Strange overheating issues '95 Legacy sedan

Friday night my check engine light came on, but I experienced no change in the feel of the car, performance, or engine noises. The car operated without change for several hours until I was driving home, then it began to overheat. I pulled over the car, checked all fluid levels (they looked fine), and when I got back in the car the check engine light was now off. The overheating issue persists, however. The needle is usually just below the half-way mark when the engine is warm, but it begins to creep up now, coming to rest at about 85% to the max mark. If I rev the RPMs to 3.5-4 x1000, the needle will immediately fall down to about half way, and then begin creeping up again (probably takes less then two minutes to go from half-way to

85%). Sometimes the car runs fine for hours before this starts, sometimes it starts minutes after the car warms up. Sometimes it will be overheating, and suddenly cool down and be fine. I just noticed this last night, and it may be coincidence, but it seems that as long as my heater is on full, the engine will be cool, and if I turn off the heater, or move the slider all the way to cold, the engine overheats again. While the heater is on, the air coming out is hot (possibly hotter then it was before, but maybe I'm imagining that). It seems like the kind of problem you would remember if you've run across it before, so I'm hoping someone can help. I had the water pump and radiator hoses replaced about a month ago.

Thanks.

Reply to
Nicholas.Conrad
Loading thread data ...

Perhaps your thermostat is having problems. I'm no expert and this could be wrong, but it is something you can check if no advice more material is offered.

Justin

Reply to
jfindlay

I'd say its possible the cooling system was not adequately 'burped' when refilled after the work was done. Also, I suppose its possible the thermostat is failing somehow, though it seems weird.

Have the cooling system rechecked by someone very familiar with Subarus.

Carl

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

You did check to be sure you have coolant up to the proper level? Is the radiator obstructed in some fashion? (If having the extra temperature exchange of the heater on high helps, it would seem the main radiator is not exchanging heat well...either blocked, fan not running (belt(s) OK?), fan blades missing or bent, or something like that?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reply to
Jack Countryman

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.