chopperman

Have a chat to some subaru breakers. A few frequent this forum.

pslewis

I like the thought of £300 depreciation as a 'HIT' ...... I paid £22,000+ for my Scooby in May 2000 - 12 years ago, and I suppose it's all gone now - THAT'S a hit!!!

Or, worse, buy a new WRX STi today and lose £10k by tomorrow!!

Pcshedman

Got car back from garage now-still running on 3 cylinders. Mechanic says head gasket failure - apparently not exactly unknown on these cars.
Any body got any price idea for this job? Or can recommend anywhere near Huddersfield/Oldham areas?

IainMilford

iTrader: (15)

I know someone who bought a brand new range rover for £70K and sold it 2 years later for £40K, thats a hit

To the OP, hope you get it sorted mate, subarus can be tempermental at times but mine has been totally reliable.

chopperman

Head gasket repair is not going to be cheap. It's an engine out job on a subaru so a good few hours labour charge. Then there is the price of the gaskets, head skim ect. If the car is only worth a few hundred quid then is probably a write off unless you can do the job yourself or have a handy mate.

Pcshedman

Very, very cheap car for sale, £205 offered by Remove My Car,com, Anything above that for an otherwise very clean Outback!

cster

Well this thread has caused me to have a go at changing my plugs.
In 10 years of Subaru ownership, I have never had to nerve to try this as the engine bay is a bit packed out with ancillaries etc.
Took me a couple of hours and I dropped a plug, so I removed the engine floor and changed the oil at the same time.
Only had to remove the air-box and the battery (on an MY06 STI).
Well chuffed!

J44CE

ive seen Daz from Central Subaru do an impreza plug change in about 20 mins, couldnt see the problem myself. Mt bros 5 series bmw was a much harder job to do

Pcshedman

Well chaps the village mechanic did it ok but seems car is terminal as all plugs spark but only runs on 3 cylinders. Mechanic thinks head gasket and try as I may can't get anybody interested in doing it at a sensible price or even wanting to do it!
Car now listed on ebay-sold last week but idiot didn't turn up so on again item no, 290821998925 if anyone wants to repair or a really good source of spares.

Hawkeye D

No Pcshedman...don't do it!

Stick with it, they are a very good car in all weathers, stacks of room.
What if a few months or even a year down the line you say "Wished I'd kept / repaired it now"

Pcshedman

Thats why I bought it and was well-pleased-but can't find anybody who will do the heads at all locally. My man said he had never done one so not keen to pay him on a voyage of discovery!!
He reckoned £600 plus and sure I could buy another car for less without the hassle.

P1 LTD

+1 to that

Pcshedman

Well as I said there's a challenge for any member or a really good spares source as its on ebay now item 290821998925. As has been pointed out on here, my Poundland tool set and minimal ability plus nobody will take the job on means it has to go.

Hawkeye D

Can someone on here help the poor sod out?
There must be an experienced person locally who would do this for him at a decent price?

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

The worst thing about it is that it's not a hard job, you only need 3 spanners a couple of sockets an engine crane and it's out, i can get it out in about 2 hrs and thats on the drive way.

I recon a decent scooby mechanic should be able to do the lot inside 2 days, if your running a garage with overheads £600 including parts is not really bad, IMO considering the head gaskets are £120 and then the other gaskets are ish £50, then if the heads need a skim, not sure what that costs, then there's oil, filter and coolant £60, at that rate the bloke will be earning less than £180 a day, which is not extorsion once overheads are considered.

Not a bad price when all said and done, and you will know the car is good to go.

Cheap motors are always a risk, some you win some you lose, if you like the car bite the bullet, there is also the risk that whatever you buy next has problems.

MOTORS S GT

iTrader: (2)

With Legacy's you can do the head gasket without removing the engine if you want, there's a bit more width than Impreza's, especially the single cam per head type.

Pcshedman

Fair points guys. Its on ebay but if it doesn't sell then I think I will get it done. Trouble is finding some garage used to doing them locally

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

There is a mobile mechanic on here, can't remember his name but if you stick a new thread up asking i'm sure someone will tell you.

He comes highly recommended, and will do a perfect job, and probably give the whole thing the once over for you which would be of great benefit, just so you know your money is being well spent, as these things can be a bit hit and miss if they don't know subaru's.

He will obviously charge for his traveling, but i think it will be money well spent.

You won't lose anything but the price of a phone call, i strongly suggest you take this option if you have it done.

Pedroturbo

What happened to the alternative of removing engine and swapping it for used one? aslong as its low (ish) mileage and has history its probly the way i would go

Pcshedman

Yes I have thought of that as you could spend a load on the heads but have a dubious bottom end. I have found a place that fit a recon with 6 months warranty for 995 on ebay but it is in London. Wish it was near me!

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I would not trust one of those companies as far as i can spit, and a grand is not enough for a recon engine.

To recon a subaru engine you need to at the very least fit NEW crank and bearings ish £500, then if it was my money i'd want a hone and rings don't know the exact price price but doubt much change from £200, then we get to where you are now, but with a Full gasket set @ circa £400 plus skimming, oil pump £150,water pump £120 , full cambelt kit £300, oil modine £120, filter, oil£60 plus labour, and it does not take a rocket scientist to work out that there is no money in it at £995.

I also think you'd be taking a risk fitting a n other engine, better the dog you know and all that.

Don't mean to be rude, BUT i have given you your best option, short of taking it to a known specialist, which i think is out of the question due to your location, in my previous post.

Like i said i strongly suggest you do that, or get rid for peanuts and roll the dice again.

Pedroturbo

Mate just ring round subaru breakers till you find a gud runner shud be able to pick one up for £300 at a guess. Stick it in jobs a good one. Then you could have yours reconed wen u get time n money

Pcshedman

Great tips both on getting it recon and take-a-chance engine. I would be able to get one from a breaker for £250 it seems on ebay. Alternative is to buy one with good engine but maybe bashed door or something and use mine as body superb