l have a 1999 Subaru legacy outback. A few weeks ago it over heated. It stalled and coolant dripped out. The oil was low, even though I'd had it changed and filled about 2500 miles prior. The mechanic said it needed a new thermostat, a new oil pump and oil pan. That cost about 600.00 They also said to get the AC recharged, so l did at 150.00 Two weeks later it overheated again. The oil was fine, coolant leaked out when it was hot. l tried to drive it to the mechanic the next day but it overheated again so l had it towed. They told me that they could not get it to overheat in the stall, and that the first test showed no problems but the second test showed that the water pump had a slight leak. l asked them to drive it to get it to overheat first, but they said that regardless, the water pump and timing belt needed to be replaced That was 530.00 Then, before l have picked it up, they drove it to see if it would overheat. It did.Now they're looking for the problem. Does this sound right?

Nope!!----does not sound good.

you are getting ''jerked around'' my friend, taken right to the cleaners. Do the words ''ripped off'' come to mind?

Yes u r getting ripped off. You should have gotten a warranty with the original repair so that when the car did it again they would have to fix it for free because they did not do it right to begin with. The A/C problem is only a problem if the A/C was not working . If the A/C worked fine then there was no need to touch it in the first place. If a car overheats & coolant leaks from the engine, this has nothing to do with the oil pan. Oil pans almost never leak on cars with less the 150,000 miles, & if they did, they leak oil, not coolant. Overheating can be caused from a variaty of issues & they can be simple to more of a problem like blown head gaskets. l would take it to a mechanic who gives a warranty on the problem. The dealer is always the best, but always the most expensive. You might want to get this fixed & trade in the car on a newer car at this point because u can not keep dropping that kind of cash over & over again.

lol it sound like u car is a POS, no offense. My husband is a mechanic he said its all possible, but u may want to take it too another mechanic for a second opinion. Some of the things that they ave replaced though would have no effect on it overheating what so ever. If all u asked them just to fix was the overheating issue then yes u r being taken. However they probably called u & told u about these issues & asked if u wanted them fixed, not mentioning weather or not it had an effect on ur current problem.

It sounds like the first problem you had was just the need for a water pump. The thermostat was probably fine, so they just diagnosed it wrong. The oil pan and pump could have been wearing out but that wouldnt cause the car to overheat. They probaly noticed the timing belt was bad when they checked the water pump, but use your own discretion at replacing it. It is a good idea not to let those go to long.

l just replied to another hapless soul about a similar problem. You have a partially plugged radiator. The engine will not overheat in the shop, but get up to speed & climb a small hill & it will. They r doing the standard mechanic rip off thing. They r guessing at the problem. If the radiator was removed & flow checked the problem would be immediately diagnosed & the proper repairs made.
Basically they r wandering around looking for the problem at $75.00 an hour plus parts. Tell them u want any further repairs to be performed at their cost. Threaten them with going to whatever State agency regulates mechanics & auto repair shops. Here in California it is the Bureau of Auto Repair. Most states have a regulating or licensing agency. Get tough, u r being taken for an expensive ride.
Whoever is working on ur car does not know how to diagnose heating problems.

Did you take it to the dealer or an independent garage? Have you been following the proper maintenance schedule? This is way to much to go wrong with a car all at once especially a Subaru. Something does not sound right.

It sounds to me that you have a hairline crack in your head gasket or your head gasket is warped. You also can tell when you have oil in your coolant or the other way around.All they should have to do to fix that would be to take the head off(which is the top part of the motor which has the Intake manifold connected to it), switch out the gasket then seal it then put the head back on. Maybe on or around $250 job for this job.