Engine Overheating

[tom]

Hi Folks,

I recently had a head on crash with my '98 Legacy GT Turbo (BH5) where
I lost my radiator, headlamp among other things. The car was fixed by
the local dealers and my insurance promptly paid up. After about a
month, I started experiencing a problem with the engine overheating
-temperature gauge going to the red zone. I took it back to the dealers
and they discovered that the upper radiator hose had a leak. They
replaced it and that did not solve the problem. They then said that the
cylinder head gasket needed to be replaced. They went aahead and did
that at about USD 800.00. When the gave me the car, I started driving
and realized immediately the car did not have power. I pushed it to
about 50 mph and the engine started overheating again. Meanwhile, the
check engine warning light, the VCD waring light and the airbag warning
lights come on whenever I go past 40 mph? THe replaced the thermostat
and that did not help. Now, they say the want to test the car with
another radiator to see if the radiator is the problem. My question is,
isn't there a way of doing this diagnosis without these apparent hit or
miss approach? And what could actually be the problem with my car?
Thanks folks.

 

[jerryeveretts]

I think the shop may be praying that they don't have to pull the heads
again. Not too much worse than doing a headgasket, only to find it is
still leaking. I would give them the car, and give them the time they
need to get it right
Perhaps they did not bleed the air out of the system correctly, and
until they do, there will continue to be cooling problems, the lack of
power could be explained by them not putting the cam belt back on
exactly right. Or a lack of compression due to a continued faulty
headgasket. Did they machine the head(s) before putting the new gasket
it?

Jerry

 

[AS]

Well, with such a dealer i would not deal.

I agree that the initial overheating was probably due to air in the
cooling circuit.

From that point on, who knows what they messed up that now you get all
the warning lights etc. etc.

Call Subaru, make them aware of the situation and if you dare, bring the
car back to the dealer.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Well, with such a dealer i would not deal.

I agree that the initial overheating was probably due to air in the
cooling circuit.

From that point on, who knows what they messed up that now you get all
the warning lights etc. etc.

Call Subaru, make them aware of the situation and if you dare, bring the
car back to the dealer.

And call your insurance company and tell them you want to use a
different shop and THEY should make sure it gets paid for - by them or,
subrogated from the first shop. You still have not been 'made whole' and
your state insurance oversight dept. might like to hear about this if
your car doesn't get fixed. That shop does NOT know how to diagnose your
car. Do NOT take it back!

Carl