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Comments
The cooling may be leaking inside of the vehicle. Check for coolant presence under the floor carpets ( not the removable ones, but the upholstery carpet). In 2 of my cars that leaked coolant, it took about 1/2 gallon of fluid to saturate carpets to become visibly noticable. The smell was there waaaay before the visual clues appeared.
I will check, but I smell it outside the vehicle as well, and inside it is stronger/strongest when heat/defrost is on.
Everyone:
What should the 30K service run at the dealer? The 30K service info on MySubaru.com indicates that, along with inspecting many things, they replace brake fluid, spark plugs, & air filter, do a coolant flush & replace, and oil and filter, and fuel filter is a recommended option.
--K9Leader
Check if either fluid has mixed, they shouldn't be. If they are, then the dealer should start looking into why, and gaskets are the first place they should check.
-juice
Greg
Greg
I hope that a representative from Subaru monitors this board since I have not been able to get their Customer Service to even return my calls. I have a pending case that is now 3 weeks old and I have not been able to get any status from Subaru. They do not return calls or their help line has over 25 minute waits. I would like to resolve this issue in a business like procedure, but my patience is fading. Thanks
Mario
If it makes a difference Forester has the hill-holder.
I have been driving manual transmissions for over 30 years had no such experience/problem.
Am I burning the clutch? What could be the reason?What should I do?
Thanks.
you can't be goofing up that badly... just not feasible.
-Colin
I'd give SOA a call and get them involved (if they're not already).
-Brian
DaveM
Everyone: 30K mile service -- how much should it cost? Local dealer quoted $429, which includes all items on the service schedule for 30K, including replacing the fuel filter. I'm leaning toward having it done, but maybe not at this dealer at that price if ya'll report that it is gouging. Thanks for any help.
--K9Leader
2000 Outback Limited
-Larry
I think it's frustrating for both sides, I'm sure the dealer would like to help. They get reimbursed by Subaru for any work they do anyway.
$429 may sound high but it's even higher in the DC area. Supply and demand? It varies by region a lot.
-juice
Ali: have the dealer take a look-see. Maybe they can adjust it.
-juice
I did a search and found other references to the 30K service being in the 400-500 ballpark. Costs here (Wilmington/Newark, Delaware) should be a bit less than in the DC area (I lived there for almost 20 years) but not by much.
I'm just always careful after my experiences with my Lincoln Mark VIII and Lincoln dealerships, which I believe actually send their employees to seminars on how to keep a straight face when quoting costs. Example: a transmission part upgrade that is detailed in a Ford TSB that specifies 1.5 hours of labor, $50 in parts, and $75 in tranny fluid (12 quarts of Ford Mercon V), so should be $250 - 300. First local dealer quoted me $900. I pointed out the TSB and the response was, "Well, we did one last week and that's what it costs." Second local dealer was the same, but it is same ownership as the first. Third (and last) local dealer did it for $375, which included a $75 tranmission diagnostic. Lincoln dealers are used to their customers rolling over and paying whatever the dealer tells them. I'm hoping the local Subaru dealers are more used to dealing with a more cost-conscious clientele.
--K9Leader
lucien dot walsh at verizon dot net
I also have rhino ramps that maybe even a lowered GT can climb up, LOL.
-juice
-juice
perfect for checking out something like exhaust-- just don't overlook putting jackstands under there too and chocking the rear wheels.
-Colin
Basically, what I am going to do is print out the service list from the website associated with my car and bring it to my mechanic and see what he charges. Then I want to see about replacing the spark-plugs with a platnum-tipped version or Bosch or NGK plugs. 30K is way to frequent for me to be replacing them!
For comparison, a private mechanic charged me about the same as a dealer for the 60K service for my Camry V6 ($375), but did include platnum spark plugs. That did not include the fuel filter. I believe it was a radiator flush and a Tranny flush (and diffy flush) included.
Outer loop is bad, so you'll be late.
-juice
While we had the car on the ramps though, we lithium lubed the swaybar bushings fore and aft, and also zip-lined off my slightly loose brake lines. Tati was a great helper; Lana greeted us with lemonade and a tasty beef roast afterward. Even Hadji purred in approval!
Note that we used 2 yellow zip lines, so that must've added at least 5-10 horsepower. ;-)
Now that I think about it, I should have tried a 13mm socket. The 9/16" was juuuust a little loose.
-juice
Any chance that fire hose you stumbled upon might have knocked that flange loose a bit?
-Brian
Greg
I can relate to proper backpressure bringing back the power. I felt the same after I had my new Y-pipe installed on the Forester.
Ken
A true dual exhaust may be in the works very soon.
On a side note, AZP Installs did a Perrin Uppipe, Samco Hoses, EGT Guage/Probe, STi Motor and Tranny Mounts, and rear diffy mount install last night for a customer. Took us 4.5hrs with about 2 guys + me helping work on it. Not bad for an afterwork install.
-mike
Good news was his gaskets and front main seal were totally clean.
paisan - go take a nap! :-)
-juice
-mike
a leak in the exhaust that close to the oxygen sensor can cause misreads, which alters the engine's fuel mix.
-Colin
Of course, time is also a factor -- right now, I don't really have the free time to be doing this sort of work. Come mid-June, I will have 2-1/2 months of free time (I'm a teacher), but I just don't have it now.
I could go ahead and do the oil change & coolant flush at my favorite quick oil change place (an independent operator, not a chain!) where I've gotten to know the owner and the folks who work there and that I trust (they let you watch them work through a window from the waiting area), but that doesn't bring the coolant odor problem to the attention of the dealer, who I would have to involve if it is a head gasket leak. I got under it yesterday afternoon (stupidly ruining a white polo shirt - just didn't realize how, er, thick, I've gotten) and did not find or see any leaking coolant.
Maybe just do the quick oil and coolant changes and see if the coolant odor is still an issue. If so, then go to the dealer. I certainly don't mind not shelling out $429.
--K9Leader
;-)
I would think that not only would it disrupt the flow of exhaust near the O2 sensor, but it could theoretically change the operating temperature range of the O2 sensor, which could lead to inaccurate readings as well...
-Brian
Ken
but the big difference would be that if the exhaust gasses have somewhere else to flow besides straight down the exhaust pipe, the velocity will actually decrease. just think of a straw with a hole in it...
-Colin
I have been meticulous about following all preventive maintenance - 99% done with my dealer service. They have been great to date. Four months ago I had my 60,000, then an oil change then my transmission needs to be replaced - 7,000 miles after warranty. I expect to pay for normal things after warranty. But - as my service manager said - this is not normal "we just don't have to replace these things". Subaru will pay for part of it, which indicates to me that they are admitting that this should never have happened, but still want us to pay $1,000. That's a lot of money for something that shouldn't have happened. In addition to that - we have to have the motor replaced on the rear wiper ($200+). Another thing that "they never have to replace". I wouldn't have made an issue of that, but a transmission on a car that is touted to be a 120,000 to 150,000 mile car should not go at 67,000 miles.
This is our first car with Subaru. We understand that there are always cars that are exceptions. It has been our experience that a good car company will face up to that. My husband is furious, and it looks like it will be our last car with Subaru due to Subaru's attitude towards this subject. Are we out of line? I would appreciate some feedback. Also - we have gone through 1-800-SUBARU3 already. Is there someone else I can write to, or is that a waste of time. By the way - the rep on the line was very unbending and indicated to me that it was very unlikely that I would get satisfaction.
The auto boxes are indeed robust, so yes, it is pretty rare to see a failure this early. This is just my opinion, but Subaru seems to be helping out in good faith, I personally wouldn't expect any more than that. Some dealers would do absolutely nothing for you, they're at least paying for most of it.
Also, you'll get a one year warranty on the repair. You may want to ask if you can retro-actively purchase an extended warranty now. It'll cost about what you're spending anyway, and you'd be covered for a while longer. Ask, it won't hurt.
We spent $2500 in years 5-7 of ownership with our 626, about double what you're spending. It happens. Mazda did nothing, nothing to ease the pain. Full price for everything, too, parts and labor. $220 for an oxygen sensor, just the part? Ouch. I would have considered myself lucky to have half the cooperation you're getting. :-(
-juice
As for the wiper motor, I've had those go on a number of cars (normally because I felt the need to break them free from ice using the motor and not an ice scraper), it usually runs to the tune of $250 for the repair.
What I meant was the gases at the valves themselves. I remember reading something on Car Talk about an exhaust leak leading to higher temperatures that could damage the valves...
Ken
failure. I've seen situations where a minor issue with a tranny (kickdown lever adjustment, tranny computer connection got dirty, etc) was deemed a "failed transmission" by the dealer so they wouldn't have to troubleshoot the most complex assembly on the vehicle. I don't mean to cast aspersions on the dealer's mechanical capability, but they'd generally rather replace something for thousands than actually work for hundreds. Did you get a second opinion? It could well be that a qualified tranny shop could fix this issue. It's rare that a non abused and well maintained tranny fails at this low miles. How about some details on its behavior? I'm glad to hear Subaru is helping pay for this.
IdahoDoug
To disengage valet mode:
Open driver's door.
Depress and hold UNLOCK/DISARM button for more than 2 seconds.
Dash-mounted Status indicator light will flash once every two seconds.
FYI - To engage valet mode:
Open driver's door.
Depress and hold UNLOCK/DISARM button for more than 2 seconds.
Close all doors.
After locking the vehicle using the remote, the dash-mounted Status Indicator light will double flash every second.
DaveM
Cheers,
Steve