Timing Belt Change and what else....

[StructEngineer]

My 02 forester is at 98,000 miles and is due for a timing belt change at the stealership. Is there any sane reason I should get weeping headgaskets replaced at the same time? My prime concern is not getting stranded by a blown gasket in 10,000 miles. They're not leaking enough to be replaced under warranty, but enough to not really trust the car.

 

 

I also plan to get the tensioner, water pump, radiator hoses, t-stat, and drive belts replaced.

 

Any other words of wisdom are welcome.

[lostinthe202]

I'm not qualified to answer your question, but I can tell you that T-belt posts are like weeds on this board, ie everyone sees them and most will ignore them due to redundancy. You may get the answer about your head gaskets, but I suggest you edit the title of your post to mention them for a better pool of answers as the HG answer is really what you're after.

 

Of course, HG posts are just as prolific, but it would still pay to be on topic.

 

Good luck!

 

Will-

[OB99W]

[...]They're not leaking enough to be replaced under warranty, but enough to not really trust the car.

I assume what you mean by that is the HGs would be covered by warranty if the dealer agreed they were ''leaking enough''. In my opinion, if they're leaking sufficiently to not be trusted, then they should be replaced under any warranty that's in force. If the lost coolant and or/oil doesn't have to be topped up too frequently, and the replacement would be an out-of-pocket expense, then perhaps you should wait. Obviously, don't allow fluid levels to get low enough to risk engine damage. Have you asked the dealer how much more the HGs would cost on top of the timing belt expense?

 

 

I also plan to get the tensioner, water pump, radiator hoses, t-stat, and drive belts replaced.

Consider idlers, possibly seals.

[davebugs]

Yea - do some searching.

 

Off the top of my head. OEM crank and cam seals. Idlers(perhaps new tensioner).

 

If you plan on having it for a while I'd probably just yank it and do the HG's while I was at it. Also check the baffle plate - actually I'd reseal it. I also wouldn't touch the rear main.

 

Valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, Oil pump Oring (and check the screws).

 

Do some searching.

[bheinen74]

so, i dont understand, the headgaskets are leaking right now? and they wont replace it under warranty because why?

 

how many dealers have you taken it to to look at. If they are weeping, then they are in fact leaking, and they should warranty it, they know this is a problem and that is what the warranty is for.

[idosubaru]

if they're leaking and your vehicle is eligible for the head gasket campaign, they should be replaced. there is no "leaking enough" - either headgaskets are blown or they are not. yours are blown and will get worse, it is a failure.

 

i would pursue that some and take whatever means/avenues you need to in order to have the work done properly.

 

at least inspect all of the pullies, replacing any that aren't in great shape. they need to make it to 100,000 miles (that's 200,000 miles if they're left in place), that's not an area to neglect on an interference and long interval timing belt.

 

they should pull the cams and inspect all seals (cams and crank), replace any that are leaking.

 

i always pull the oil pump and reseal it since it only takes a couple minutes with the belt off. often a backing plate screw is loose and they should be reinstalled, most of us use lock-tite.

[johnceggleston]

"not leaking enough"

 

either she is pregnant or she isn't.

[Olnick]

"not leaking enough"

 

either she is pregnant or she isn't.

 

Exactly the analogy I was thinking of. "Ain't no way to be a little bit . . . !"