Just got the call - head gasket leak...

11328 Views 41 Replies 10 Participants Last post by DLSEA, Nov 23, 2014

DLSEA

Discussion Starter · Feb 12, 2013

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...

21 - 40 of 42 Posts

ScoobyRu

· #21 · Apr 11, 2013

Your dealer is beyond screwing you.

There is ABSOLUTELY no reason why adding the timing belt and water pump and oil pump should drive up the cost $1300. The timing belt has to come off and on for the head gasket job. The extra parts will be no more than $500 even at dealer marked up prices. The idlers are one bolt a piece. It will take them 5 minutes to do it. The water pump? Six bolts. Oil pump? Easy. Everything else is already off because of the head job.

I'm being dead serious about the next part. Call your dealer, tell him to go fck himself, and take your car to the dealer up the road.

subiesailor

· #22 · Apr 11, 2013

ScoobyRu said:
Your dealer is beyond screwing you.

There is ABSOLUTELY no reason why adding the timing belt and water pump and oil pump should drive up the cost $1300. The timing belt has to come off and on for the head gasket job. The extra parts will be no more than $500 even at dealer marked up prices. The idlers are one bolt a piece. It will take them 5 minutes to do it. The water pump? Six bolts. Oil pump? Easy. Everything else is already off because of the head job.

I'm being dead serious about the next part. Call your dealer, tell him to go fck himself, and take your car to the dealer up the road.

Make sure Subaru is OK with you choosing another dealer. They should be totally fine and might even have a suggestion as to who you should use. Dealers are 3rd party companies most people don't realize this. Thats why you always call Subaru directly when you have an odd failure like this. If the dealer were good from the start they would have made the call for you. The call would have been something like this "Hi this is Joe over at dealer ID XXX I have a very nice customer who has done all the proper care and services original owner and they have a failed Gasket out of warranty. Can Subaru help cover the cost? It does not sound like they did this nor had any interest in doing it given they saw high profit shop time attached to your pocket.

DLSEA

Discussion Starter · #23 · May 3, 2013

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?

rasterman

· #24 · May 3, 2013

Your timing belt will be due for replacement before the end of 2013 anyway, and you need to do a timing belt's worth of work to replace the water pump in these cars. I say do the whole thing, let them help, and enjoy your car for another 100k or so.

gcs363

· #25 · May 6, 2013

07 OBW with 59,800 - head gasket leak

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!

DLSEA said:
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

Discussion Starter · #26 · May 7, 2013

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

Discussion Starter · #27 · May 7, 2013

gcs363 said:
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.

subiesailor

· #28 · May 7, 2013

DLSEA said:
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.

Yep all the more reason I want Tesla's direct sales and maint from the company to happen. Dealers in CA are owned by massive Auto groups which are more or less price fixing car sales new and used along with repairs. I fully expect to see some price fixing lawsuits crop up against the massive Auto Groups in CA in the next year or two. CA LAW prevents us from going out of state to by a new car so seems fair that we should come down on the Massive Auto groups like a Pile of bricks for their regional price fixing.

NWSub

· #29 · May 8, 2013

Are they doing one or both??? for that price, i would expect both to be replaced.

If you are reallly tight on funds, i bet you could find a subaru tech to do it on his own time for a few hundred dollars. especially if its a on the car, no engine removal job.

DLSEA

Discussion Starter · #30 · May 8, 2013

It is both!

gfguy

· #31 · May 21, 2013

Both sides of HG blown on my 08 Outback limited. Don't bother calling Subaru
because they are full of you know what. They tell you to take it to the dealer so you can pay the dealer a diagnostic fee only to be told it will be 2500.00 dollars to repair and Subaru HQ basically told me to pound salt, in so many words.

My local dealer service department is notoriously a rip off here in a NYC suburb, so I took it to local mechanics for basic maintenance. So now what do I do? I have 94k and was told this car has been leaking oil for the past 20k miles. It is burning through coolant from the overflow container or somewhere.

This happened to my 98 OB limited, in addition to the transmission. Also, both cat converters went bad as well on both my 98 and 08.

I am done with Subaru, I think I will try a Honda.

subiesailor

· #32 · May 21, 2013

gfguy said:
Both sides of HG blown on my 08 Outback limited. Don't bother calling Subaru
because they are full of you know what. They tell you to take it to the dealer so you can pay the dealer a diagnostic fee only to be told it will be 2500.00 dollars to repair and Subaru HQ basically told me to pound salt, in so many words.

My local dealer service department is notoriously a rip off here in a NYC suburb, so I took it to local mechanics for basic maintenance. So now what do I do? I have 94k and was told this car has been leaking oil for the past 20k miles. It is burning through coolant from the overflow container or somewhere.

This happened to my 98 OB limited, in addition to the transmission. Also, both cat converters went bad as well on both my 98 and 08.

I am done with Subaru, I think I will try a Honda.

GF -- I get your miffed but you really think Subaru is just going to cut you a check without a licensed Subaru dealer actually looking at the car? LOL hey you can walk away from Subaru support possibly even covering all of the repair costs if you like which case it won't matter what type of car you have your still going to have issue with that approach to life.

If your the original owner and subaru has records on the car for maint history pretty good chance Subaru will cover all the repair costs and give you a warranty. No indi shop is going to do that.

By the way my co-worker just dropped $4000 on his Honda its the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen. And Honda the company thinks its cr-p doesn't stink.

gfguy

· #33 · May 22, 2013

subiesailor said:
GF -- I get your miffed but you really think Subaru is just going to cut you a check without a licensed Subaru dealer actually looking at the car? LOL hey you can walk away from Subaru support possibly even covering all of the repair costs if you like which case it won't matter what type of car you have your still going to have issue with that approach to life.

If your the original owner and subaru has records on the car for maint history pretty good chance Subaru will cover all the repair costs and give you a warranty. No indi shop is going to do that.

By the way my co-worker just dropped $4000 on his Honda its the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen. And Honda the company thinks its cr-p doesn't stink.

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)

subiesailor

· #34 · May 22, 2013

gfguy said:
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)

GF subaru replaced mine zero cost to me 24hr turn around at 65,000 miles. Warranty ran out at 35K.

You need to cool your jets and play nice with subaru I bet you get a fixed car at little or no cost to you. By the way at 180K the car was perfectly fine zero issues I still see it today last summer I ran into the kid that had it he said 230,000 miles and all he had replaced was the stock stereo.

Regarding HG's - my toyota blew up three times in three years the bill was $8000 each time to toyota. They finally flew an engine builder out for the third ground up rebuild to make sure it was done right. I didn't keep it long enough to find out after the third failure

gfguy

· #35 · May 22, 2013

I wish they would. Is this a dance I have to continue? I opened an SR number but it was rudely dismissed, so I don't know what you mean they will help me. The service guy at dealer in NY said this should not have happened.

I should have traded it in before the warranty for the new models which I would hope have the new triple layer gaskets in them.

subiesailor

· #36 · May 22, 2013

gfguy said:
I wish they would. Is this a dance I have to continue? I opened an SR number but it was rudely dismissed, so I don't know what you mean they will help me. The service guy at dealer in NY said this should not have happened.

I should have traded it in before the warranty for the new models which I would hope have the new triple layer gaskets in them.

Not only are the gaskets different but the head and decks have been changed to help address this issue. Having said that even the old 2000 2.5's which were all suffering from a bad gasket - when done correctly do not have an issue again. The problem is that the skilled hands that do HG replacement are not all created equal and many are very poorly done and leak again in short order due to poor workmanship and skill not due to the car or the gasket etc.

Regardless of the make any HG failure and repair job I will never EVER accept a repair job unless it comes with a 3-5yr warranty on the work and parts. A poorly done HG repair job might last 13months and fail or it might last 2yrs and fail again. I've had blown HG's in two Toyota,s - my cousin blew up the 1.8T Head in his VW that was a costly failure, we have had two chryslers with failed HG - and a GM. In all the cases the Domestic auto makers more or less told us to go F-uck off - all the brands that were not domestic stepped up and nearly every case paid for the full rebuild.

Buying an Auto today isn't just about the car its buying from a company that steps up and does make efforts to make things right. Something Domestic auto hasn't learned

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DLSEA

Discussion Starter · #37 · May 23, 2013

gfguy said:
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!

gfguy

· #38 · May 24, 2013

I don't know why you suggest that I am not playing nice or not being respectful. Of course I am beyond irritated and I am expressing that here on this forum, but I was very congenial with all the people I spoke with at SOA. In fact, it was a male rep at HQ who was rude and dismissive to me! I was recently sent an email saying a supervisor was going to be calling me because I said I opened up an ODI complaint, which I have learned doesn't mean squat anyway because blow HG's are not a safety issue.

DLSEA

Discussion Starter · #39 · May 30, 2013

The Final Head Gasket Episode (I hope)

subiesailor said:
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:

subiesailor

· #40 · May 30, 2013

DLSEA said:
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:

Subaru knows when to do the right thing. I bought another one and have had other family members buy because of what Subaru has done beyond warranty. IE the right thing..... Lots of car companies could learn a thing or two from Subaru.

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