Thread: Issues on a 2000 Legacy

Ok so for gaskets, should I go with subaru or are they crappy like the stock headgasket? Keep in mind she's on a budget and the car is by no means a race car haha. I highly doubt the car will ever see above 3k unless I'm driving it.

If you are looking for a cheap head gasket set, stone makes a decent gasket set for pretty cheap. A nicer one is the felpro.... I heard that there is someone who makes an improved design but I am not sure who makes it nor if Subaru fixed the issue with theirs.

Already got the head gasket. Got a Six-Star which is supposed to be the best for the EJ25. I'll look into the other gaskets though. Thanks.

Update: I was able to pull the heads without moving the motor which I am thrilled about. There wasn't much clearance though, especially because I had to pull the head bolts out with them. It's going to be tight getting them back in without marking them up. So, yes pulling the heads on a EJ25 is not too bad. I'll have to get back to ya on reinstallation though haha.

So, it's been a while, a long while. Got the head job done for $295. They came out so nice that we were nervous that we would scuff them up putting them back in. So we pulled the rest of the engine out. Put the gasket and heads on. In the process of torquing the bolts down..... we stripped the thread. Stupid block metal is so fragile. So after much thought process, we triple-checked everything else and got the most torque out of that bolt that we could. Put the engine back in. So we're just going to hope for the best. It was right near where the heads usually leak too: the rear driverside. Imagine that. All that is left to do is hook up the lines, thermostat, radiator, and change the oil. We'll fire it hope and pray it holds. We stripped the belt tensioner threads too which was nerve-racking but we were able to tap it and now its better than original.

Then we address the dreaded CODES. Man this is a project and a half.

Ready to go.

Does anyone know how to even address these codes:

P0111
P0112
P0446

?

Aight, if anyone cares, it's running! Fired up last night. And for future researchers on these codes, all of them are fixed.

For codes P0111 and PO112, replace the MAP sensor because the AIT sensor is built into it. Also check the MAP wiring. That's ALL you have to do.

For code P0446 go back behind the rear passenger wheel. Near the charcoal cannister is a white connector with two wires (a yellow wire and a black wire) connected to the vent solenoid. Chances are the wiring is separated. Solder it back together.

Both codes are very common on Subarus, especially Legacys. And head gaskets. Yes, most likely if you have a 90s or early 2000s Legacy, the headgaskets WILL fail. Guy at the machine shop said those are the most common heads he gets in and estimates the 90% of those cars WILL blow their gaskets. Cheers to boxer engines!

Dave