I'm attempting to prevent my wife's Subaru experience from being a repeat of her '98 Volvo 850 reliability nightmare. After warranty replacement of Baruby's (HER nickname) catalytic converter @ 50K and the driver's side head gaskets @ 55K (ONLY internal leaking per dlrshp SM) I decided to do major research on upcoming repairs/PM and address them before the pwrtrn warranty expires @ 60K. Midway through the HG repair ( 6 wks ago just in for an oil+filt) the SM called to say that they needed more time because... This guy was very "Aren't we such a nice Svc Dept. catching this before 60k?" I immediately asked whether I should then, while everything was apart, replace the T-belt, H2O pump, T-stat etc.? "Oh, no" was the quick response with 105K stated as the scheduled date, per SOA, the H2O pump getting a "...there's not even a mileage for THOSE!" cheery faux sincerity followup. Without anything but a suspicion I let them "close up" the Wifermobile. AFTER the research, I met w/SM to "discuss maintenance." When asked why the dealer Repair Log did not mention inspecting the Camshaft Drive Belt, I got the same cheery-in-a-jiffy, "Because we don't" My why not got an equally quick, "Because I've never seen them break before 105K" to be continued..... public access computer...closing :cas_h02066
Sep 10, 2007 at 6:48 PM