[ptiz]

My car overheated so i took it to a garge and they pressure tested it and replaced a radiator cap and it was fine for a day. Then it overheated again, so i took it to a subaru dealer. they replaced the thermostat and some other caps and a week later it broke again. This time it only overheats sometimes. When im on the freeway it is fine, its heating up at lower speeds and idle.

The dealership thinks its a bad head gasket and wants to take apart the engine to look. If there is something wrong with it my warranty will take care of it, less the deductible. If theres nothing wrong, then I have to pay the bill, aprox 2500.

[upncummr]

While you're waiting for some answers, you might try a Google search for symptoms of a blown head gasket and see what comes up. Then you can match up your symptoms and see what you think.

Here's an example.

MotorSports Digest

Engine Overheating - Possible Blown Head Gasket? Syptoms and Repairs

Gary

[ptiz]

thanks ill check that out.

but i figured i would get the best advice from some of the real sti experts on the forum.


anyone have any ideas?

[ptiz]

update: normally my car is fine at highway speeds, but on the way to the dealership last night it was overheating even there.

i am having the dealership do a hydro carbon test. still i want any input i can get before agreeing the the teardown.


please any ideas?

[PhantomSTi]

Have you recently drained the radiator at all? Have you checked your overflow tank? Also, have tried filling up the radiator with more water/coolant and then burp the radiator? (Burping is done by allowing the car to idle and heat up enough without the radiator cap on, you allow all the air bubbles to be extracted from the system).

[ptiz]

radiator fluid was changed, overflow tank is full, and it has been burped

[swpMike16]

I'm sure u checked but is the radiator fan operating?

[PhantomSTi]

See any white smoke perhaps? Have you dipped your oil recently? If you haven't dip it to check if it's a nice Chocolate Milk color(Water/Coolant mixing with Oil). If you've done all of these things and everything seems to be fine, my bet is on a fractured head gasket.

A fractured head gasket will have the over heating characteristics of a normal blown head gasket, with zero of the symptoms stated above.

[ATTI2D]

Add loosing coolant to that mix and id vote YES.

[hoffit]

Originally Posted by swpMike16

I'm sure u checked but is the radiator fan operating?

I agree with checking the fans. If they aren't coming on,check the switch, relay, and fuse. The fan not running is a sympton of running fine and then over heating at idle.

[ptiz]

they replaced the radiator and it was fine for a bit. the fans are turning on. coolant is full and its starting to overheat. they said the engine is fine, the pressure tested and block tested it. when i picked the car up this time they said they were crossing their fingers that it was fixed.


whats the lemon law rules? am i past the mileage amount at 67k with a 100k warranty

[hoffit]

Originally Posted by ptiz

they replaced the radiator and it was fine for a bit. the fans are turning on. coolant is full and its starting to overheat. they said the engine is fine, the pressure tested and block tested it. when i picked the car up this time they said they were crossing their fingers that it was fixed.


whats the lemon law rules? am i past the mileage amount at 67k with a 100k warranty

They didn't check to see if your water pump is working properly? I don't know the lemon laws but I'd say if you have 67K with a 100K warranty, they should have to fix it.

[ptiz]

its been a while but i am still dealing with this problem a month and a half later. please help me.

from the beginning..


i took it in to turlock subaru because it was over heating. they replaced the radiator cap and some other things and sent me on my way.

a couple weeks later i take it back because its over heating again. this time they replace the radiator.

a couple weeks later its overheating again. i take it to seaside subaru, they find nothing wrong and cant replicate the overheating.

a couple weeks later i take it to san jose subaru because its severely overheating. they see the problem and think that turlock subaru didn't burp it correctly over a month ago. they burp it and send me on my way.

two days later the car is overheating again real bad. i take it to seaside subaru again. they confirm the overheating and think that its a cracked block. i dont remember why but they dont think its a head gasket. they think my extended warranty will deny my claim. a hydrocarbon test shows exhaust fumes in the coolant, and my warranty wants me to tear down the engine for a rep to inspect it. the tear down costs 900. they say the rep wont be able to see anything and will deny the claim. they said my best bet is to take the car back to san jose subaru where i bought the car and the warranty is more likely to honor the claim. he said if they dont honor it i have to pay 5300.

i talked to danny, the owner of xx tuning who, among other people, continue to insist that it is a bad head gasket.

the service rep from seaside subaru, where the car has been for over a week, has been talking to subaru of america to see if they will do a courtesy repair out of good faith because i just got out of the 60k powertrain warranty that subaru offers. im currently at 69k and i started having problems at roughly 66k



what do you experts think i should do?

thank you

[ptiz]

come on someone help me out

[ptiz]

reallly? no input at all?