[DLSEA]

I know there is a ton of info on here and I love it, just looking for some feedback because I am a complete car repair novice.

2005 Subie Outback 2.5i Limited, loved and maintained since the day I brought it home (new). 84,500 miles, in the shop today for rear brake pads and the oil leak that I've had for the last two months. Two months ago, they said it was a coolant leak and replaced a radiator hose. Still leaking, slow, but steady, seems like oil to me but they are still saying it's coolant.

They just called and said it's the cylinder head gasket - $1,950.00. I don't have that money right now, not even close. Do I have any options? I really was hoping to keep my Subie running for quite a while longer...

 

[DLSEA]

Thanks for the feedback! I just got off the phone with Subaru and they want me to take it into the local dealer for an inspection (you called that one!). She said that there is assistance available, but we shall see....

They want copies of my 30 & 60k maintenance records to be faxed over so I'll do that now.

I'll get it into the dealer next week for sure and follow up. It's not running hot at all but I'll definitely keep an eye on it.

Thanks again my fellow Subians. LOVE this forum.....

 

[DLSEA]

What he said - Call Subaru not the dealer. CALL SUBARU directly! Subaru is known for paying for some of or all of these when the case shows that the car has had proper care etc.

Also you will need to take to the dealer for the inspection and for Subaru to decide how much they will pay or do for you.

The price your shop quoted you would be an instant red flag and I would not be going back to that shop ever again for any type of service. WAY WAY OFF THE CHARTS price for that repair.

Good luck

I finally got my response from Subaru today and they have offered to pay for half of my repair costs at my local Subaru dealer! The repair is estimated to cost $1,714 for just the head gaskets or $3,000 if they also do the timing belt, tensioner and idler pulleys, water pump, thermostat, and oil pump. If the heads need machine work, it could be up to $900 more.

While I am thrilled that they have offered to pay half of the repair, I'm going to try for more, so I'll report back on any progress I'm able to make. What's your feedback on doing the additional repairs listed above at 84,000 miles? Is it worth it or not? I definitely plan on keeping the car.

BTW, thank you so much subiesailor, for recommending that I call corporate. Seriously appreciate that!

 

[DLSEA]

My Subie dealer was actually less than the independent mechanic first quoted me, so this may be a regional difference. The whole thing is obscene, no doubt.

I can try another Subaru dealer just out of curiosity.

 

[DLSEA]

After getting clarification from Subaru today, their offer is for $1500 towards the repair. The rep told me that it is their final offer but she recommended that I talk to the dealer and get them to lower their pricing. She said she thought I have a good shot since I bought the car there and have had it serviced there.

So I still need to know: do I need the additional work quoted for the $3000 job? Timing belt, pulleys, oil and water pump, thermostat?

 

[DLSEA]

Water pump is a life time part if the coolant condition has been kept up. Not something you need to do at 85K. A timing belt the very basic just replace the belt type effort a dealer can go as low as $300

I think Mother Subaru is giving you a hint that the dealer is VERY HIGH COST in their suggestion that you talk to the dealer about dropping the price some more. By the way the standard HG job cost to the dealer with labor and such is a little less than $1500 so even at $1500 your dealer is making a decent return on the HG job from Subaru.

At 85K and if the fluids were kept up and the car was serviced on a regular basis really all you need is the timing belt done and the HG fix. Along with fresh coolant in the system. Thermostat shouldn't cost you more than $95 to have the dealer install it.

You really should only be looking at $500 max in what really should be replaced when they do the Head Gasket job.
Some advice I would start looking for a different service shop after you get this fix done. Your dealer sounds like they have adopted the fleece the customer model.

Thanks for your great feedback. I'll be heading into the dealer in the next few days to do a bit of negotiating. Yes, Subie America is throwing the hints loud and clear - they even said to tell the dealer to call them directly re: pricing. Excited to get my car repaired and back in good shape!

 

[DLSEA]

One more thing: the dealer is saying up to $900 if the heads need to be machined. Shouldn't they be machined as a routine matter of doing the heads? Or no? Just part of my upcoming negotiations...

 

[DLSEA]

No its actually not very common to machine the heads. Re surface them yes they should do that they are not one in the same regarding cost or whats involved. When people hear machined its more of something we hear with long fragile heads that warp when not seated right or over heated. Which case machining the head on a long I4 engine or V6 or V8 heads is a must do when this type of job takes place. Though I will tell you even Toyota generally replaces these long heads when they have a failure given the long heads are fragile.

The very short and small compact heads Subarus have make them crazy strong and its not common to need to machine them. Resurfacing or surface prepping the mating surface yes but thats not a big deal and they should be doing that anyway.

When Subaru did my car - never over heated basically spotted the leak and said hey whats the deal. Subaru said yep well fix it. Dropped the car off at 10am picked it up the next day at Noon. All the dealer did was pull the head clean it up and reinstall it with a new gasket. If the engine was fine and never over heated prior to the HG job then thats basically all your car should need.

Perfect! My car is the same as yours, steady, small leak but no overheating. Hopefully this repair will keep him going for awhile. Thank you so much for the feedback. I'm becoming an expert is so many different areas lately

 

[DLSEA]

OK, so I've been negotiating with the Service Manager at my dealer. So far, he is offering me "warranty" pricing, the pricing that they give to Subaru of America. Yesterday I stopped by and we sat down as I listened to him talk about why I should replace the water pump, oil pump, etc. at the same time that I do the timing belt. He says that putting a super tight new timing belt on parts that are nearly 100k old is asking for trouble and that I'll need those repairs much quicker and at greater cost than if I do them now. Can't wait to hear your feedback...

Here's my pricing as of today: they'll do the head gasket for $1100 and the balance of the repairs for another $1150 (timing belt, oil pump, water pump, etc.). Subaru has offered to pay $1500 towards this deal so that leaves me out about $750. Is it worth it? Or should I just do the head gasket and timing belt, which I can get for the $1500?

 

[DLSEA]

Just wanted to let all you price watchers know that I called the three other Subaru dealers in San Diego County and they were all at least a thousand dollars higher than my current dealer! So much for that strategy. The morale to this story is don't buy a Subaru in San Diego, right? I'm going to put my $700 into this repair and drive off into the sunset - with many thanks to SOA for stepping up on this head gasket repair.

 

[DLSEA]

I found out today that our 07 OBW has a head gasket leak. I thought this was a problem for older models. I'm very disappointed. They're saying it may be $1,800. They will talk to the regional rep when he's in this week, see if they can do anything for me. I sure hope so!

If I were you, based on the great advice I got here, I'd go direct to Subaru of America at 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783). It certainly worked for me! Good luck.

 

[DLSEA]

It is both!

 

[DLSEA]

Subaru has looked at the car and told me this should not have happened, but fat chance Subaru is going to help since it happened just past warranty, though the rep I spoke to sounded very encouraging since this is my second Outback with headgasket failure. So you really shouldnt make comments about me personally without all the facts bro.

Anyone reading this forum should go to the NHTSA and file a complaint on their Subaru head gasket failure. This company needs to be held accountable for all of the financial losses they have caused their customers and all of the millions of dollars they are making in repair rip offs to faulty engines they designed in the first place.

Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

I get that you are beyond irritated - we all get that. But my Outback is 8 years old and SOA is paying for the entire head gasket repair - plus another $400 towards the timing belt & extras. It's at the dealer now. They called me today to tell me that it didn't pass the final testing, that they discovered that some sensor was bad as well as both catalytic converters. Parts have to be ordered and all this will be covered under warranty! I couldn't be more thrilled with the service I've received from Subaru at this point.

I agree with SubieSailor - if you play nice and respectful with SOA (and the dealer, no matter how repulsive they are), it just might reflect back to you. Good luck!

 

[DLSEA]

The Final Head Gasket Episode (I hope)

What he said - Call Subaru not the dealer. CALL SUBARU directly! Subaru is known for paying for some of or all of these when the case shows that the car has had proper care etc.

Also you will need to take to the dealer for the inspection and for Subaru to decide how much they will pay or do for you.

The price your shop quoted you would be an instant red flag and I would not be going back to that shop ever again for any type of service. WAY WAY OFF THE CHARTS price for that repair.

Good luck

My huge thanks to SubieSailor and the others who pointed me towards Subaru of America. My car was at the dealer for a week and a half and I just picked him up today. My final bill was $171. I cannot for the life of me figure this out but I am not complaining. Subaru covered over $4,000 in repairs for me: both head gaskets, timing belt, oil pump, water pump, all the idlers, pulleys, etc., plus two new catalytic convertors, some bad sensor and on and on. I feel like I have a brand new car! As a single Mom counting pennies, I cannot tell you how much this means to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! :rahrah:

 

[DLSEA]

I'm so happy for you! That's fantastic. Happy Thanksgiving!