2000 Subaru Outback Overheating

90

Asked by Sara Nov 22, 2017 at 01:56 AM about the 2000 Subaru Outback Base Wagon

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have had a constant issue with my Subaru over
heating. I have replaced the radiator, water pump,
head gaskets, thermostat and thermostat housing,
cooling fans and the fuses.. Among many other
things and it is STILL over heating. I am at a total
loss on what to do. My check engine light has been
on the entire time as well but I'll get it reset and it'll
pop up with a new code. Right now its showing a
generic code that something some where along
my emissions line isn't working correctly but I have
replaced my catalytic converter and O2 sensors
along with my entire cooling system basically. If
anyone can give any advice or help I'd appreciate it!

17 Answers

90

There was one for my fans that weren't working then I replaced fans and fuses and they started working. I don't know the code number for the fans. There was another one p0420 which can be the catalytic converter but mines pretty new and I've read into the code a lot and it seems like it could be just about anything to do with my emissions. A code came on before that for my 02 sensors but I replaced them and reset the codes and that's when the fan code and p0420 came on. I replaced fans and thermostat and thermostat housing and haven't had codes reset yet. My car stopped over heating for a couple days I drove it to and from work and it was running fine then on my way home it just started over heating again.

2 people found this helpful.

Have you purge air out of the cooling system? an air bubble can cause overheating due to restricted water circulation. Look this up on Youtube.

4 people found this helpful.
90

I have taken it to someone to do my water pump and timing belt. A guy at my work did my head gasket he works on Subarus and has the exact car I do. Other wise my BF and I have done the work. I have an issue trusting shops.

4 people found this helpful.
90

I have purged the air out and it continues to over heat.

1 people found this helpful.
40,165

what does the exhaust look like ? look under the oil fill cap what do you see ?

3 people found this helpful.
80

hey all I have a 99 subaru forester with 187xxx km in the last 3 months i have replaced headgaksets with felpro with proper procedure machined heads and exhuast valves due to a cracked valve. oe thermo replaced water pump timing belt radiator just swapped last week. coil pack plugs cables injectors radiator cap 3 times battery intake manifold gasket exhuast gasket and everything possible but still air is getting in the system heater draws cold then boom over heat but the weirdest part is that no coolant is really leaking from what i can tell if so very minimal because usually it over flows the over flow reservoir and boils over from there. PLEASE HELP also bled the crap out of this before you try to say air lock. and headgaskets installed by an amazing shop. also just took the thermostat out and still it is over heating and letting air in the system and overflowing out of the overflow tank

1 people found this helpful.
20

Although my response is late, but did you change the timing belt and belt pensioner? A lose timing belt will cause water pump pulley to slip and pump not to function properly.

2 people found this helpful.
10

I have a 2000 sub and it's just started over heating....I cant find were the leak is but I had to fill it up 3 times to make it back home....I got a diagnosis tester thing to show codes, will it show a code for what making my car overheat

1 people found this helpful.
10

And can I use straight water or do I gotta use there own coolant from sub...I'm trying to fix this issue today

10

Sg imagine work....did u figure out what's was wrong cause my sub is doin the same thing overheating and I cant find were its leaking from no heat also....I been putting straight water into it as well still over heating

90

I took it into a shop and they said my water pump wasn't sealed correctly from when it was replaced and I also had bad hoses that were leaking. They replaced the water pump and hoses and it hasn't given me problems since. I also replaced my thermostat, housing, radiator, sensors, fans and a bunch of other parts before I took it to that shop so it could be anything in your heating/cooling system. I find the codes weren't super helpful, they don't tell you exactly what's wrong. I just broke down and had to take it to a shop.

1 people found this helpful.
90

Also to answer about the coolant, I used some I bought from an auto parts store not Subarus coolant. I do not own this car anymore but I had it for over 5 years and always used the store bought coolant so I wouldn't say Subaru coolant is necessary.. But I also had a lot of problems with that car so I don't know if I'm the best person to listen to

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

Outback

Looking for a Used Outback in your area?

CarGurus has 30,223 nationwide Outback listings starting at $1,981.

ZIP:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

2000 Subaru Outback

Review another car

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Mark Weiner
    Reputation
    33,590
  • #2
    TheSubaruGuruBoston
    Reputation
    28,780
  • #3
    Keith Cahalan
    Reputation
    3,390
View All

Know more, shop wisely

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Subaru Forester
985 Great Deals out of 36,974 listings starting at $1,495
Used Toyota RAV4
2,090 Great Deals out of 34,715 listings starting at $2,450
Used Honda CR-V
1,972 Great Deals out of 36,627 listings starting at $1,900
Used Toyota 4Runner
1,027 Great Deals out of 12,018 listings starting at $2,557
Used Subaru Legacy
292 Great Deals out of 7,376 listings starting at $1,150
Used Toyota Tacoma
2,005 Great Deals out of 52,332 listings starting at $4,995
Used Subaru Impreza
329 Great Deals out of 9,381 listings starting at $1,595
Used Toyota Highlander
1,438 Great Deals out of 16,115 listings starting at $1,550
Used Toyota Camry
2,257 Great Deals out of 44,139 listings starting at $1,100
Used Subaru WRX
168 Great Deals out of 4,640 listings starting at $7,995
Used Honda Accord
1,524 Great Deals out of 24,434 listings starting at $1,895

Used Cars for Sale

2025 Subaru Outback For Sale
59 Great Deals out of 16,682 listings starting at $25,998
2024 Subaru Outback For Sale
123 Great Deals out of 2,041 listings starting at $21,890
2023 Subaru Outback For Sale
83 Great Deals out of 1,000 listings starting at $19,597
2022 Subaru Outback For Sale
168 Great Deals out of 2,048 listings starting at $16,995
2021 Subaru Outback For Sale
71 Great Deals out of 937 listings starting at $13,512

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.