Engine does not pull the coolant back from the expansion tank so it has to be transferred back to radiator with a siphon after driving a trip or two. 17t4,000 miles on it
First thing I would suspect is a bad radiator cap.
4 Likes
+1
Try a new rad cap… let us know what happens…
2 Likes
one more thing about the situation that I didn’t mention… the ac is spotty, i’ve had it charged several times but it doesn’t seem to keep. thanks.!
If this is a 4 cylinder I’d suspect a bad head gasket.
2 Likes
yes, it’s 4 cylinder. It was one of my suspicions, also. thanks I’ll consult my mechanic on it of course
Before jumping on a head gasket exchange, try a new radiator cap. But also make sure the hose between the overflow and the radiator is not cracked, clogged or hardened and makes a good seal on both ends.
If that hose attaches to the overflow cap, than make sure the hose inside the tank that hangs from the cap is firmly attached, not cracked or hardened and is clear.
If the overflow hose attaches to the tank, again make sure it is good but also that the molded tube that goes down the side of the tank is clear and not obstructed. It opens at the lowest point in the tank and can fill up with debris or slime.
One last thing, at your miles you maybe coming due for a new timing belt. If you decide to do the head gaskets, negotiate for a new belt kit as all of the labor required for a new belt kit is already covered in the labor for the head gaskets. Do them both at the same time to save a lot of money.
3 Likes
good point. I am gathering info so that when I talk to my mechanic, I can already have an idea of a full picture. thanks.
On the subject of mileage, it looks like we should drop the “t” and assume the car has about 174,000 miles, correct? BTW, Gates recommends changing the timing belt at 105,000 miles. Has the belt been changed before? If it was changed near 105,000 miles, you might have 30,000 miles left on it. There is usually a time limit too although Gates doesn’t show it. If you don’t know, assume it was never changed and get it done immediately. It’s an interference engine and will likely be destroyed if the timing belt breaks while driving.
1 Like
yes, jtdropthe"t"… it was a typo that I noticed after i posted and didn’t see how to edit it. time for full timing disclosure. I don’t own this car, yet. I’m interested in buying it and I’m trying to investigate what might be causing the issues to know what needs to be fixed. I’ve only messaged the seller and asked questions. said timing belt was done awhile back. wasn’t specific. also head gasket awhile back. he got the car at 111,000 miles. the car is well priced and would still be worth it to make the investment to fix it. so, I’m looking for insight on what’s up before I go ahead. My mechanic is a car whisperer and likes Subarus. So do I (but why?I think it’s their logo- the constellation Pleiades- I think I’m from there originally. 
) So I like and appreciate everyone giving their take on the issue. I’ll let you know what happens.
1 Like
RUN AWAY, FAST! An old Subaru with cooling system problems is not what I’d consider.
3 Likes
Budget $3000 for the engine repair. Your mechanic will profit from your car deals.
1 Like
Yes, agreed, keep on looking. All the warning signs are there…
1 Like
I expect so that he will profit. after all, it is his business, his livelihood and how he supports his family. I respect that. I still haven’t heard from him today. He is the busiest guy in town. everyone takes their car to him because he does the job once and does it right and charges 1/2 the hourly rate of the dealers. It takes about 2 weeks to get an appointment. I appreciate your comments. But until I actually hear from him, I’m reserving my judgement and decision. I’ll let you know.
1 Like
Another vote to pass on this vehicle . The amount for the car plus the repairs that it will need will put you in a better vehicle.
1 Like
I’ve been looking around my area for over 2 months. fyi. I’m on a tight budget, kids. Everything I can afford is either in worse condition than this one, or so far away that I can’t get there to see it. Still looking. 
How many seats do you need? If it’s more than four, you might consider a minivan. Since they are less popular than SUVs, they should depreciate faster than SUVs. I wasn’t big in minivans until we got our first in 1995. We are on our third and our three children are on their own. We think the design is excellent with room for 6 to 8 and lots of cargo room. You might look at a couple near you and see what you think. Gas mileage will be at least as good as an SUV.
1 Like
I had that problem on my Ford truck a few years ago. A new radiator cap was all it took to fix it. Take a look at your radiator cap, the wet side. On my t ruck there’s two concentric gaskets. The inside one is used to set the cooling system operating pressure. The outside one is used to create a vacuum to pull fluid from the expansion tank back into the radiator when the engine cools. My cap had easy to see cracks in the outer gasket. I filed the surface on the radiator that gap mates too at the same time, so it was perfectly flat, but I doubt that was necessary.
thank you George. I like your thinking. I’ll be looking into that first before anything more serious. I don’t know if you saw I posted that it is a car I’m going to look at to buy. So I am finding out stuff. Your description makes a lot of sense. I’ll let you know what happens.
1 Like
