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Old 06-02-2004, 12:15 PM   #1
SjYankee006
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Unhappy 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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Old 06-02-2004, 12:56 PM   #2
joubtt
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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
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Old 06-02-2004, 01:07 PM   #3
SjYankee006
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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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Old 06-02-2004, 01:20 PM   #4
joubtt
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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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Old 06-02-2004, 01:21 PM   #5
Opie
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Call 1-800-SUBARU3...discuss your issues with them.
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Old 06-03-2004, 01:56 AM   #6
Jason
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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.
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Old 06-03-2004, 12:43 PM   #7
SjYankee006
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Quote:
Originally posted by Opie
Call 1-800-SUBARU3...discuss your issues with them.
So I just got off the phone with these people. The lady took my information and gave me a case #, but she basically said that nothing will be covered. The only thing she said would be covered is an external HG leak. I've spent $1151.29 on my car in the past 4 months, on just these issues and may need to replace a HG for another $1200!?

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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Old 06-03-2004, 01:24 PM   #8
SjYankee006
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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...
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Old 06-03-2004, 04:41 PM   #9
Jason
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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.
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Old 06-03-2004, 09:36 PM   #10
Tim Sanderson
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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.
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Old 06-05-2004, 01:39 AM   #11
Boxologist
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ENGINE SWAP!
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Old 06-05-2004, 10:45 AM   #12
SjYankee006
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Quote:
Originally posted by Boxologist
ENGINE SWAP!
Believe be, I would LOVE to do this, but I don't exactly have the funds right now.. isn't it something like $7k once all is said and done? Even if it was only 4 or 5k, I'd still have to take out a loan or something.

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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Old 06-05-2004, 12:14 PM   #13
Kevin Thomas
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Quote:
Originally posted by SjYankee006

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).
Quote:
Originally posted by SjYankee006
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).
Something seems really odd about these scenarios. Upon that first visit, they never mentioned anything about $300 to send your heads out to a machine shop to confirm a headgasket leak. They were already digging into your engine as if your headgasket was blown and assumed it was covered under warranty. Right?

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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Old 06-05-2004, 01:13 PM   #14
SjYankee006
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kevin Thomas
Something seems really odd about these scenarios. Upon that first visit, they never mentioned anything about $300 to send your heads out to a machine shop to confirm a headgasket leak. They were already digging into your engine as if your headgasket was blown and assumed it was covered under warranty. Right?
Well, at that time (the one you quoted), it was leaking from a coolant pipe, which was dripping onto the head, making it look like the head was leaking. And because it would have been an external leak, it would have been covered under warranty. In other words, they wouldn't have to send it out because it would have been obvious.

Quote:
Originally posted by Kevin Thomas
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.
They have never said anything to me about a possible HG leak (except for that first time, which was a false alarm). I called them about a possible internal leak because I have oil somehow getting into my coolant, and from what I understand, that is the only was it could happen (am I wrong?). So I called them and asked them if the could check for the internal leak and thats when they said that they would have to send the head out to a machine shop.

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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Old 06-05-2004, 01:34 PM   #15
Jason
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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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Old 06-05-2004, 06:54 PM   #16
SjYankee006
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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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