melissa218

i'm not trying to be a tough customer. since we got it back from being repaired the tempurature gauge hasn't risen above the half way point. i know it sounds dumb but i can't justify making a $1500 repair if the mechanic says it isn't warranted. i'm sure you will be saying i told you so in a matter of weeks. i guess i just need to wait it out.

Yesterday after driving the car for an extended period the coolant had risen up in the reservoir and there were bubbles. I'm not sure if the car was running or not when we checked it. I will check it again tonight and let you know what I find. The thing I don't get is why it isn't overheating now.

what do bubbles in the coolant mean?

I drove it for a good 30-40 minutes in hot weather with the air cranked up and down steep hills but I am with you. I am still expecting it to overheat. I won't be taking it on any long trips until I feel I am definitely over this hurdle. Thanks for all you help.

Well, I got my car back yesterday. They replaced the radiator and think the problem is fixed. Took it on a long test drive last night trying to get it to overheat with the a/c on high. No overheating. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the problem is fixed.

i think he is competent but he hasn't found anything to indicate that the head gasket needs to be replaced. would it be dumb for me to just tell him to do it if the radiator doesn't fix the problem?

Yeah this guy has been really nice but he told me the other day he is getting really frustrated. I hope he doesn't give up before the problem is solved.

FORTUNATELY, HE TOLD ME IF THE NEW RADIATOR DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM HE IS GOING TO TAKE IT OUT AND PUT MY OLD ONE BACK IN. I GUESS THEN WE'LL REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF COMMISSION FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW. I'M READY TO MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE.

i figure that is what the problem will end up being but i don't want to jump the gun. thanks for the support.

I know you are all probably tired of hearing about this saga...my mechanic thinks my overheating problem can be attributed to needing a new radiator. He ordered a radiator and when it arrived it didn't fit. Now he has ordered one from Subaru which will be there in a couple of days. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will fix the problem.

I JUST GOT A CALL FROM MY MECHANIC. THEY CHECKED MY WATER PUMP AND SAY IT IS WORKING FINE. THEY AREN'T REPLACING IT. HIS NEW THEORY IS THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE RADIATOR. HIS GOING TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND SEE IF THAT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I SAY THE COOLANT HAD WEIRD STUFF IN IT I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN DIRT OR SOMETHING AROUND THE SIDES OF THE RESEVOIR. I GUESS IF IT'S NOT THE RADIATOR I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY RECOMMEDATIONS FOR MECHANICS IN THE ST. LOUIS MISSOURI AREA.

MY COOLANT ALSO HAD WEIRD STUFF IN IT. SORRY ABOUT YOUR PREDICAMENT.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT I MIGHT HAVE A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO SELL THE CAR. THEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK I HAVE DONE ON THE CAR IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO AND DECIDED THAT WAS A HASTY DECISION. ALSO, THIS IS THE NICEST CAR IN OUR FLEET. OUR OTHER TWO CARS ARE A 1995 GEO PRIZM AND 1987 CHEVY CAVALIER. I FIGURE I SHOULD PROBABLY THINK ABOUT REPLACING ONE OF THOSE BEFORE I JUMP THE GUN AND GET RID OF THE SUBARU.

i'm not getting the gasket fixed at this point because the mechanic isn't telling me i need to. he says he can't find anything to indicate i have a blown head gasket. i don't know what to do. i guess i'll see what happens after they replace the water pump?????

they have tested coolant for exhaust gases and done several other tests and aren't finding any indication of blown head gaskets. they said coolant is not circulating through system properly that is why they think it is the water pump. he said he won't know definitively if it is the water pump until they take the old one off and examine it. i trust this guy but i am with you. i have a feeling it is the head gasket even though they haven't been able to diagnose the problem as such.

it isn't that i am not willing. it just isn't feasible for me to replace an engine. i just got an update from the shop where my car is being assessed. they don't think i need a head gasket. they think it is the water pump. i guess i'll let them replace that and see how it goes. i am not very optimistic. from everything i have heard i am due for head gasket issues.

Are you saying $1700-2500 for a new engine including labor??? I was quoted around $1500 for the head gasket work. Am I getting ripped off???

I might have to replace the head gasket on my 99 outback with 165000 miles on it. This might be a dumb question but does anyone have a guestimate as to what a new engine might cost vs. the cost of replacing the head gasket.

what would that cost????

My 1999 outback is now in the shop to determine the cause of mysterious overheating. Based on all the information I have gathered I suspect the diagnosis will be a blown head gasket. My dilemma at this point is whether or not it is worth investing $1500 plus into this car. It has 165000 miles on it. I had the transmission rebuilt about a year ago. I have had new tires and break work done within the last year. A couple of years ago I replaced two catylitic convertors. I have replaced the timing belt. I just not sure whether or not to cut my losses or fix the car and hope I will get a couple more years out of it. Don't get me wrong. The last thing I want to do is buy a new car. I just don't want to make a bad decision.

How do you check the coolant for exhaust gases? Is this something that has to be done at the dealership?

I had my transmission in my 1999 outback rebuilt about a year ago and it was around $2500.

Do you know anything about the conditioner that Subaru uses in vehicles that have a recall for this issue?

I have been having overheating issues with my 99 Outback. I took it to a local shop and they have been unable to find anything wrong with it. The overheating happens sporadically. I have been reading alot about head gasket leaks. Are there any definitive symptoms of a head gasket leak???