I have a '97 leg. gt. awd. Great car. No problems...until now. In July the temperature gauge suddenly would shoot up to hot, then in a mile or so (normal driving) it would come back to normal.

 

In September it finally totally overheated, blowing water and steam all over, wouldn't start again until cooled.

 

Now, it overheats constantly, within 5 miles.

 

- Thermostat replaced, thermostat checks out.

- Radiator fine

- no leak from water pump weep hole.

- fans operational

- new radiator cap installed

 

I am currently running it with NO thermostat at all and it does not overheat - though it does get hot when driven hard.

 

I DO NOT want this to be head gasket. There are NO other symptoms at all. Drives great, great power, truly no problems.

 

Ideas, help, anything would be truly appreciated.

lvdpb

subaru lover forever.

but it really sounds like a head gasket.

get the coolant tested. i think they test for hydrocarbons?? anyway exaust or oil in the coolant

The early symptoms are pure Headgasket :-(

when the gaskets are pretty well shot. You cannot rely on them with a Subaru.

Had the exact same problem with a 98 GT (134K), it was the head gaskets. Car was fixed by the dealer for $1200 and seems to be fine except for poor resting idle speed which is tied to the idle control valve.

 

If you keep driving it you risk damaging the heads which will be VERY expensive. See previous post today about overheating and welcome to the unofficial 2.5DOHC head gasket club.

 

Glenn

 

 

I have a '97 leg. gt. awd. Great car. No problems...until now. In July the temperature gauge suddenly would shoot up to hot, then in a mile or so (normal driving) it would come back to normal.

 

In September it finally totally overheated, blowing water and steam all over, wouldn't start again until cooled.

 

Now, it overheats constantly, within 5 miles.

 

- Thermostat replaced, thermostat checks out.

- Radiator fine

- no leak from water pump weep hole.

- fans operational

- new radiator cap installed

 

I am currently running it with NO thermostat at all and it does not overheat - though it does get hot when driven hard.

 

I DO NOT want this to be head gasket. There are NO other symptoms at all. Drives great, great power, truly no problems.

 

Ideas, help, anything would be truly appreciated.

lvdpb

subaru lover forever.

Yes you have bad head gaskets.

 

Now that you have driven while it was overheating:-\ , then till it seized up, (wouldn't start till it cooled down:-\ ), continued to drive it and alow it to overheat agin and agin................

 

I wouldn't advise spending your money to fix that engine. You should figure on replacing the engine due to the extra bearing wear and probable scuffing of the pistons cause by extreme and repeted over heating.

 

Hate to be the bearer of bad news......................But for future referance when the gages in your car say somthing is wrong, stop driving the car till you can determine what the problem is and fix it before more damage is done.