Subaru Outback Wagon cooling system leak Engine overheating

[yyeessyy]

I have never driven that since it's towed, I think the subaru people only
test drove it for a few minutes. any way coolant may have gotten into the
engine cylinders, is this what you are saying? maybe that's why subaru
lean towards putting in a new engine or selling me a new subaru.
the engineer told me he would buy a new subbie, I just need to pay 10
thousands more to get one, and I get warranty on it. subaru is willing to
help 2500 dollars and the dealer is willing to knock off 3500 off their
2004s.I can select forester or Baja as long as it's 2004.

 

[yyeessyy]

I have never driven that since it's towed, I think the subaru people only
test drove it for a few minutes. any way coolant may have gotten into the
engine cylinders, is this what you are saying? maybe that's why subaru
lean towards putting in a new engine or selling me a new subaru.
the engineer told me he would buy a new subbie, I just need to pay 10
thousands more to get one, and I get warranty on it. subaru is willing to
help 2500 dollars and the dealer is willing to knock off 3500 off their
2004s.I can select forester or Baja as long as it's 2004.

 

[Fredisg]

Maybe another dealer will do the head gasket job under the recall????

 

[Henry Paul]

On a cast iron engine I would say no, but these aluminum jobs are a
different story. Excessive heat can cause the head and/or engine block to
warp causing the head gasket to no longer seal. The engines seem to be
designed for a near exact amount of coolant. When I put my dad's radiator
back in and was purging the air from the system it would read very hot until
we got the coolant level back to full.

 

[Henry Paul]

No that is not true. A head gasket could blow first and the symptoms you get
are the coolant boiling out of the system. They are claiming the radiator
had a slow leak to start with, that caused the coolant level to drop, the
engine to over heat and the head to warp (I assume) causing the gasket to
blow.

Well, since the radiator is aluminum too (I assume again as mine is) it
won't take as much heat as other radiators.
I would get a second opinion from another Subaru dealer. They might do
warranty work for you as well?

It IS possible that the head gasket failed first before the radiator. Are
you certain there is something wrong with the radiator? I would get a second
opinion on that as well.

 

[Henry Paul]

Yes, there is a possibility of coolant getting into the cylinders. It can
really gum them up good.
It might be worth your while to move up to a model with an engine that
doesn't have head gasket issues. There are a number of people in the group
here that drive Foresters. You might see what they think. They are based on
the Impreza frame, which seems to have fewer problems.

You can have the one you are driving fixed, but you might have the same
problem again down the road after the warranty is gone. That's assuming you
could get it fixed under warranty this time.

 

[Henry Paul]

I agree. Regardless of the warranty, someone should do the recall.......

 

[yyeessyy]

You can have the one you are driving fixed, but you might >have the same

problem again down the road after the warranty is gone. >That's assuming
you
could get it fixed under warranty this time.

Subaru of America is determined to not cover my engine by warranty. the
service center told me it is a set, they wouldn't listen to any arguement.
they are leaning more towards selling me a new subaru.

so unless I can prove the problem is caused by engine (they insist it is
not), I have only two choices. one is I repair the car on my own, two is I
purchase another subaru with help from subaru.

How much chance do you think I have to convince subaru that they are
responsible for this engine damage?

 

[yyeessyy]

You can have the one you are driving fixed, but you might >have the same

problem again down the road after the warranty is gone. >That's assuming
you
could get it fixed under warranty this time.

Subaru of America is determined to not cover my engine by warranty. the
service center told me it is a set, they wouldn't listen to any arguement.
they are leaning more towards selling me a new subaru.

so unless I can prove the problem is caused by engine (they insist it is
not), I have only two choices. one is I repair the car on my own, two is I
purchase another subaru with help from subaru.

How much chance do you think I have to convince subaru that they are
responsible for this engine damage?

 

[yyeessyy]

but the engine is already damaged. will recall do any help?

 

[yyeessyy]

but the engine is already damaged. will recall do any help?

 

[Henry Paul]

I would still get another opinion from another dealer and see if they will
fix the head gasket. Since there is a recall on the head gasket, I would try
to get it fixed under recall.

Other than the gasket is there any evidence of engine damage? I would say it
needs to be inspected with the head off to know for sure.

 

[Henry Paul]

I would go to another dealer and explain what happened and have them inspect
it. Do you have more than one dealer in your area? It's worth a try. They
might have something different to tell you. SOA might be making their claim
based from what the dealer told them happened.

 

[yyeessyy]

I would definitely take the radiator to some other garage for a second
opinion. they claimed that the radiator was leaking while it was still in
the car. I didn't see any leak with my own eyes. the dismounted radiator
is still at dealers'. I will take it back tommorow.

 

[yyeessyy]

I would definitely take the radiator to some other garage for a second
opinion. they claimed that the radiator was leaking while it was still in
the car. I didn't see any leak with my own eyes. the dismounted radiator
is still at dealers'. I will take it back tommorow.

 

[yyeessyy]

the replaced radiator and knock sensor already costed me over 700 dollars,
I am not sure how much it will cost to take the head off just for
inspection. you know how expensive the labor of subaru is.

I will try to call other dealers for possibility of recall work.

 

[yyeessyy]

the replaced radiator and knock sensor already costed me over 700 dollars,
I am not sure how much it will cost to take the head off just for
inspection. you know how expensive the labor of subaru is.

I will try to call other dealers for possibility of recall work.

 

[yyeessyy]

thanks for so many precious opinions!

do you think I should tow the car to another subaru dealer?
the closest one is 20 miles away.

 

[yyeessyy]

thanks for so many precious opinions!

do you think I should tow the car to another subaru dealer?
the closest one is 20 miles away.

 

[Henry Paul]

They might be trying to claim the radiator caused the problem to get out of
warranty/recall work on your car. In fact, I would take it to a specialty
radiator shop and have them check it out. If you can certify the radiator as
"good", then you have some more ammunition to use in getting the work done
on your car.