satrinah Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Ok, I have had my Legacy LS for about 2 years. The milage is about 101K. This is what happens when it seems to overheat. It does it intermittantly, but there is loss of coolant at times. Sometimes not at all. Normally the temp guage sits just under half. When it does over heat, I do not let it get past 3/4 on the guage. Tonight, while driving, it was fine going up hill, and normal driving at a slower speed. When I started to accelerate, up to about 40-45, the guage started creeping up. I was very close to home so I just drove it, as normal, slowing down. When I entered my apartment complex, the speed limit is 5-10 mph. When I slowed down, the guage and temp started going down to normal. By the time I parked, it was where it normally is. I popped the hood and there was no steam, but I did not check the fluid levels since it was dark and I couldnt see well. It does this like every few months, moreso when it is cold out. When it is hot outside, I do not have this problem normally. I am hoping this is a thermostat problem or a radiator problem rather than a gasket problem. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eljefe Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Hmmmmm. I have a 90 Legacy and mine does almost the same thing. The temp gauge never goes above half, but the colder it is outside the more the cooling fan runs. When it's warm out everything is fine. I haven't seen any coolant leakage or steam, just the fan running all the time. Maybe it's just because we both live in AZ !! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Say the fan switch goes off at 195. You might have a 190 thermostat. When it was cold the thermostat could cycle more because as soon as the thermostat opened the cold radiator could cool it quickly enough to start closing off the water again. This could concievably keep the fan switch at a tempreature where it runs the fan more frequently just like it keeps your heater warmer. All this could make your temp guage go up. It is not overheating until it is boiling, just running hotter than normal. These are old cars now and you will see some cooling system changes. I might try another thermostat a few deagrees cooler if it was mine. Hopefully it is not the dread head gasket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satrinah Posted March 2, 2004 Author Share Posted March 2, 2004 Well, It is an east coast car, I bought it in philadelphia, but it is cold there. I am gonna check on the thermostat tomorrow, my day off and I am a pretty accomplished grease monkey, with my brother's help. Im checking the fluid levels today. I honestly don't think its the head gasket but I am not a superior grease monkey either. I've had other cars that do this, and yeah it could be because we live in AZ! I just dont want to lose my Suby, its been an extremely reliable ride. I will post and let eveyone know what I find out tomorrow. **** UPDATE ***** I just checked the fluids, and the radiator was EMPTY!!!! I put more fluid in it, and was very careful not to spill any, and guess what, I have a leak on the passenger side lower portion of the radiator. Since I need my car, I am going to do a quick fix for the minute, until I can buy a new radiator. I still want to check the thermostat, but I think the leak is the actual problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eljefe Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 I'll try the thermostat idea because my coolant level doesn't change. I put a thermometer in the radiator and the coolant temp cycles between 165 - 200 as the fan cycles on & off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 please also search this sight for coolant system purging, burping, entrapped air, etc. You will need those instructions after repairs are done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 That seems to be another somewhat common problem and a lot cheaper and easier than headgaskets. good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satrinah Posted March 3, 2004 Author Share Posted March 3, 2004 definitely better than head gaskets. i will have more information tomorrow when we pull everything apart. I will update and let you all know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satrinah Posted April 22, 2004 Author Share Posted April 22, 2004 ****UPDATE**** I know it has been a long time, but finally my brother and I have had time to work on the car. So this is what is happening now, and our ideas... We changed the thermostat and that was actually ok. However, there was no flow happening. So then we pulled the thermostat and let it run and no flow still, so we are now changing the water pump. Will update as we have more information. Also, there is a very small leak in the radiator that my brother said Alumaseal would work for at this point. So far, this has been pretty inexpensive. Next time, fixing the exhaust leak.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdoherty53 Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 ****UPDATE**** I know it has been a long time, but finally my brother and I have had time to work on the car. So this is what is happening now, and our ideas... We changed the thermostat and that was actually ok. However, there was no flow happening. So then we pulled the thermostat and let it run and no flow still, so we are now changing the water pump. Will update as we have more information. Also, there is a very small leak in the radiator that my brother said Alumaseal would work for at this point. So far, this has been pretty inexpensive. Next time, fixing the exhaust leak... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdoherty53 Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Hmmmmm. I have a 90 Legacy and mine does almost the same thing. The temp gauge never goes above half, but the colder it is outside the more the cooling fan runs. When it's warm out everything is fine. I haven't seen any coolant leakage or steam, just the fan running all the time. Maybe it's just because we both live in AZ !! LOL Those symptoms sound very like my 94 and if it will run OK without a thermostat it is probably worth trying a shunt across the heater If if is a blockage in the core it could stop the thermostat from opening and overheat badly and can be mistaken for HG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reveeen Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Plus too............... If the thing is anything like mine there seem to be about 100 (just kidding) small water hoses all over the engine. For me to tell you it isn't leaking/seeping water somewhere I *think* you could only take me at my word for 20 minutes or so. Though I am on a program of small water hose replacement (every time I work in an area I replace all the hoses in that area) it is far from complete. My temp gauge does not go over 1/2 unless there is trouble. Putting the front of my car on those el-cheapo ramps seems to allow me to fill the cooling system completely, though mine is a bit different animal, being turbo charged, and I have no bleeder. If it was me, I would put in a new thermostat and fill it up. Disconnecting my fans and trying not to get snagged in the fan belt(s) I would feel my rad for cold spots. Being a cross flow rad there shouldn't be any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9098 Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 I had the same problem with my 1990 Legacy a few years back. The shop put in an new radiator and a stock thermostat. Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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