sparklemotion

99 OBW MT - Oil separator plate (or something like that) @ 80k. Viscous coupler @ 115k (my fault probably, I didn't know e-brake slides were bad for the unit). Brakes & head gasket @ 130k. Alternator/batter & slave/master cylinders @ 140k. That's about it really. Current mileage is 150k + (tough to tell for sure since the speedo/odo cuts out on occasion).

Yes it can be - that's almost exactly when I replaced my original (on a 99 OBW). Meant to do it earlier...but things happen. Mechanic said it didn't look too bad when he pulled it either.

How does that screw up a VC? I've had to replace one in my 99ob but didn't know why. I'm sure I've done a few handbrake maneuvers over the years.

I've had good luck with Scanwest in Greenwood (they just do Saabs and Subes). I would not go to Carter for anything.

I had similar damage to the right front of my 99 OBW - it was caused by a 4 Runner hitting me at approx. 25 mph. I was almost stopped by the time of impact. Airbag did not deploy (thank god).

So I just got the car back from the shop with a new headgasket set, timing belt, water pump, etc. Total was $1,800. Thanks again to everyone who contributes on this board - you saved me big, big money.

Nope. Prices specified were $600 to tear down the engine to determine what the problem is, plus $2200 to replace the headgaskets if that was the problem, plus $800 to put in a new timing belt (told me there was no savings in doing the timing belt at the same time as the headgaskets). If it needed new heads it would be significantly more (amount not specified). Then with these dollar amounts floating around he said they would accept it as a trade-in pre-repairs. See why I'm a little skeptical of the motives here?

Well I won't know for sure until this week - but it sure sounds like the headgasket problem experienced here by too many. The work is not being done at Carters, as the $3600 they would have charged me to do the headgaskets and change the timing belt seemed just absurd.

I doubt the service guy I dealt with particpates on this board, as he told me the hydrocarbons in the coolant were just as likely due to a bad head or block problem as a head gasket. That's even after I told him it has never overheated. But before he offered to trade my car in (pre repairs) on a new one.

to all those who provided info on the 2.5 ph 1 headgasket issue over the past year. I discovered this board this last weekend and it has saved me several thousand bucks in overcharges at the minimum. For any owners in Seattle, I highly recommend not using the service dept. at Carter Subaru - especially if you profess to not know a whole lot about cars.