1996 Legacy "overheating"

[wheatlyk]

My Legacy is a great car and has about 80,000 miles. For the past year it
has been sporadically overheating on the temp. gauge. I have tried three
new thermostats and one new radiator. The guys checked for head gasket
problems and gave me an all clear. This "overheating" may not happen for
two to three months and then it starts up again for anywhere from a few
days to a few weeks--but does NOT occur every time I drive. It happened
today after we recently put coolant in the radiator (it was low)--we know
to "burp" her, but it was leaking out of the radiator cap this morning
after about a 10 minute drive--was the cap just not on right? Any ideas?
I am hoping the engine is still good.

Thanks

 

[Richard]

My 99 Subaru started to overheat after being serviced. After some
investigation, I discovered that the cooling fans were unplugged. I plugged
them in and the problem was fixed. I guessing it was an absent minded
serviceman.

 

[Jim Stewart]

My 99 Subaru started to overheat after being serviced. After some
investigation, I discovered that the cooling fans were unplugged. I plugged
them in and the problem was fixed. I guessing it was an absent minded
serviceman.

I'm surprised you didn't get a check engine
light. I know you will if the fan relay
fails.

 

[wcb]

Normal "compression" tests for headgasket issues don't reveal the most
common 2.5L HG failure, because they're done with the engine cold.
Also, the problem (again based on my personal experience) doesn't
happen all at once; rather, a deterioration in one spot of the HG
gradually gets worse, until eventually you lose coolant at a rapid
enoug rate to overheat regularly -- THEN the service guys know to chack
the HGs more thoroughly. I suspect, from the symptoms you are
describing and based on my personal experience, that you do have a Head
Gasket failure.