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Comments
Ralph
I'll take my car in for 24000km service and I'll try to bring these issues up.
YetAnotherDave - where was the smell in your car coming from, in my case it seemd to be coming from the vents so I assume it was in the front but I suppose it could come across the underbody into the engine compartment and then throught the vent inlets at the base of the windshield.
-mike
We have also experienced radiator overheating at 21705 miles, 42,000 miles, 43,000 miles and took it in each time. We have also took it in for an axel fluid leak, unknown radiator fluid and gas smells and engine hesitation and vibration. It has been in the shop for over 39 days.
They pressure tested the engine after each overheating incidence and did not find anything wrong except for a hole in the radiator, the first time, and then replacing the temperature controller.
The last time we brought the car in, it was smoke white smoke and leaking radiator fluid in their carport. The next day they told us they could not find anything wrong with the car and the problem was intermittent.
Subaru Livermore, CA said they are going to replace the engine and later did not replace it, they only replaced the head gaskets, even though their Service Technician said the car was a lemon. The Service Tech was later fired right after they told us the car was a lemon. Strange coincidence.
We have not had overheating now, but the engine is hesitating and vibrating, we have less power, and there is some coolant smells or gas smells every so often. I don't think this is normal and probably the root cause was the constant overheating of the engine.
SOA said they were going to replace the car but are backing out saying only that they are giving us $3500 on a new car as a "goodwill" gesture after leading us along for 2 months. We have lost so much time fighting Livermore Subaru and SOA, and the car has been in the shop for over 39 days that we don't feel this is a good settlement.
We don't trust our Subaru Outback and believe it is a Lemon, so we are taking legal action against SOA.
Has anyone else has this many problem with SOA or their car?
BTW - The 24hr roadside assistance is a crock. My wife called when the car overheated in a bad part of town, and they told her that they would call her back. Then 1 hr later they called back and said they could not find a tow truck, sorry.
The current quick question is...when is the timing belt supposed to be replaced? I looked in the Edmunds maintenance schedule and it show an inspection at several intervals, but I don't see anything about when it should be "replaced even if OK", assuming there is such a time.
What happened is, the timing belt broke and so the valves were toast. The collision guy sent it to Subaru and they did a valve job..then sent it back to the collision guy who finished it up and gave it back as OK. On the drive home (from upstate NY back to Long Island the next day...a 3.5 hour trip) the car died at 2 hours. Turns out there was a "piece of metal" that caused the engine to get "oil starved" (their words). It was towed back to Subaru (this was 10 days ago)and the adjuster is now saying "maybe this didn't come from the accident". The small block now has to be replaced. Of course, we're furious, but so far, he hasn't made a decision. We know this is entirely due to the accident...we don't know if Subaru screwed up or if "missing the piece of metal" is just how things happen, but in any case, either insurance or Subaru should be paying or this, not us.
As I said, they haven't said they won't pay, but they're making noises like they may balk at the small block replacement.
I need the timing belt maintenance schedule but any other advice would be appreciated.
thanks,
Tom
Bob
Greg
The piece came from inside the engine...presumably, it was related to the valve damage...I think the piece was inside the cylinder. How they could do a valve job and not see it, I don't know...but I'm not a mechanic.
-juice
bargain for at least a 1/3 off if not more, there is a New England dealer selling on the internet at up to 40% off- subaruwarranty.com
Amazingly, my dealer never pushed it. He just gave me the warranty paperwork and told me to look it over at some point. Refreshing.
Mike
welcome aboard,
YetAnotherDave
I used to be dead-set against extended warranties, but lately I've changed my tune. I may get one for my next car, no matter which one I get. You have piece of mind, and cars are getting more and more complicated to fix nowadays.
But from 3 to 6 must mean bumper-to-bumper. I'd prefer a 10/100 powertrain warranty to cover just the big stuff.
Congrats and welcome to another person with David in their name! We say that most Subaru owners are named Dave!
-juice
PS This thread focuses on problems for all Subies, and the fact that there are just 167 posts or so says a lot. Peek at some other problems threads, they're in the thousands! Even for single-model threads!
Thanks for listening, I've been carrying that shame for years,
YetAnotherDave
-juice
Brian
For the subies you just un-bolt the bolts that hold the caliper, sometimes 1 sometimes 2, swing or remove the caliper pop out the pads, stick new pads in, open the brake resivoir, apply a c-clamp to the piston snap in the new pads re-assemble the caliper with the 1 or 2 bolts and bam you are done
On my old XT6 you need a special clamp that turns the piston, quite a PITA.
-mike
The pads look like they have lots of life left in them, thankfully. I'm lucky, I guess, 44k miles and no squeeks plus long lasting pads.
If I miffed up the job, I'd take photos and consult with folks here until I got it right. You gotta love cyberspace.
I actually used Miata.net to get more detailed instructions before I advanced the ignition timing on my Miata. Sure enough - almost immediately got several answers and lots of help.
-juice
-mike
-juice
BLASTED with hot air! The climate control goes down to 65 (65 is cool air???) & I rolled the windows down to give it a chance to cool off...tried it on full Auto, recirculating from the outside.....it was just unbearably hot air. So, just the play, I turned it all the way up to 79 degrees, & that was actually MORE comfortable since the it was only blowing hot air at 1/4 fan speed instead of full.
Now, this is my first car w/ auto climate control, but I've never had AC blow hot air like that. The other aspect of this is that I was never sure I was getting what the temperature indicated when I had the heat on during winter. the fan speed varied, but something seemed "off" about it....I thought it was my imagination then; now I'm now so sure. Am I missing something? Or do I have an issue with my HVAC system? Advice?
Just do one wheel at a time and it is almost impossible to screw up.
Cheers Pat.
If your compressor is cycling, it could be a refrigerant issue (as in lack of).
Just a couple ideas as starting points.
Q for the crew: is the ducting control vacuum or electric, and could that also be as issue?
Cheers!
Paul
Ummm.....don't make fun of me here ok? The last time I worked on my cars was well before anything I drove was equipped w/ AC. Refrigerant issue - is there a different refrigerant container for the AC than for the engine? Assuming there isn't, the coolant level is OK.
I hate going to my dealer shop (Albany Ford-Subaru); the only good thing about them is they're close. But maybe that's my next step.....
Jillian
You have our commitment for a good ownership experience. I'm glad you purchased a Subaru and I look forward to hearing from you in the future!
Patti
The coolant in the radiator isn't the same as what makes the AC work. The AC stuff is commonly referred to as refrigerant, and operates in a closed system that despite the best laid plans of mice & men, will occasionally leak out. No refrigerant (they used to call it Freon) no cold air.
Uh-oh... another Paul... could the Dave thing be spreading?
Cheers!
PaulH (if that helps clarify anything)
The really important lesson with brakes is to make sure you test them very carefully after changing the pads. What is really exciting is the experience of standing on the brakes for the first time and discovering the pistons which press on the calipers are a long way from applying pressure. For real entertainment, try this when driving toward a major intersection with a red light against you.
Yes, it was me driving but a mate's car where he had just "done the brakes". Sort of "a religious experience"!
Cheers
Graham
That's one entertainment I rather miss.
-Dave
I'll report back after I get over the cursing...throwing of tools, etc.
Thanks again,
YetAnotherDave
Graham: I bet you'll never make the same mistake again! :-)
-juice
Jillian
:-)
Ross
At normal running temperatures in the summer you should see no bubbles in this sight glass.
Usually if there is a constant stream of bubbles it is uaually because the refrigerant is low,
Are you having problems? because if you are let the dealer sort it out.
This is not something you can service yourself, specialised equipment is required,I speak from experience as I was a commercial refrigeration mechanic.
Cheers Pat.
Once you have done you will wonder what all the fuss was about.
Cheers Pat.
The good news (besides that) is that there must be a note somewhere in my file to treat me especially nicely. I squawked a bit after my 3K service, letting them know that not once in my years of dealing with them had I received ideal treatment....today I not only got in & whisked through w/o an appt., but received smiles, thank you's, good day's &, well, all the things one should EXPECT from a "service" department.
Jillian, smiling & ready for the heat.
Patti
This was the Albany Ford-Subaru Service Department in Albany CA. I stopped at the dealer first, & a salesperson called the service dept. & promised that they'd be ready for me when I got there. (a 2 minute drive away) And that's exactly what happened.
Now if only they'd pay me the $100 they promised me from several years back, after one of those bad experiences (hah!) Oh, that was the Ford half, not the Subaru half ;-)
Jillian
Definitely give them good feedback. I'm sure they love it. It's a real motivator.
-juice
So I have to ask: Does anybody know how to decode the VIN of a Subaru Legacy and/or Outback? I'm interested in buying a used one, and I would like to be able to look at a VIN and figure out what transmission it has... I have got to have a stick...
Thanks in advance,
-Mathias
East Lansing, MI
-juice
Good for them!
Ken
11th position in the VIN
G or 6 = 5 speed
H or 7 = Automatic
Have a great weekend!
Patti
Cheers!
Paul...er Paul H... er... Ross! Help! Identity crisis!