To fix or replace

[charm]

'00 Outback Limited, 216k miles, auto transmission.

 

Very clean body and interior except the bumpers (sad part of city living).

 

In the next 10k miles it's going to need the timing belt, new headgaskets (last shop, 100k miles ago, used the standard headgaskets and not the turbo or six star (?) gaskets), transmission, and now the A/C is full of issues (see other post by me trying to figure out how to resolve that for a couple hundred bucks rather than $1200).

 

Without a garage, I can't do any of the work myself.  Seems that paying a shop to do the work is the only way to go.  That means the car needs somewhere in the vicinity of $6k worth of work.  Once it's done, I'd have a car good for, in theory, another 200k with regular maintenance which would NOT include rebuilding the A/C, the transmission, or the head gaskets again.

 

On the flip side, I could buy another car and potentially have to deal with these issues again. 

 

Either way, I'm eating up more savings than I was planning on, but I won't finance any of it! 

 

What would 'you' do?  Would you start over or work with this?

[Gloyale]

Headgaskets and a Timing Belt should not be more than $2000

 

How do you know it needs a transmission?

 

A/C can be expensive but it sounds mostly like you need a better more realistic priced mechanic.

 

Where's the Suby specialist shop in Seattle?

[charm]

The timing belt and headgaskets are about $2k, a little more with valve adjustments and a complete reseal of everything...while they're there.  The Transmission is closer to $3k.
 
The only problem that concerned me when I bought the car was the transmission.  Everything BUT the transmission had been impecably well cared for.  The transmission had never had its fluid changed up to that point at 125k miles.  I knew this day would come.  Between the torque bind and all sorts of issues finding a gear, and both of these issues getting worse, and the mechanic's confirmation of my worst fears, it's the transmission.
 
I go to All Wheel Drive Auto in Kirkland (near Seattle).  Their reputation is great, the work they've done on the car for me has been excellent, and their rates are considerably more reasonable than my last mechanic, a solid 30% less.  Plus, based on the fact that the last mechanic used the same crappy head gasket that Subaru did, their extra charge really wasn't worth it.  Smart Service was their name.  I used to be a big believer in them, but their prices and their head gaskets, well, they've lost me.
 
The A/C is a tough deal.  It's a couple hundred bucks just for them to open the system and stay within the law while doing so.  Then, because Subaru doesn't make a replacable A/C clutch (the main problem) I have to replace the entire compressor.  Then, because the mechanic thinks it has a slow leak, I have to replace a couple hoses just so that the o-rings can be replaced.  If Subaru made just the o-rings, the mechanic could warranty the repair without replacing the hoses.  But, Subaru doesn't so the mechanic can't do the work and stand behind it.  And all I really need is a new clutch!  If Subaru made that part replacable, the A/C system wouldn't need to be opened up at all.

[idosubaru]

i'd install a used trans and have the headgaskets/timing belt done.

 

used trans can be installed for $500 - $750. $300-$500 for part and $200-$400 for install.

www.car-parts.com

 

add head gaskets and you're getting close to only $2,000 total.

 

can you live with the headgaskets for now?  spread out the costs or even to get another year or two out of it?  those era's don't typically get worse very quickly if you can tolerate checking/adding fluids...but sometimes replacement gaskets fail differently or worse than originals.

[charm]

I'll chat with the mechanic today.

 

My concern is the economy of scale with these repairs.  The timing belt is do in about 10k, because, well, it's been almost 100k since it was done.  It's basic maintenance and I'm fine paying for that job. 

 

But, you're in there that far removing and replacing things you'd have to remove for the headgasket replacement so why not go to that next step while you're in there and save a few bucks?  If the mechanic thinks I can get away with 30k miles on the headgaskets, I'll consider putting it off.

 

But, if you're doing the transmission, and it won't go another 30k, why not do the headgaskets while you're opening up that end of the engine?  I'll chat with him about replacing the transmission with one I supply.  I know he won't guarantee it, and I'm not real sure how to find one that will be reliable without having a tranny shop look it over, at which point you might as well have them rebuild the thing and then you're into it for almost $3k....  I'll look up buying a used tranny in the search.

 

The AC stuff, well, with all this work I'm having them do, maybe they'll give me a discount!?!

[charm]

I love my mechanic!

 

We had a good chat where he calmed me down about everything, although, sadly, his crystal ball is broken.

 

-Transmission:  He said, 'wait until it fails.'  Transmissions can be failing for years.  The issues I'm experiencing make the driving experience a little less enjoyable, but no less reliable.  Until there's a need to replace the transmission, we'll go on a wait and see timeline.

 

-Head gaskets:  It's barely a dribble.  There's no hydrocarbons in the coolant.  As long as I watch the oil levels, it's not likely to be a problem for a long time...although it could be a problem tomorrow.

 

-Timing belt:  With the above postponed until failure, might as well put off the timing belt until it's actually due, in about 10k miles.

 

-A/C:  He'll evacuate the system tomorrow, and refill it (and charge me for everything at the refill visit) and I'll replace some o-rings and the compressor inbetween.  All for $125.  Hopefully that will fix the problem!

 

 

 

His one suggestion for the needed now list was tires.  Despite my best efforts at keeping up with tire rotations, the front and rears have worn differently.  I'd like to get another 10k out of them, but, the transmission would be well served by replacing the tires sooner rather than later.  With a new job starting next week, and a long commute to get there, I'll replace the tires later this week.  Any suggestions?  I was thinking about the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. 

[idosubaru]

tires aren't going to hurt the transmission, if they still have tread use them.

 

if they're warn differently then you may need new bushings - might want to post pone replacing them until you post some pic's of the tires and how they're wearing, what might be out of alignment/need replaced.  no point in buying new tires, getting an alignment and finding out your new tires are wearing unevenly too.

 

i like the reviews online at tirerack and other online vendors, great to see so many reviews and then you can favor the comments you like - snow, highway, rain, longevity, traction, handling, noise...