Subie Points! Is the pinnacle gasket blown? AC blowing scorching! CAR WIZARD addresses each on this '03 Baja

A superlative video. In 1991 I bought a brand-new Toyota Cressida, their RWD sport sedan with their great 7M-GE 3.0 L DOHC engine with 24-valves. It was a great engine, but some had head gasket issues, which Toyota denied.

It also had the most incredible cooling system, using R12 refrigerant. On the coldest setting, you could sit in traffic for 2 hours and the temperature gauge would never go above ½. In the 20 years of ownership, I never had to do an A/C recharge.

At 190,000 miles the head gasket issue reared its ugly head. For me, it wasn't worth fixing for $2,500. Although still pristine, it didn't have airbags, which I wanted. It also had value to many. I ended up putting it on Craigslist, and there was a bidding war. With minor mods, that 185hp engine could become a 500hp engine. Caribbeans loved the Cressida. I sold it for $9,600.

I ended up buying a new 2008 SAAB 9-5 leftover for $17,000 at a GM dealer. This was 2011. Although not nearly as reliable, it's been a great car, one that I still have to this very day. All told, in 125,000 miles I've spent $5,100 on all parts, labor, fluids. That included all subframe bushings, suspension parts, power steering line, struts and shocks. I also replaced the rear muffler twice, plus the exhaust system. Most have been wear parts and preventative maintenance. That's $425 per year.

I did have to replace the A/C condenser and evaporator. Those parts cost $500 and included labor. It's now R134 refrigerant, not nearly as good as the old R12, but it's decent.

I'm lucky that I found two very talented, honest, knowledgeable and reasonable independent SAAB Master Techs…much like your lucky customers have found you.

Good info

I bought the "power probe" it's so handy!!!😃

I almost bought one in CT it had a cracked bed cover and its radio didn't work . Considering how bad Hoovie's was probably made a good choice to walk away

Sometimes you can even smell the exhaust fumes in the overflow tank, if you have a trained nose

Hey were is The New Dryer You Open The System !!!!!

Who remembers the Suburu Brat? It was their first import truck. It came with rear bed seats the dealer installed as an option which allowed them to skirt import requirements for cars.

Subaru had an additive for the coolant. It was a rebranded stop-leak. That year would leak on the outside of the gaskets. I drove my
Baja with one eye on the temp gauge for a long time and topped off as needed. Had it 16 years and enough was enough when like the parson's runabout, everything started to fail. Finally sold on for super cheap to a co-worker who wanted it. Passed on everything I knew about it. so he had no surprises. Other issues they have are weak factory fuel hoses that I replaced with high pressure hose. The right inner CV boot sits over the catalytic converter so it gets cooked and needs replacement more often. The wheel bearings are lifetime parts and it's not your lifetime. I loved it but I went with a much simpler car later on.

Let's do an 18 minute about another car you are not going to fix. That is going to be the next 3 videos that we don't want to watch.

Not even 3 minutes in and that broad starts her yammering . Can’t this guy make a video without that wife of his?? I mean Christ almighty!

I had a Forester that an external coolant leak at 80k. I wrote Subaru a breakup letter. They paid the dealer to replace them. 30k later I had the same problem. I used Blue Devil head gasket repair stuff and drove it to 240k until a tree ran in front of my ex wife.

It's good to know that you think Subaru is a good car I just sold my 2019 Volkswagen and got a 2022 Subaru

have a 2000 Subaru Forester. Replaced head gaskets, then it blew again.

Sold my 06 turbo manual for a offer I couldn't refuse. I regret that decision.

This is my favorite video because of the Cypress Hill reference. 😎

Thanks for the laugh. Take hits from the bong