Update on 'Antifreeze Leak anyone?' and new tid bits... 2nd Oxygen Sensors replaced

[Joaquin Rosario]

Update:

The antifreeze leak on the car was originating from the front right engine
gasket. Fortunately, the repair was accepted as a warranty repair since my
2000 Legacy GT Sedan had only 53,000 miles on it. At first the guys at Don
Beyer (Alexandria, VA) told me that they couldn't find the leak, I was
outraged and told them that I was going to conference them in with the
mechanic that found the leak and issued the mechanic diagnostic report.

Then they told me: "Sorry Mr. Rosario, we were looking at the wrong car"
so they inspected the car and agreed that the car had a leak and serviced it
as a warranty repair.

The car is driving fine, but the Oxygen Sensor triggered the infamous "check
engine light" 1 days after I took it from the dealership. The dealership
replace the oxygen sensor--FOR THE RECORD--this is the second time that they
replaced the oxygen sensor, we changed it 2 years ago because of a recall
notice. Again the sensor was replaced as a warranty repair item (they noted
that the timing of the oxygen sensor going bad and the repair was
suspicious).

I have been driving the car for about one week since the oxygen sensor was
replaced and everything is back to normal.

My question to group is... Has anyone replaced their Oxygen Sensor more than
once?

Cordially,

Joaquin Rosario

 

[TG]

Just a thought...many times a perfectly good O2 sensor is replaced without
being proven bad. There is not a trouble code that tells you that you have a
bad oxygen sensor.
Another common mistake: I have seen a lot of "Techs" replace the CAT when
the "poor catalyst efficiency" code comes up (why not, the Federal warranty
covers it?) when a couple of cheap gaskets to seal the exhaust system was
all that was really needed...common on Subarus. TG

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
Do you think techs in general care? They just want to work easy.
Just like today's MDs, they depend too much on diag code.
This is an example. I had front sturts replaced on a car. then
rear wind shield wiper lost washer fluid spray. Careful investigation
revealed, the guy who replaced the struts pinched hose while installing
the strut. Small but this kind of things cause lots of headache and lead
to bigger problem. I am sure, if I took the car back to dealer, they
would blame washer pump, broken hose, etc., etc. and who knows how long
it'd take to find the real problem.
Another example, when I had my radio replaced by Honda dealer, a/c
started acting up. Multiple visits to dealer shop did not solve the
problem. When I took
apart dash, they disturbed wiring harness to the a/c control panel while
working on radio. Many times, they create another problem fixing a problem.
I very seldom go to a dealer shop unless it is absolutely necessary.
How many people took the car in for regular routine maintenance and they
gave you the car back with something wrong?
I thought quality is doing something first time right. There is hardly
any quality anywhere these days.
Tony

 

[TG]

That's why I do 90% of my own work. Subarus are so simple and OBD II works
so well! I do have a great Subaru tech who used to be at the dealership but
now ownes the biggest fanciest independent garage in town. I use him when
the job is beyond me due to special tools or some other reason (I hate to
get dirty). TG

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
Same here. ex-Subaru tech operates his own garage. No BS straight
talking guy always trustwhorthy.
Just bought an air compressor with air tools for my shop.
Early X-mas gift to myself. How nice to use that impact wrench.
Tony