2K Outback Head Gasket Fixed, Don't trust dealer.

[David Patnaude]

My 2000 Outback with 75,000 miles went in last week for warranty work for a
leaking left side head gasket. No charge for the work which was great, but
the work order shows 4 hours labor charged to the job. Speaking with my
usual mechanic I would have expected more time to complete this repair.
What do you think?

Also, now that it is back in action, I don't know if I am being overly
sensitive now, but it seems to have a lot more belt and lifter noises.
Would anything done with the head work have affected these new noises that
I am perceiving?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Edward Hayes]

4 hours sounds about correct since engine doesn't need to be pulled.
Yes, timing belts and stuff need to be pulled to do the job. Valves
and lifters would not be removed for a HG only.

 

[Mickey]

My 2000 Outback with 75,000 miles went in last week for warranty work for a
leaking left side head gasket. No charge for the work which was great, but
the work order shows 4 hours labor charged to the job. Speaking with my
usual mechanic I would have expected more time to complete this repair.
What do you think?

Also, now that it is back in action, I don't know if I am being overly
sensitive now, but it seems to have a lot more belt and lifter noises.
Would anything done with the head work have affected these new noises that
I am perceiving?

Thanks,
Dave

Sounds like a very minimalist kind of repair @ 4 hrs. Didn't do any
more than absolutely necessary and I'm sure only one gasket was replaced.

I recently had to have my HG replaced an my 2000 and due to mileage it
was one my dime. Dealer wanted about $2k was was going to resurface
the heads, both gaskets replaced. Had the job done by an independent
shop for $1300 and in addition to resurfacing the heads, they replaced
all the seal and gaskets on the engine, factory parts used.

At 75k miles I would have kicked in a few $$ and had the timing belt
and water pump replaced as they are schedule for replacement at 105k
miles. While they had access to these items for the HG it would have
saved you some $$ in the not too distant future.

Mickey

 

[David Patnaude]

Sounds like a very minimalist kind of repair @ 4 hrs. Didn't do any
more than absolutely necessary and I'm sure only one gasket was
replaced.

I recently had to have my HG replaced an my 2000 and due to mileage it
was one my dime. Dealer wanted about $2k was was going to resurface
the heads, both gaskets replaced. Had the job done by an independent
shop for $1300 and in addition to resurfacing the heads, they replaced
all the seal and gaskets on the engine, factory parts used.

At 75k miles I would have kicked in a few $$ and had the timing belt
and water pump replaced as they are schedule for replacement at 105k
miles. While they had access to these items for the HG it would have
saved you some $$ in the not too distant future.

Mickey

If my independant shop was going to do the work, I would have probably
thrown in the timing belt and water pump work too. Like I said though, I
don't really trust my dealer and don't use him unless it is for warranty
work and they have to do it. If I had asked them to add the timing belt
work, they probably would have charged me full cost for the timing belt
work and charged Subaru full cost for the head gasket work.

 

[Alan]

My 2000 Outback with 75,000 miles went in last week for warranty work for a
leaking left side head gasket. No charge for the work which was great, but
the work order shows 4 hours labor charged to the job. Speaking with my
usual mechanic I would have expected more time to complete this repair.
What do you think?

Also, now that it is back in action, I don't know if I am being overly
sensitive now, but it seems to have a lot more belt and lifter noises.
Would anything done with the head work have affected these new noises that
I am perceiving?

Thanks,
Dave

Often, the dealer is only allowed to charge x amount for warantee work. The
manufacturere handles this by permitting only x hours to do a specific job.