For anyone owning a 3rd generation Legacy (2000 to 2004), I can smell coolant when my car gets hot (I have 21K on it). I have brought it to the dealer and also to the mechanic that fixed my old Subie when it was out of warranty. No one else smells it, but the dealer said I could STILL be smelling undercoating burning off. I think they are full of crap.

 

Anyone else experience similar?

For anyone owning a 3rd generation Legacy (2000 to 2004), I can smell coolant when my car gets hot (I have 21K on it). I have brought it to the dealer and also to the mechanic that fixed my old Subie when it was out of warranty. No one else smells it, but the dealer said I could STILL be smelling undercoating burning off. I think they are full of crap.

 

Anyone else experience similar?

Actually, I think a lot of dealers are full of crap. But then again, you bought a car from a company that won't EVEN acknowledge that there is head gasket problem with the Phase 1 2.5L engine. And they're handing out free stop leak to the early Phase IIs, not because there is a problem with the engine, but because that's just the kind of guys they are. The most likely suspect is a leaking hose. BUT your car has the classic symptoms of a Phase II external head gasket leak. But that's impossible, because Subaru said they have taken "countermeasures" to stop Phase II external head gasket failures. Damn, I'm so confused. I know, let's go with the "they're full of crap" theory. Check for a very slow coolant leak from a HOT engine from the head/block seam towards the back of the engine. Sorry, I don't remember if it's ususally on the driver or passenger side.

Just for an update...called the dealership and my car is going in next Thursday for an "exam." The service manager DID acknowledge that there was a problem in the past with certain 2.5's up to a certain cut off date. Maybe I'll need a new engine and they can drop a new turbo 2.5 in its place?

Just for an update...called the dealership and my car is going in next Thursday for an "exam." The service manager DID acknowledge that there was a problem in the past with certain 2.5's up to a certain cut off date. Maybe I'll need a new engine and they can drop a new turbo 2.5 in its place?

We can all dream. But if you have an external head gasket leakage, at most, expect a dose of the stop leak. Oatmeal, anyone?

Boy wouldn't my car be the ultimate sleeper with that new turbo? Trust me if there is a problem with it, I'll be all over it. Any future problems will be dealt with appropriately. I can be quite persistent and a pain in the rump roast about something if I'm really pissed.

 

Stay tuned.

Personally, I'd mail them a letter detailing the condition so that there's a history to refer to.

Personally, I'd mail them a letter detailing the condition so that there's a history to refer to.

The service repair record (my copy) should be adequate enough.

The service record will be adequate, IF they record the problem as you describe.

 

My mom's car had the 3.8 Ford V6 which was notorious for overheating. There was a "secret warranty" on the engine if certain conditions were met. When she brought in the car for overheating, the service writer wrote "Bad water pump" and we had to appeal the case to the Attorney General's office to get action. In that case, the dealership, Regan Ford of Salisbury, MA, was completely on our side and went to bat against Ford to have it fixed. Caveat.

Check for a very slow coolant leak from a HOT engine from the head/block seam towards the back of the engine. Sorry, I don't remember if it's ususally on the driver or passenger side.

Driver's side, right at the back corner, no. 4 cylinder area IIRC. Look for telltale seepage marks. You might try to dig up some of the posts from Alias20035 (I think was his name). He detailed this problem very well.

 

Commuter

You might try to dig up some of the posts from Alias20035 (I think was his name). He detailed this problem very well.

 

Commuter

What happened to Alias20035? He/she used to post all the time and very helpful posts too. Then he/she went on a cross-Canada trip in the middle of last winter. And hasn't posted since then.

 

Where are you Alias20035?

I've wondered too where s/he got to. Seemed to come out of nowhere. Very knowledgable, very helpful... then "poof".

 

Commuter

Well, I must say, you all have been very helpful. Thanks to my new Subaru friends!

OKAY...an update. Was at the dealer this AM. It DOES have an exterior leak and yes, they gave me the additive to hopefully stop it. They informed me that earlier Legacy models with this problem had their head gasket warranty extended to 8 years/100,000 miles. HOWEVER, my car doesn't fall into that category.

 

Needless to say, I will be drafting a letter to Subaru of America over the weekend to inform them that I know this has been a problem with this in the past and want my car covered under that same extension.

 

Thanks for the help and stay tuned...

So they won't extend to your 2003 the 100k hasket warranty that they normally apply to the 2000 I have. That's a bit fishy methinks.

So they won't extend to your 2003 the 100k hasket warranty that they normally apply to the 2000 I have. That's a bit fishy methinks.

That's why I'm sending the letter with a copy of my repair order. I'm persistent...

That's why I'm sending the letter with a copy of my repair order. I'm persistent...

CONGRATULATIONS. You have a late model car that cost well over $20,000 that has been repaired with breakfast food. Since it will cost SOA very little, you will probably get a 100,000 mile warranty on an engine that I would expect to go 150,000- 200,000 miles trouble free miles ANYWAY.

 

BTW, if you went into a Subaru dealership with a leaking out-of-warranty radiator do you think the mechanic would just scratch his rump roast a few times and say, "Hell, we'll just throw a litte stop leak into the cooling system. That otter fix the little puppy"? Maybe I'm imaging stuff, but I think that a lot of mechanics might tell you that stop leak was not a reliable repair and that the stuff has the potential to clog up the system. I could be tripping here, but I think many, if not most, mechanics might recommend replacing the whole damn radiator. Kinda makes you think, don't it?

CONGRATULATIONS. You have a late model car that cost well over $20,000 that has been repaired with breakfast food. Since it will cost SOA very little, you will probably get a 100,000 mile warranty on an engine that I would expect to go 150,000- 200,000 miles trouble free miles ANYWAY.

 

BTW, if you went into a Subaru dealership with a leaking out-of-warranty radiator do you think the mechanic would just scratch his rump roast a few times and say, "Hell, we'll just throw a litte stop leak into the cooling system. That otter fix the little puppy"? Maybe I'm imaging stuff, but I think that a lot of mechanics might tell you that stop leak was not a reliable repair and that the stuff has the potential to clog up the system. I could be tripping here, but I think many, if not most, mechanics might recommend replacing the whole damn radiator. Kinda makes you think, don't it?

Paid well UNDER $20,000 by the way. Trust me, I am not happy with this repair, but will be happy if they stand by their product. Many car companies won't stand behind their cars. I agree, the engine SHOULD be trouble free for that long. But the head gasket hasn't been trouble free thus far. Can't trust it to last that long.

 

I'll keep y'all posted.