and get you from point A to B readily.