Prauch007

I know the headgasket topic has been beat to death, but I have some different symptoms. 1998 Legacy OB 2.5. Temp was 10 degrees with light snow. Air in car never got warm or hot. Within 5 miles of driving at 45, temp gauge was maxed out. Shifted to neutral on a long down grade and was able to cool the engine a bit. When I got to work, coolant res. was FULL. Engine ran fine and I have NEVER had any hessitation or problems with power. Later this morning when the engine cooled. Coolant was back in radiator. Oil looks good. Ran the engine for 15 minutes at idle and engine temp went to normal range and eventually I had heat again. Sound like a stuck thermo? Water pump stuck? Head gasket slowly going? How long can I drive like this...it may be a while before my mechanic can get it in! Thanks for any advice... Paul in Homer, Alaska

After talking to my mechanic he was saying it could be the timing belt too. I guess I am bout due to change it with 95,000 miles on it! But he will be back in October and I have a list of problems for him! Minor oil leak, front bushings are worm and squeaky then this belt squeel! Will it never end! Thanks all! Paul

Yeah, the screach has turn pretty loud this morning. I am gonna call our one good Subaru place around here today. Problem is he takes all of September off. I just hope if it is a tension pulley, that it does not seize and then I am toast. Not sure, maybe somebody knows, if it is say, an accessory hose that runs say, just the A/C comressor, can the belt be removed till I can get the pulley replaced? Nor sure about the Air Suction Valve, but mine has def. changed to a squeal! Thanks for any advice. Paul

I guess I would say it was chirping cricket but now has turned into a constant squeal. Seems to be on the drivers side of the belt system. I cannot see a tension pulley on that side, just the compressor or alternator. I will have to look more. Thanks for the info. Wish some more engine diagrams and such were online for those of us without a Chilton's manual! Paul

Recently my 2.5 engine on my 98 Legacy Outback has started a squeak. Seems to come from the drivers side of the engine and only at an idle. Hit the gas, no more squeak. Drive down a hill, back it comes. More annoying then anything. The belt looks good, was replaced last summer. Engine is running fine. Could this be a sign something is giving up the ghost? Pulley too loose? Any ideas? Paul Homer, Alaska

Thanks for your help. I agree about the driving lights, they need to be higher. Wish I could just change the lens on the fog lights, but to no eval. Paul

Since the foglights on my 98 Legacy Outback are kinda a joke and only run with the main lights on (defeating the purpose) I was considering replacing the units with some bright beams for night driving. Has anyone had luck doing this and can recommend a type that will fit in the hole. I broke one of the lens on my fogs and it seems funny to buy a whole new unit if what I really need are super brights. Thanks, Paul Homer, Alaska '98 Legacy Outback

The CD player on my 98 Legacy died. Stereo still works fine. So now I am using my MP3 player, and have removed the CD player from the dash. WHAT do you call that little dash bin or storage shelf that came in cars without a CD player? I am scouring the internet for someplace to buy one but cannot figure on what it is called. I assume someone out there who bought a new stereo or a CD player might have one. Got any leads on a good Subaru online parts place? Thanks a bunch... Paul

I just wanted to put a final note on this cause I hate threads that just end with no conclusion...(for those of us that use them as a database!) Tire air pressure did not make all that much of a difference. I did rotate the right front and rear tire, but that too did not make a big difference. It is alittle better though. I may try and rotate the lefts to see of that helps, but really, my tires will need to be replaced at the end of this summer season anyway, so I will revisit the issue at that time or when she is back in the shop for other reasons (Heavens I hope not! hee hee) Thanks to all for the help and I am happy to find a very active and helpful Subaru forum! Paul

Thanks for all the advice... All tires are set to 30psi right now and it is still pulling alittle. I will try and swap the right front and rear and see if that makes a difference. I bought a second set of rims and studded tires last year and so I changed them back myself this Spring. So tire tread maybe the culprit, I must have one swapped. I was just worried about a tye-rod end going or something. I agree with keeping a higher tire pressure than they recommend for fuel efficiency too, but I think 36 was still too much. I will try 32 all around. Thanks again. Paul

Ya know Steve, when I had my alignment done, I watched the guy checking the air pressure. As I drove away from the mechanic it drove straight. Later that day, I noticed on the highway it was drifting again. I just went and checked the air pressures, and sure enough! Right side front was at 22psi and all the rest are at 36psi. I must have a small leak. I do live on a dirt road! I will try and match the two on the way home from work and hopefully that is all it is! Thanks for your advice. Paul

I have a 98 Legacy Outback and the steering has started tracking to the right. Pretty bad. I have just replaced the front struts and had a complete realignment done, but that has not fixed the problem. Could it be a bad bearing or something wrong with the tye-rod? Any ideas? Thanks for your advice in advance. Paul Homer, Alaska