kimkathan

We have an answer: Was getting to my last hope, herd a sound like a metal band banging around. Decided to look at the water pump....the internal impeller was loose, unlevel and didn't turn easily. Replaced it with another one, seems to be working fine so far for 2 days now. Hopefully things will continue this way.

UPDATE: Still no answers! Replace the radiator, headgaskets, new heads. Still will overheat when worked (no mud now, but will do it going up hills). Had a funnel in the radiator to top off fluids, had some excess water in the funnel (approx 2") When pushing down on the throttle up to around 3000-4000 RPm and holding it there for a while, several very tiny bubbles come up in the water, when the throttle is released, some larger bubbles come up. When the cooling fans come on, the water level goes down quite quickly, but when they go off, the water comes back up in the funnel. Almost wonder if the water pump is malfunctioning. the lower radiator hose does become hot though. Could it be a cracked block? Does anyone know of a way to find out? I have spoken with several mechanics in the area and had a few look at it, their first thoughts were radiator and headgaskets as well, but now are toatlly stupmed as well. Hate to give up on the car, as body is in good shape (solid and minimal rust) and milage is only 160,000. Can't complaine on what I've gotten out of it thought over the past 3 years, just think that it should have many thousand more left in it.

Does anyone have any ideas for a 1990 Legacy SW that has been overheating when it has to "work". Over the past 3 months it has periodically overheated for just a moment, maybe 3 times when going over a mountain or through a snow drift(normal temp, then spikes to overheated, shut off and let it set a minute, then it's fine for another month or so) last week while going through the mud (yes it's mud season here in VT now) it spiked again, this time it didn't go down,. Got out, and the fluid had backflowed into the resevoir tank, but there was still coolant in the radiator. Nursed it home (2 miles), and drove it around the block later (5mi) as long as it's on the pavement it's fine and even in the mud sometimes then all the sudden when you least expect it, it spikes again. We just changed the headgaskets in Sept, and the block at that time came back fine. Put in a new water pump in Jan. changed the thermostat 3 times now thinking that it was sticking, changed the lower radiator hose, as last week when it did it around the house the lower hose was sucked in tight right after it overheated. Flushed the radiator and put in some BARRS seal, Took the thermometer out of the coolant pipe between the heads and changed that, both fans are turning when up to temp. Yesterday we took the thermostat out and ran it to see what it would do, ran it through the mud, up hills for over 20 min. It would go from cool to normal and soemwhere in between but never overheated. We're getting a little miffed at this, have also taken it to a mechanic and he has no idea. Next thing is to change the radiator and then after that is to a Subaru dealer, but they are almost 2 hours away. Heater has been working fine other than when it overheats, or when the thermostat is out. Is there any way of testing to see if it could possibly be the head gasket again? Last time it was REAL apparent, coolant out the exhaust and antifreeze smell, nothing like that at all now.