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Comments
Good luck finding the leak.
MNSteve
Troubleshooting the system working from cheapest to most complex/expensive.
Radiator cap badly seated after service would result in coolant loss without overflow tank level changing. Only really obvious if, after replacing the cap properly, you do not get a repeat performance.
Radiator cap requires replacement. remove, check condition of rubber insert and spring pressure. Most garages will have a simple pressure check device to check if cap is actuating at correct pressure which they will use before selling you a new radiator cap.
Radiator hoses. Top hose most likely to be the problem. Check hose for consistency of feel compared to a near new hose, as say on your van. If hose feels squishier or more sticky, rubber may be going. To check this properly, as with other water pressure issues, you need to get the car warm, then run engine at high revs whilst leak searching. I don;t understand the reasons why but at idle, you get low presssure in the water system, sometimes with a noticable vacuum developing at the top hose which collapses in a little..
Heater hoses. Smaller bore than top and bottom hoses and usually hard to access. Again check for feel. After fourteen years there is a fair chance these could be on their way out. Also check for weeping at block and connection into heater core.
Small hoses in mysterious spots. Many cars have hidden hoses for preheat of carburettor or other elements, these often being about 1/2 inch internal bore and buried under air cleaners or other areas. Have a look at the schematics for your engine to see if any of these exist.
Thermostat inoperative. Seems less likely as there is no obvious overflow but a fairly easy fix.
Waterpump. You usually hear the problem before water loss.
Gaskets etc. Likely to be obvious from weep marks areound gasket, into oil which will be foaming or through puddles on the floor.
Radiator problems. Years ago I had a leak which I ulitmately traced as a poorly sldered top tank seam. Mysteriously, the car would emit a fine spray of wter through the front grill if driven hard and then backed off. however, we could not replicate it in the workshop. Ulimately replaced tank and looked very hard at the old one, finding a fine crack in the solder of the top tank to body of radiator.
My hot tip is the poorly seated radiator cap
Hope you haven't cooked the engine too badly
Cheers
Graham
It's been OK. I did a full flush of the system, "burped" it to get the air out, and it's operating OK. I can see and feel the coolant circulating, so it's operating normal.
The coolant reservoir was stained, so it looked full even though it was low. Shame on me, I have to check that more carefully.
Where the coolant went is still a mystery. :confuse:
Now I noticed the brake fluid level was low. Oh boy. :sick:
Any how, I traced it to the rear driver's side. There is a very slow, drip leak from the bottom of the caliper. It looks like it's coming from the parking brake, but I'm pretty sure that's a cable system, so the fluid must be coming from the brake caliper.
Here's a pic. I changed the pads a little more than a year ago, but the calipers are original, now 14+ years old.
Could it be something else?
Should I rebuild it? Replace it? Do both sides, or just the driver's side?
I've circled the area where the drips come from. It's on the inner side of the caliper, at the bottom. I have a bleeder hose attached and made sure there's no air in the hydraulic lines.
On the lower left is the parking brake line.
Tips? Opinions?
Should I just replace the whole caliper?
Should I just trade it for that 2006 model I've been eyeballing?
There will come a time when replacement parts are rare as hen's teeth. I have used the junk yard at those times, but even those parts may be too corroded or worn. Additionally, insurance will not replace your much-better than-average-car with another of equal value.
The 2006 sounds like a good idea if the price is right.
I don't think it would be hard to find a replacement brake caliper, I'm pretty sure they were the same from 1990 through 1997. That's a lot of Miatas.
Anyway I'd just go ahead and replace it, a rebuilt caliper will run under $50.
Just make sure it's not leaking from the bleeder, i've seen that before.
-mike
Hmmm, should I replace that bleeder valve/bolt first?
I don't think the leak came from there, though. If you look at the pic, that tip wasn't "wet" like some other areas.
I had just washed the car, so certain places were just wet with water. The leak drips from the bottom of the inner side of the caliper.
For $50 I'm shopping for a replacement caliper. It's not worth the risk ...
-mike
I did my Forester first, and once I learned how, I did the wife's Legacy, my Miata, my sister's Forester, and my dad's Outback.
It had been maybe a year or so.
-mike
We're celebrating here near Lake Michigan with snow up to the bumper of the Lincoln "Town House" so we had overnight guests as we didn't want them braving the snows AND the drunks to get home last night ...
Brenda
Subaru –7.0% at 187,208 (2006: 200,703)
-mike
Those are poor results but the newer models have done well (Impreza, Tribeca).
The new Forester would reverse that trend if I didn't think 2008 will be the worst year for car sales overall in a decade.
Thanks paisan for some tips and for the confidence boost, it was actually fairly easy to do.
Only cost me $83 total, too.
-mike
How hard would it be to install new shocks in all 4 corners. Gas shocks.
I should bring it up to your shop. Wish I was gonna be in the NY area.
Straight shock absorbers are even easier. Unbolt them top and bottom bolt on new and away you go. Sound simple? it usually is.
Cheers Pat.
Len
It wasn't *too* hard to compress the shock, but I know what you mean.
Wish I'd paid more attention that time.
The Miata is back to running like a top. As soon as I started looking around, Blanca got jealous and started behaving better.
-mike
http://www.subaru.se/hem_prislista_alla.aspx
It's a MSRP from the Subaru of Sweden(?), and it has prices on Subie Legacy and Outback diesels, which will be arriving sometime this spring I believe.
More diesel info from Subaru of Finland:
http://www.subaru.fi/datasheet/hinnasto2008.pdf
http://www.subaru.fi/news2008n000051.html
Any translators out there?
Bob
I though they would only come in 2010 or so. Maybe they'll be here by then.
Anyone know the exchange rate? It's 13,000 extra for the diesel sedan VDC. Works out to a tad over 5% extra. Not bad.
Bob
Crap. That's a huge markup.
It would take forever to break-even.
Bob
2.5i Legacy sedan 4AT = 256,900 krona/$40,021
2.0 diesel Legacy sedan 5MT = 254,900 krona/$39,709
Considering the increased cost of an automatic transmission, it looks like the 2.0 diesel is only around $500 or so more than the 2.5 gasoline. (At least in Sweden.
Sounds like less than I thought...
And, like diesel pickups, it will have great torque. While it may have only 150 hp or so, the peak torque is rumored to be 258 lb-ft at 1800 RPM—which is more than the WRX. Expect 0-60 in 8.7 seconds.
Bob
I could drive my family from Seattle to Florida, only having to fill up 5 times for a total of around $300 bucks! During the next decade, I'd like to get to quite a few National Parks with my boy... this'd sure be an economical & enjoyable way to go.
Put the diesel in an AWD minivan or perhaps a larger Tribeca, and you'd have the ultimate family roadtrip vehicle. Hmm... could I see Subaru filling the niche the VW Eurovan used to? (Not that the VW was a diesel.) I bet plenty of current and former VW owners would line up for a reliable diesel minivan.
-mike
http://48hrs.info
Hey, Mike, tell 'em to put that diesel in the Forester and get it here pronto.
-mike
tom
Might we see this here?
Bob
Bring it here at the Legacy STI Limited and price it at $39,995.
I don't see a moonroof, can't really tell from those pics. No Nav either.
Still, schweet!
-mike
tom
I was assuming it did.
If not that's lame, a badge job, and a fake one at that!
I can put those brakes, exhaust and side vents on a Spec B and call it an STi Legacy
Maybe it does have the STi engine but it doesn't have the DCCD.
-mike
I'm sure it comes with seat heaters and heated side mirrors though!
-mike
tom
Yeah I have an 05 LGT Wagon 5mt w/heated seats and mirrors, dark non-leather interior, pearl white. The envy of a lot of subie owners.
Oh yeah HIDs, SPT catback as well
Tinted to 20% on all but the windshield.
-mike
Wow, is 20% tint legal in NY? It must look good though.
tom