01 Outback 130k- Any Maintenance Suggestions???

[gijoe985]

Hi Everyone,

 

My wife drives a 2001 2.5l Auto Outback. She commutes over two small mountain passes for a total of 100 miles per day, 5 days a week. We're at about 130k on the car right now. I have not done the 120k maintenance, for two reasons- 1) short on time/money 2)I figured since the car gets 90% of it's miles from freeway driving, it could make it a little further before I had time to do the work.

 

My goal for this thread was to hear advice from Subaru enthusiasts. While I have a lot of mechanic experience, I'm not a Subaru specialist.

 

Other than the basic description above here is some more info-

 

*The car does go through a little water. I am assuming this is the common phase 2 2.5l head gasket problem. I've got the additive to put in when I flush the coolant. Hopefully that does it.

*I assume this is the coolant loss, but after longer drives (100miles+) you can smell, what I assume is, coolant. I think it drips down onto the exhaust.

*Lately, in the cold weather, there is a noise coming from the front driver CV joint area. Kinda of a ", thunk, thunk"m when making left turns. It seems to go away with the warmer weather. A friend at the dealer said that a tranny fluid change might fix that.

*Lastly, yesterday my wife (who knows little to nothing about cars) said the car was "not wanting go" when taking off from a stopped position. Though it didn't seem like she alluded to it idling rough. By the time she made the 50 miles trek home, the car was running fine. Anyway, that is why I am trying to go ahead and get all the maintenance done.

 

My questions- What should be done at the 120k? I know what the book says, but I feel that you guys might suggest more or less. For instance, timing belt? Do I need to do the pulleys? Should I do the water pump while I'm down there? Other than the timing belt and other typical tuneup stuff, is there anything else I should check/replace?

 

I looked at prices and getting the idler pulleys and whatnot is a huge step up in price. And I know some cars it is a must, while other it is not needed.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

[nickb21]

I'll go ahead and chime in; first question is what have you done as far as maintenance in the past 30k miles? T-belt? Air Filter, Fuel Filter, Plugs, Ign. Wires? That way we can rule out any of the normal wear items.

 

Cheers.

[gijoe985]

There has been nothing really done in the past 30k other than oil. Timing belt is the primary thing I am planning to change. I assumed it should have been done at 120k, but like I mentioned, I had to push it out a few months.

 

I guess my question is, what should I do other than tune up stuff and the belt itself. I am contemplating the idler pulleys, tensioner, and water pump. As well as fluid changes all around...

[Suzam]

T-Belt is 105k miles

 

SO YOU ARE WAY DUE!

 

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/subaru_maintenance.html

 

 

You are on borrowed time.

 

All else you mention would be the way to go for maintenance.

[gijoe985]

Well, as for the water leaking, I checked today and can visibly see some water coming from the head gasket area. Will a coolant change and the addition of that factory additive potentially fix that? It isn't hurting performance. Or as far as I can tell.

 

Should I just do the head gaskets? Since I'm already going in for the timing belt and water pump?

Edited March 28, 2010 by gijoe985

[Suzam]

Most of these gaskets weep on the driver's side on the underside of the head. If it's not too bad the additive should slow if not stop it. Just keep an eye on the coolant level and make sure it doesn't get too low. Keeping a bottle of 50/50 mix in the back wouldn't hurt for security, and show anyone that drives the car what to look for and how to add fluid if needed.

 

If it continues to leak cars101.com posted a link on 3/18/10 that says there is an aftermarket headgasket but offered little info.

 

Click here for the link