2003 subaru legacy have noticed loss of colant for some time. now overheats to the max very quick. got about 1/2 mile from home when it first did it, let it cool and got it back home. over heated again by time i got home. car only has 62,000 miles

putting water in a radiator will not work... water boils away quickly. You need to put antifreeze in it instead. If you are not sure how to do this ask a trusted friend or reliable mechanic

Hello, mdaniels676 and thank you for asking your question on Fixya!

Here is a simple process that will walk you through a few steps that will pinpoint the overheating problem on your 1995 Subaru Legacy, without even using any tools. It has helped millions of people, and I am certain that it will help you, because I wrote it for people in your exact situation.
How to diagnose your overheating 1995 Subaru Legacy

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Thanks for the vote, and good luck!

RECOMMENDED 105000 MILES AND YES IT CAN DAMGE THE ENGINE IT IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE

Definitely at least try a thermostat.Seeing how you did the pump already,if it still happens after a thermostat,this is going to be an issue.Good luck! Greg How quick does it overheat?If it's pretty quick thermostat.If it's gradual and you can go like 40 miles before it overheats it could be a loose belt.

If it is backfireing, then it is in the timeing ,your timeing belt may need to be replaced. How many miles does it have on it ?

water pump or a vapor lock in ur water system

what you asking is a quick fix for a head gasket issue. It will only be temporary and will leak again in time most likely when your far from home. Adding anything could cause more harm than good. It will clog your heater core and it will restrict the coolant passages. I highly recommend you do not do a cheap fix on this car. Do it right.

check oil colour(milky indicates water)check radiator,can you smell fumes in there,get it tested with and exhaust gas annaliser,which picks up engine fumes in the radiator if you cant tell for sure,it does sound like you have a head gasket problem,you would need to do both heads not 1

Just because it was not hot to the touch, does not mean it is not a coolant loss problem----if the coolant is so low, there may not be enough to make the radiator hot (though usually the steam in the system will).
...a stuck thermostat can also let the engine overheat while the radiator remains cool (the fluid only circulates within the engine and is stopped from getting to the radiator.
...likewise a hose could have burst below and let the coolant out, over heating the engine, and the steam going out the ruptured/popped off hose; would look underneath..
...when cool, check the level in the radiator (likely empty),
...and less than a mile away, may not have ever heated the radiator, though usually only a mile to heat up the coolant
...of course there is always sabotage
...and water pump failure, (so no water circulated) causing overheating and no radiator heat, and possibly enough pressure to blow off a hose, but usually the radiator cap relief spring would allow pressure to escape (and that steam would heat up the radiator on the way---but if only steam in the radiator, it would cool off quickly after venting, because no more water in the radiator to hold the heat. all depending on climate,temp and further details , symptoms..
hope helps..

if it overheats while your in motion then u can eliminate your fans, as your problem. and do you mean 5-50 thousand miles? id chech your coolant for hc contamination. most likley a head gasket