on my 1997 Legacy GT 2.5 I had to replace the cylinder heads and the car is over heating . I had the heads looked at by a machinest to make sure they are ok and they were. I also replaced the thermostat and the water pump was replaced as well. can someone give me some insight to what the problem may be? If so let me know......

Usually the 2.5 engines have bad headgaskets but Im assuming theyve been replaced with everything else.

If the heads are straight then maybe theres just some air left in the system. Either that or something is blocking the system (radiator?)
Does it always overheat or just randomly?

OK you had an overheating problem to begine with? and that's why you pulled the heads?
Did you have the heads resurfaced before you installed them?
Did you follow the torque down procedure fo rthe head bolts?
So tell us more about how it's overheating, does water stay in the radiator when the cap is off and engine running? Are there bubbles in the overflow tank when it is running?

Hi - sorry to hijack this thread, but I've just joined and my legacy is overheating too (gx 1999, 2.5 awd).

Can anyone explain what it can mean if water does, or doesn't stay in the radiator when the cap is off and engine running, and what it suggests could b ewrong when there are bubbles in the overflow tank when it is running?

Thanks a lot

Andy

If the water is dissapearing or if theres bubbles of any kind its a headgasket problem. Time for replacement

Thanks for clarifying that one - cheers

Andy

I forgot to say - I only get bubbles when I squeeze the top hose leading from the radiator, but now I've got rid of nearly all of the bubbles, the levels are staying constant in both radiator and expansion tank - does that sound more like an air lock than anything major?