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06-02-2004, 12:15 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33943
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
|
Major problems with my RS...
OK, so three months back, I had a problem with my throttle body. I originally thought it was an oil leak because it looked brown and was somewhat oily. Well after some investigation, it was found to be a coolant leak from my throttle body. ~$850 later, I had a new one and was on my way.
Fast forward to about a month ago... another leak from my car which appears to be the same oil/coolant. I took it to the dealership and they told me it was a head gasket and that it would be covered under warranty. But the next day, after further inspection, they call me back and say that it is a hard tube feeding coolant to (or from?) the engine which somehow got a hole in it (which dripped into the head and made it look like that was leaking). They then tested my suspicious looking coolant and found that it had absolutely no cooling ability because it was so contaminated (although I've never had any overheating problems). So they flush the system and replace the tube, and refill me with fresh green coolant. ~$300 later, I'm on my way... So after all this, I start reading up on what could possibly have happened to my coolant and find that it could be an internal head gasket leak. So I go to check the levels in my car today, and sure enough, my coolant liike like a nasty brown mess! It is still full and hasn't leaked, but there's definately some kind of contamination (it's gotta be oil right?). The same crap that ate away at my throttle body, AND ate through my coolant line. I also checked my oil and it was down almost a full quart, but it looked clean. The questions is, where do I go from here? Is there any way Subaru would cover it under their HG warranty? I had the additive added both times I went for repairs, but I also read that it only covers external leaks. Should I write them a letter or something? Do I sell my baby and hand off the problems to someone else (guilty conscience)? I've already had over $1000 in repairs done to my car for this stupid problem and as much as I LOVE my car, I'm getting sick of this, very quickly.
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06-02-2004, 12:56 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 33901
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego
Vehicle:04 04 STI No AWD, Not interested |
You should gather all of your receipts regarding this and have them ready to send to SOA. You may want to have someone else inspect your car(Cert.SubyMech) and review the recall or tsb for the headgasket leak.
Hopefully another member can aide in this. BTW, they reimbursed me for the problems I had with the HG's but it was not as involved, to an extent, as yours. Good luck |
06-02-2004, 01:07 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33943
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
|
Thanks for the reply joubtt... Both times I took it in, it went straight to the local Suby dealership. Nothing was ever mentioned about a possible internal HG failure or any other reason as to why my coolant was contaminated. They didn't even suggest flushing the system after the first leak. But I probably should have had them do it anyways. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of HG problems did you have?
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06-02-2004, 01:20 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 33901
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego
Vehicle:04 04 STI No AWD, Not interested |
Sent pm and if you don't press the issue at some places with info to back up your statements, they may not treat you properly.
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06-02-2004, 01:21 PM | #5 |
Floresbian
Moderator Member#: 470
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Riverview, Florida - U.S.A.
Vehicle:2020 Canyon Denali '21 Forester & '13 BRZ |
Call 1-800-SUBARU3...discuss your issues with them.
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06-03-2004, 01:56 AM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 105
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Fremont, CA 94538
Vehicle:2000 Legacy GT Ltd WHT |
Ask the dealer and see if your car is included in the "engine coolant conditioner" service program. If so, make sure they perform the service. This would extend the head gasket warranty to 100K mile. Also ask them to test the coolant for carbon mono-oxide. If there is CO present inside your coolant, you have a blown head gasket.
If you did the coolant conditioner service, SOA should warranty the head gasket for you. |
06-03-2004, 12:43 PM | #7 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33943
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
|
Quote:
These people are no help. I guess I'll have to return my car to stock and sell it before anything else breaks. |
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06-03-2004, 01:24 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33943
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
|
Under the suggestion of the SUBARU3 lady, I made an appointment to have my car looked at again. I called the dealership and they said that in order to check if it has an internal HG leak, they would need to send the heads out to a machine shop. Cost: $300 (just to comfirm the leak). And since it probably does have a leak, I would be stuck paying the fee and trying to sell the car before it goes completely, or paying the $1200 HG fee (and probably the $300 check fee as well since it's an outside shop doing that work).
Does anyone have any more ideas? Is there any other way oil could get into the coolant? Is it possibly something other than oil? I guess I will find out on monday, thats when my appointment is. As much as I love my car, I hate it. Maybe I'll buy a bug-eye rex instead... |
06-03-2004, 04:41 PM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 105
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Fremont, CA 94538
Vehicle:2000 Legacy GT Ltd WHT |
Supposely dealership has tester that can detect CO, carbon mono-oxide in your coolant. If CO is present in your coolant, you HAVE head gasket leak for sure. There is no need to take the cylinder head off.
Sounds like they are just trying to get you back out of warranty claim on head gasket. |
06-03-2004, 09:36 PM | #10 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 6486
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: S.E. wisconsin
Vehicle:00 Impreza 2.5 RS Blue Ridge Pearl |
sjyankee, what year is your car? how many miles?
It could possibly qualify for the lemon law depending on your state. If you are within 3 yr/36k non of the repairs you had should have cost a thing. If it were me I would go back and start smackin. |
06-05-2004, 01:39 AM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 21118
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: LI, NY
|
ENGINE SWAP!
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06-05-2004, 10:45 AM | #12 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33943
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
|
Quote:
I'm still debating whether to replace the HG and live with it (and hope nothing else breaks) or sell it and buy a WRX (but that would mean more payments, more insurance, more gas $). hhmmm, how much is that engine swap again? sooo tempting. |
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06-05-2004, 12:14 PM | #13 | ||
Street Racing Instructor
Moderator Member#: 110
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: 1997 OBS, 1996 SVX, 1988 RX
Vehicle:1989 1989 XT6 |
Quote:
Quote:
Then when the car REALLY seemed like it had a headgasket leak, they want to charge you for confirmation. Why didn't they try to charge you for comfirmation the 1st time? On the other hand, they could've took the same assumption as the first time and repair it under warranty. Someone is pulling your leg. |
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06-05-2004, 01:13 PM | #14 | ||
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33943
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
|
Quote:
Quote:
I just don't know why they didn't look at my oil filled coolant as suspicious in the first place, or why they didn't even mention it. I didn't know what was going on and didn't look into it until recently... |
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06-05-2004, 01:34 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 105
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Fremont, CA 94538
Vehicle:2000 Legacy GT Ltd WHT |
Does your car overheat at all? My car also had a blown HG even after the additive service. Dealership finally determined it was a blown HG and they got approval from SOA to replace the HG under warranty.
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06-05-2004, 06:54 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33943
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT
|
No, may car has never overheated. Was your HG an internal or external leak? I was told mine wouldn't be covered if there is an internal leak. It only covers external leaks from the left side (I think), and that right side leaks would have to be looked into before they get covered.
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