dickens

Help. I was hit near the right wheel by a car that required a new right front panel, new right front headlamps and alignment. My 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback Ltd. was so tweaked I couldn't drive it from the accident site). One month later my check engine light came on with PO483 message. Subaru dealership found that radiator fans were unplugged and plugged them back in, saying to me "That's why your engine has been overheating" (When actually, I had never noticed that it was overheating). I subsequently drove to CA, car overheated on Cajon Pass, was towed back to Vegas and told that I needed a new engine. Question of the day: could the collision company have failed to unplugged those radiator fans after they repaired my car? They are saying they did not touch them. But if I can prove that they had to touch them to repair my car, then my car was running without radiator fans for one month and I'm thinking the engine could've been damaged to the point that when the check engine light came on, it was already compromised. Which is why it made it all the way downhill to Los Angeles but didn't make it uphill home. Anyone have any thoughts? I need expert advice on this, think the collision company is hoping I won't have the knowledge to nail them... ms.dickens

Hi: I have a 99 Subaru Legacy Outback. Made a post back in early Jan (Mystery Overheating Engine). Returning to ask advice -- can a mechanic tell whether a block is cracked JUST by witnessing exhaust in the coolant system? I still owe on my car and can't EVEN imagine paying out $5K to get a new block at 113K miles. Should I have the mechanic run a test to be certain it's block vs gasket? Ms. Dickens

Thanks, will search right now. Ms. D

A few of you had said you'd be interested in an update -- I'm facing a pricey repair here and would appreciate any input you may have. Insurance company has denied claim that unplugged rad fans caused overheating. Subaru has continued to stand by their original statement that the block is cracked -- but when asked how they came to that conclusion (eg did they take engine apart?) they said it's because of exhaust particles (?) found in coolant system, or something to that effect. They have not actually SEEN the crack. But said the presence of the exhaust in the coolant indicates cracked block, and just replacing head gasket would not fix the problem. I still owe on this car, so would really appreciate any advice on how whether Subaru is feeding me a line of *%). Thanks.

Curious, how long was "too long"? Ms. Dickens

Hey there: It's ms. dickens, the one who started all of this. Sorry again for not responding, sent a message earlier apologizing...new to usergroups so I am completely oblivious to proper etiquette. I now understand that walking away from the computer after firing off a question is a bad thing because it wastes all your time. mea culpa. I will ask my husband to try the things you suggest. He noticed yesterday that the leak spots on our driveway seem to look more like coolant than oil, so we're now wondering if the car was leaking coolant prior to the PO483 light came on (and after it came back from the collison shop, where it got a new right front bumper, hood, axle work [i believe, can't find invoice], headlights. I was actually surprised the insurance company didn't total the car). Anyway, if collison shop failed to reattach the fans, could there have been damage to the engine or HGs w/o the temp gauge indicating overheating until my roadtrip up Cajon pass? (The car never overheated until the roadtrip, which was about 2 weeks after I got car back from collision shop. Before then it seemed to run fine, other than the "oil" leak we noticed on our driveway). By the way, prior to going up that pass we were stuck in stop and go holiday freeway traffic for about an hour because of an accident, and I did notice the temp gauge going up slightly, but not very much. As soon as traffic started again we were on the major uphill for miles. And the dealership didn't say how they tested the engine to determine the crack, I"ll have to ask. I've got lots of questions for them now, thanks... And again, thanks for your input and I apologize for not responding earlier.

I guess I'll have to discuss the unplugged rad fans withe the collision company. Curious how long it takes on H to cause HG issue. Does it just need to go to high for a few minutes? Because as soon as it went to high I pulled over and shut off the car... Thanks again for your input. Ms. Dickens...

I'm sorry for not getting back quickly --- I appreciate all of the GREAT information you all are relating. What an awesome group. I'm afraid it's been a heck of a day --when my four-year-old goes to bed I'll respond intelligently. Happy New Year to you and thanks again. Ms. Dickens...

1999 Subaru Legacy Outback. Trying to determine if recent accident or Subaru dealership at fault for engine overheat which is resulting in having to get engine replaced. Last Friday, Check Engine light came on. Took to Subaru dealer before heading out on 600-mile road trip after Christmas to fix and ensure car safe to drive. Also to check oil leak that had occured after a car smashed into my right front bumper in November. Subaru tech said check engine light was PO483, that engine cooling fans were not connected and reconnected fans. First of all, how would cooling fans not be connected? Could that be the fault of the collison company not re-connecting them after doing work post-accident? Secondly, on trip the car made it one-way, then overheated while climbing Cajon Pass in CA. We took to Victorville garage and they determined it was a thermostat problem, replace the thermostat, coolant and sent us on our way. We did fine for 150 miles until we started to climb up another big hill. I gunned the engine to keep up speed and it immediately went to H. We pulled over and the radiator had spewed coolant, engine was steaming. We called a tow truck and had it towed home 80 miles. Subaru dealership -- same one that diagnosed PO483 -- said we had a hairline crack in engine due to overheating and engine would need to be replaced. Can anyone help me figure out: 1) Could the Subaru dealership misdiagnosed the PO483 and be responsible for the overheat 2) What would cause the engine coolant fans to be disconnected? Does that happen spontaneously or would it be a human error? 3) How long would the engine need to run w/o the coolant fans connected to cause an engine problem? THANK YOU for any input you can give.