nathh

Hello all, looking to get a rear spoiler for my '97 outback wagon - anyone know where I can pick one up?? (see "Rear Spoiler-Wagon" at http://www.subaruparts.com/catalog/?section=74#420) Thanks for the help! Nat

Hi-- My 97 Outback is having odd overheating problems, though I'm of the [hopeful] belief that it's not a headgasket problem. My dealership just outside of boston hasn't really been very helpful in all this so I thought maybe you all might know of a dealer/independant mechanic who shoots straight and knows a lot about subarus in the Boston area. thanks for all responses

I hope you don't have any trouble, but if you do, Ray's Good News Garage comes highly recommended (owned by Click and Clack from Car Talk, at least one of them works there). they're in cambridge, number is (617) 354-5383 Good luck

thanks guys The car overheated once. I mean SERIOUSLY overheated, needle off the guage. the dealership wants me to get a HG job, I'd of course rather not, so I want to check every possible alternative. given that the car overheated that time, and now takes just 1.5 miles for the engine to heat up to normal operating temperature -- are there any other possible solutions BESIDES the HG? thanks

Sometimes when I start my car up, usually in the morning when it's cold, there's a sound which seems to be coming from my dash board which sounds just like running water. it sounds like a small stream rippling directly behind my instrument panel. what's THAT all about? thanks!

I have the same problem man. All I can say is that ALL of us should call that subaru number (1 800 Subaru4 something like that) get case numbers and COMPLAIN. this is a huge problem with these cars and they have completely abandoned us.... of course, if yours is newer than '99 I think subaru will pay for your head job

Thanks for your help, I guess I'll have to go ahead and do it with the dealership (despite the fact that they charged me $210 for a mis-diagnose then a correct diagnosis). Final question: if I have this done what is the likelihood that this will happen again? I've read many posts on this site from people saying they've had to have it done up to three times!! if that's the case I'll have to sell the car....

Hey-- I've given in to the fact that I'll need a headgasket replaced on my '97 Subaru outback wagon. The dealership wants $1300 - 1500 for the job. Was wondering if you could verify this price range, decent? What about a non-dealer, probably cheaper, any idea how much THAT would be? also, are there any clear advantages to having the dealership do it? I assume there's no warranty, just the hope that the dealer knows the car better than a non-specialist huh? worth the extra $$? Thanks for any help Nat

subaru fans- I have a '97 outback limited wagon. I completely love it and want to hang on to it as long as possible. the problem is this: last week I noticed that the temperature gauge was noting SLIGHTLY higher than normal temperatures. you've probably noticed that the subaru temperature pins usually remain at just below half way up the gauge. well last week it was half way up, so I decided to take the car in for 'preventative maintenance.' the next day they said they'd fixed it, said they'd cleaned the radiator, new thermostat and gasket. great. two days later as I was driving around I happend to look down and found the needle completely off the temperature gauge, in the bad direction. I pulled over and turned the car off. took it back to the dealership and they say it's the headgasket. to be honest though, it doesn't seem they've made much of an effort to verify this diagnosis. now I'm still relatively young and not exactly rolling in cash, $1500 is a lot of money! I haven't noticed ANY loss of power which I've read usually accompanies a head gasket problem. can any of you think of other possible problems that woulde cause the engine to overheat? how much stock should I put in the dealership's diagnosis? is it pretty straightforward to determine it's a head gasket problem or are they sort of just making a best guess? should I get a second opinion?? thanks very much for all responses