ThosL

My 2.2 overheated a couple of days ago for the first time. I pulled over, a fellow who wanted to help drove by, and said his best guess was a stuck thermostat. Symptoms were: Temp gauge getting into the danger zone. Every time I let it cool and drove it overheated within 5 or so minutes. Heater did not blow hot air. Finally, when I let it sit 30 minutes or so, the water level went down and I refilled with antifreeze and water. Did not overheat after that. I called mechanic and said the coolant fluid looked brown; he said that was the tell tale sign of a blown head gasket. I will have him check it out tomorrow, probably changing the thermostat is the minimum needed. Anyone else have diagnostics on this?

They spent an hour on diagnosics. They came up with active problem codes for pressure sensor and cat converter. I am expecting to hear back from the original repair shop that I believe replaced that. It could be a short caused the pressure sensor to burn out.

I am at the dealer now. I decided to bite the bullet on a diagnosis on my Outback. I'll pass on my experience here. And no, I will not let them replace the Cat converter.

The mechanic I have used here is good in general with work they know how to do. Not good in complicated engine diagnosis. Do mechanics admit they cannot do a job, or something went wrong? Very unlikely. I have dealt with mechanics who pretty much insist on cash, no check, credit card, etc.. We supposedly live in a system of law and order. Reporting unethical licensed pros to the tax authority or the state regulatory agency, consumers affairs, repair oversight facility, is not something most of us want to do. We are all entitled for good work for the money we spend and an invoice. The law requires a written estimate before work is performed but do we ask for that? Don't allow yourself to be bullied into silence, folks.

I was looking for feedback on this topic--reporting sub-standard work by mechanics or other such licensed professionals. Does it do any good for the sake of other customers? Do the relevant authorities actually do anything to correct specific issues? Will other garages, mechanics do a better job if they could get reported for not doing good work?

I stopped at a dealer in Brattleboro, VT who has no time until next week. Also, a recommended repair place, also booked up until next week. Anyone know someone good at diagnostics in this area who is not busy, busy, busy?

Thanks for the information. I will probably go to the local dealer since J and J may not be that competent but they are better than I am with technical diagnosis. I bought this car from Latinos in Bridgeport for $3000; they got it from a Sikorski worker for $1200 who had gotten red flag diagnostics from his mechanic, head gasket, etc.; they ran head gasket in a can through the engine and "solved" the problem temporarily which later manifested. J and J did a head gasket job on it for $1500, which brought up the compression so a bad crank manifested. At that point I had another garage install a 2.2 for around $1500. The tranny went bad due to lack of fluid, which they should have checked when I paid them for a tranny maintenance. It has been OK since I had a replacement.

Thanks for the info. Chances are that J and J would have found anything obvious like this with all the hours they have spent on it. I may just go to the dealer and pay their $90 an hour to nail the problem down.

I just got back from Auto Zone where I had the man there run the code check for both the 2.2 and 2.5; same result. PO106 (map sensor) PO420 (cat. converter or O2 sensor?) P1143 (undefined) Anyone have guidance on the next step?

I just got back from Auto Zone where I had the man there run the code check for both the 2.2 and 2.5; same result. PO106 (map sensor) PO420 (cat. converter or O2 sensor?) P1143 (undefined) Anyone have guidance on the next step?

I have always shied away from car dealers because they are usually the most expensive. I stopped at one today and they said they would probably be able to zero in on the problem in an hour or an hour and a half. Is this worth doing? I have had a garage do my diagnostics up to this point. Problem is a switch over from a 2.5 to a 2.2 engine with emissions issues and CEL never goes off. Any thoughts on this?

Check engine light has been on the whole time. O2 unit did not come up on the diagnostic by the mechanic. Only map/maf sensor and cat converter and EGR. Would a Subaru dealer be able to do the diagnostic right without charging me $$$? I have brought the Subaru back 3X to J and J without success.

I'd consider a 2.2 engine replacement. The one that a garage put in mine he installed for around $1500 including the engine. It had around 75K on it and was in great shape.

When it was first installed it was extremely fuel efficient, the 2.2 is a much better engine in that regard. Actually when my reserve tank warning light was working, it would let you know when you were 20 or so miles from running out. The best I ever did with a tank, one of the older Subarus I owned was over 500 miles. I also used "Platinum gasaver" which gives the engine a hit of platinum vapors and rhenium gas. Not supposed to work according to the experts but apparently did!

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to get the technical information from J and J and post here. The miles per gallon have been falling since the job was done a couple of years ago. I was at over 440 per tank, we are now lucky to get 360 a tank. J and J said that the garage that did the job, Nuremberg in Lyndonville, VT (South end auto) might be able to help.

Probably. Do you think the mechanic is going to say "maf" if everyone is used to "map" sensor?

The garage just tells me it is coming up as the map sensor even though it has been changed. The state requires a clean check engine light, i.e. not on. Also, they put in a used cat converter which is also coming up on the code. The state grants a waiver on $600 or more of repairs toward emissions.

I had a low mileage 2.2 engine put in my 1999 Legacy Outback, with an original 2.5 engine after going through a head gasket job that brought up the compression to create new problems necessitating another engine. The problem here is I have not been able to pass emissions here in Connecticut. I brought it to J and J which has serviced this vehicle for the duration, but did not put in the used 2.2 engine; that was done by a Subaru repair facility in Lyndonville, VT. We have already spent a lot of time trying to bring the car up to code with parts changing without getting the emissions to pass. Paul says it is an electrical short in the map sensor that would have to be trouble shooted. Does anyone know if these problems are standard with 2.5 to 2.2 conversions and what is the usual successful path on this? Thanks.

Thanks for the information, ladies and gentlemen. I have a '99 Outback--2.5 engine. Head Gasket problem--took out the thermostat, tried to put in two new ones! I tried "Blue Devil" and other other fixit in a bottle and can! I have gotten a number of estimates for the job--prices ranged from $850 to $1300 and more. Mechanic says he can get it in tomorrow for a 2-3 day job. It's a group of local sharp Latin American immigrants who seem to be sharp. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks again for the excellent site, and forgive my request for personal attention on this painful odyssey. I am a loyal Subaru owner.