Subaru Crew Cafe

lilbluewgn02

Susan says the Legacy's still overheating. Normally, the temp gauge stays right in the middle. After a new radiator and thermostat this weekend, it still seems to be running hot. She brought it back to the mechanic who rode around with her a bit and saw the gauge rise up. He was the one who worked on the car during the weekend and he told her that the radiator had been full of gunk - as if someone had put something into it to stop a leak.

He now thinks that the fins on the water pump are starting to go and that a new water pump will be needed. Today, she said that on the way to work and again on the way home, the gauge would stay in the middle, after about 20 minutes of driving go up to the next line and then come back down to normal. The Legacy has about 80k miles and the mechanic said that he normally changes timing belt and water pump at same time.
What are your esteemed opinions on this situation?
Serge

paisan

I would say that the water pump is the only thing left. To be honest I bet that the radiator was not the problem. If you are going to get the water pump done, then get the timing belt as it'll need it within another 20k miles.

-mike

saedave

I would say that the water pump is the only thing left.
Mike,
Unless the head gasket is the problem.
Dave

lilbluewgn02

Mike, the radiator was actually full of this gunk and rusted stuff...it was preventing flow...

ateixeira

I'm with mike on this one, I'd change the water pump and timing belt now.

In fact I just did both (at the same time) on my Miata.

There was one more thing, though, a "radiator switch"? I think? Something like that.

I had to go back a 2nd time to have that replaced, even after the t-stat and water pump were changed, it was still running hot.

paisan

Mike, the radiator was actually full of this gunk and rusted stuff...it was preventing flow...

Not to say your mechanic is lieing, but, I find it hard to believe that it was preventing that much flow. Unless you physically tried to flush it yourself and it didn't flow, I'd be very wary of a mechanic that says they swapped the rad due to it being gunked up and not flowing.

Then again they charge a ton for doing a rad swap. Once we did one outside the lincoln tunnel on a street in manhattan in about 20 min on an RS

-mike

lilbluewgn02

juice
I checked some of the parts websites and did not see anything about a radiator switch. When you get a chance, could you check your paperwork on that and get back to me for the part...thanks...have a capirinha on me
Serge

lilbluewgn02

He said the rad was cold but the temp gauge was steadily going up. I wasn't there...who knows in this time of economic hardship, though this guy used to be a Subie mechanic up north before he moved down here to the land of gators and dumbass voters

paisan

I've had this same result with the following items being bad on subies (WRXs in particular)

Low fluid level, that created a bubble in the top of the engine (the first time we did a 30k service we had this problem 4 consecutive times after flushing, til we learned to back-fill the engine from the upper rad hose)

Bad T-stat -If the T-stat stays closed there is no flow and the coolant in the engine is warm, and the rad icy cold

Bad water pump -The pump isn't circulating the coolant same effect as above

Bad head gasket -creates the same problem as #1 above (low fluid level, bubble in top of engine)

Never saw a radiator sooo clogged up that the car would have an ice cold radiator or even an overheating problem.

-mike

lilbluewgn02

Now my car is overheating...I checked the radiator and coolant tank; they were both near empty. I saw that at the bottom of the rad, some coolant had puddled...now I have to check mine also...what a pain...

ateixeira

Sure, I'll check the part description/number on the receipt, which is still in the car.

lilbluewgn02

Looks like there is a hairline crack (more like a fissure) at the top of the radiator facing the engine...There was coolant sprayed all over the front of the engine compartment, which I need to rinse off...I am extremely upset, with all 3 cars showing problems at the same time.As Neil Young said..."helpless, helpless, helpless".

paisan

Pop in a new radiator. It's real easy to do and shouldn't take more than an hour.

-mike

grahampeters

G'day

Funny how these co-incidneces arise. Ran into a friend with a Subaru who mentioned he had the same problem in a mid 90's Liberty (Legacy to you). Replacment radiator is procey so he took it into a radiator shop which repaired very easily.

Might be worth enquiring if the radiator is repairable

Cheers

Graham

ateixeira

Rats, it wasn't in the car. Must be at home. I'll find the receipt tonight.

rsholland

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22511026&postcount=3

jeffmc

Legacy continues to baffle me, though I'm pleased to see it doing well. Stopped by to see Joe Spitz Monday. He said inventory of Outback models was very low and was affecting sales. Outback has been trending downward, but it sounds like low inventory must account for some of that. I also know Legacy inventory is low, particularly Limiteds. Those '09s must be only a couple of weeks away.

ateixeira

Amazing results.

I guess people are trading in their SUVs for Subarus, that's the only way I could explain it.

Forester sales up a whopping 66%. :surprise:

Of course that's why no incentives will appear for me.

paisan

lilbluewgn02

Just out of curiousity (Graham?) is there any kind of glue or epoxy that can be used to repair the rad, as it is a very narrow crack? Anything that can withstand the pressure and heat?

ateixeira

Looked up that part for you.

It says, literally:

"BWD AUTOMOTIVE Radiator Fan Switch"

It's not the same as the T-stat because they had changed that out previously. The Miata was still running hot so it went back in a 2nd time, and that's what it was.

bat1161

Looks like a lot of fun, especially considering the company on the track. Were you driving or instructing?

Mark

ateixeira

I was going to comment on the body roll, but it looks like the Corvette isn't doing any better in that regard.

Are you on stock springs, mike?

paisan

I was doing timing and scoring, and took my car out for a few sessions. The pictures exagerate the lean, cause they are on an angle, but you can see how much it's leaning due to the wheel tuck. It does lean a lot but it is on stock springs. I may do sway bars if I continue to run it on-track, and once I settle on a "new" car, then that will dictate if I get streetable coilovers for it as well. I was amazed how well it did, the biggest issue I had was that after I got down around 1/2 tank of gas, it started to get fuel starve on the banking. As I would go up onto the NASCAR banking from the infield road course portion of Pocono North, the fuel would get carried to the driver's side of the tank, the pickup is on the passenger side which was the lower and inside side of the turn.

I was quite suprised that the Hawk HPs pads held up extremely well even during 2 30-min sessions that I ran back to back. They didn't fade on me at all and didn't leave me really begging for more braking, although more is always better, for a nearly stock (except for the tires and SPT Catback) the car performed outstanding.

-mike

ateixeira

Sounds like fun.

Colin complained about fuel starvation way back when, on his RS. Seems like that's still an issue now!

lucien2

I had it in the Outback at Summit Point, and occasionally at autocross. Ya know, back when I had time for all that! :shades:

w8ifi

Juice...

I've been wanting to purchase a new Forester but circumstances mean I'll probably have to wait quite awhile yet. In the meantime I've enjoyed following the saga of your new Forester and in a virtual way shared your excitement and anticipation while waiting for delivery. I think my reactions would be exactly the same. I realize it's not going to be your daily driver but I've been reading the blogs looking forward to your comments, feeling, thoughts when you do drive it. I hope you will share those thoughts.
Jim (In Yooper Land)

ateixeira

Well then, here's a link, just for you, with my initial driving impressions. I finally wrestled the keys out of her hands.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ee99548/30228

rsholland

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=127309?tid=edm- unds.il.home.photopanel..2.*

volkov

Niiiiiice!!!

jeffmc

"...the S402 has an overall feel that's as close to perfection as we've ever experienced."

"The combination of progressive pedal action, no brake fade and good tire grip means you can go deeper into a corner with the Legacy STi S402 than just about any sedan we've tested before."

"The S402 might be the first-ever Japanese sedan with a brake package that actually feels overengineered."

"This car is plainly built to be punished with speed."

"...even at a price tag of $53,000. It's the kind of Subaru that should come to America."

How 'bout a limited production run of these for Subaru's 40th Anniversary in the US, SOA? This is a halo car. Think of the all the resulting good press that could be a quite timely build-up to the release of the next-gen Legacy.

ateixeira

At that price I think it would generate the wrong kind of sticker shock.

They should try to package it right at $39,995, but keep the important stuff.

paisan

The new legacy will be here in less than 12 months, why would they bring that car here?

-mike

jeffmc

Well, they're selling it in Japan, where they'll probably get the new Legacy even sooner. I think magazine & online reviews of a USDM S402 would generate enough good press that it could carry over and build interest in the launch of the new Legacy, help clear out the last of the '09 inventory, and help the new Legacy appeal to sport-lux customers that may not have considered it before. They'd have to time it right... a car like that sounds like it could overshadow the launch of its successor.

paisan

I read the article and it's not worth anywhere near the amount of money they want for it. 90% of the items are just bolt on stuff. The only useful stuff are the twin-scroll turbo, the alternate gearing in the trans, and that's it. Every other item on the car is either standard on the specB already or is so easily bolted on that it's ridiculous.

-mike

ateixeira

I agree it would keep the model relevant as it ages, but at that price it would be 10 times more rare than the STI.

rsholland

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=128335?tid=edm- unds.il.home.photopanel..1.*#2

I pretty much agree here—especially the comments about the styling.

Bob

volkov

I think this is the product they should have intro'd 3 years ago instead of the Tribeca, but that's just me. They said that people 6'2" fit in the rear - that's a real squeeze in the Tribeca if they have feet.

jeffmc

They have seemed to solve the underseat footspace issue with the current Impreza and Forester... hopefully they've been smart enough to carry that design though to Exiga and all future products. Makes a world of difference.

lucien2

So I have been assigned stewardship of the Grassroots Motorsports 1967 Volvo 122S Coupe for the day, driving it in the neighborhood 4th parade. I have taken it out a couple of times today. It is a hoot. I now want one. Please help....losing control of rationality with every glance out the front window.

paisan

NICE.

I just sold my Subaru race car and my 240sx. Time to start modding the 05 LGT Wagon now

-mike

rsholland

Loosh, when I was in high school back in the early 1960s, one of my buddies parents had a 4-door 122. I drove it a number of times—and yes, it was hoot—and rugged as any truck to boot! It had an 1800cc engine IIRC, which was pretty large back then.

Bob

lucien2

I grew up in a 1969 145S wagon, so that's why I'm falling so hard for this little car....all the controls and such are dimly familiar. This thing rocks...lots of ipd parts, the engine has been bored and blueprinted...it SOUNDS amazing. Interior roll bar, 2 race buckets, grey carpet, and a powder blue paint job, finished off with 15" panasports.

subearu

Ok, where are the pictures and sound clips? :shades:

How was the drive in the parade?

-Brian

lucien2

here's a link to the GRM archive:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1967-volvo-122s/

I'll go out and snap a couple

subearu

Cool indeed. So, eventually from what I can tell, this model grows into what we now call the S60. Although it probably is more closer in size to my S40.

What does your better half think of it?

-Brian

lucien2

She's a subie luvr, so of course she loves it! Track suspension, competition clutch, no AC, grippy seats.....

We have no money though, so finding a similar "weekender" will have to wait. Plus, we have a 4 year old, and this car's back seat is now a roll cage. So we'll just have to sit tight until the right 122S wagon (Amazon) comes along :shades:

volkov

We owned Volvos growing up and although we never had one, I've always loved the P1800 . So did my Mum actually...or was it that she loved Roger Moore?? But seriously, there's something about those classic lines that many 60's euro cars had.

lucien2

funny you should mention that....I've also loved the P1800, specifically the wagon (now the inspiration for the new C30). SO I and wifey were cruising the Volvo boards last night and she saw her first P1800... LOL it's all over now! We have a winner! :P

today is our last day with it. It's early in the morning and no one is out yet, so I think I'm going to plunk my daughter in the passenger bucket and take her to the local patisserie for brekkie..... I know I know it's illegal and unsafe, but she's in love with this thing, and I think back to when my Dad let me sit on his lap while he steered.... Wife is still asleep, so we're going to slip out by ourselves.

rsholland

There's something really neat about old classic cars. I had another close friend in high school who's father had a Fiat 600 Multipla (see links) and a 1930 Model A Ford 4-door sedan. Used to ride in both many times. Fun stuff!

http://www.muzeum-motoryzacji.com.pl/photo/Fiat%20600%20Multipla.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_600

Bob