Hi guys.

fairly new to this site and new to having a scooby so bare with me on this as I don’t really no much about these cars.

ok so basically I have owned my current Subaru sti hawk for 6/7 days now, yes not long I swapped the car with a well looked after Honda Civic Ek4. Anyway the car broke down two days ago so below will explain what happened and also all the mods the car has got I have had fairly few different people tell me different things all I am really looking for is if someone has experienced the same issue and if so what it was and at what cost roughly.

so the other day took the car out a drive I had been driving the car for roughly 30mins going maybe a few miles or so and NOT booting it about driving at legal speeds. So got onto the duel carriage way and must of been sitting around 50/60 and I noticed a puff of smoke from the exhaust now if I can remember I am
sure it was when I came off the throttle one I went back onto throttle cleared for a second and next min it was a lot of smoke I got probs 300 yards to the traffic lights and the car just cut out. It wouldn’t start and the temp gauge was at the top.

there was no knocks no bangs nothing that gave me a warning something bad went wrong I have even checked my dash cam so that I could listen and nothing my partner was also in the car with me and she said the same. So got the car pushed to the side off the road where it was safe and I called the rac, luckily the guy I got Steve I think his name was was great help a Subaru guy and knew a fair bit so first thing he checked was the coolent and it was all gone, (strange as I checked this on the day and was coolant in it)

he first though maybe head gasket but the strange thing it isn’t starting lights and stuff come on but won’t start it will tick over, he opened the cam cover and had a feel at the belt which he said didn’t seem solid and seemed like something in the engine maybe not as bad as he first thought.

anyway that’s as much as I really know I have the car back at my house just now in the drive inam
absolutely gutted as I really love the car. I hope fingers crossed it’s nothing to serious and I can afford to fix it but there is always that doubt that it’s really bad and would have to sell it as spares and repairs which I have been offered £5000 the way it is from two breakers. Also I have the option to send the car to spoon developments through in Edinburgh way to have the engine out and properly looked at to see the problem which is looking like what I will be doing.

so below is the spec of the car and again sorry if this may seem a silly post but just looking for people that’s had similar issues and what was the out come.82k miles 355bhp

ENGINE.

Fully forged 2,5 ej25 built by warpspeed developments

Closed dieck conversion

M14x2 stud conversion

Wossner pistons,rings and pins

ZRP rods,ARP rod bolts, ACL race main and big end bearings

RCM steel gasket, Ported and skimmed heads

Afterburner unequal length headers and up pipe.

Hayward and Scott exhaust system (with pro drive back box)

Mishimoto cold running thermostat

Perrin air intake

Paddle clutch

Cosworth timing belt kit

Exhaust headers heat wrapped with DEI wrap



SUSPENSION/TYRES/BRAKES

Meister r coilovers

Meister r camber bolts

Uniroyal rain sports 3

God speed j hook discs f&r

Friction z rated pads f&r

Good ridge braided hoses f&r

 

I've never heard of warp speed developments so I dont know the quality of their work but it certainly seems to have a good spec engine.
I take it your aware of the 2.5 and its lust to injest it's own innards at any given point?

 

no mate what do you mean by that? Is there something I can check while engine Is
still in the car

 

None of that sounds good at all, on what looks like a really nice car. There is a sticky at the top of Scoobynet general on 2.5l failures. I would bet on it that the previous owner knew it had issues if it has dropped all it's coolant after one week of ownership.
It can't be stressed enough to get a reputable engine builder to do your work, not someone with a work bench and no engineering backup. The same goes for the specialist who services your car; choose someone whose work is at least 50% ( some will say 99%) with Subarus , and who has traded for a few years. Be prepared to travel if you care for your car; every tom, dick and harry " knows Subarus". Infact, I was approached recently by an AA driver who wanted to chat about my car, and had always had Impreza "back in the day"; he was a nice bloke, but it was clear even to me that he knew **** all about them. Good luck

 

I'm not knocking either Warpspeed or Spoon developments ( a Honda specialist?) but neither of them have an internet presence, even on Facebook. I'm sure one of the Scottish lads will chime in and recommend a proper Subaru specialist, as you have got some good ones up there.
Edit: a quick Google brings up Hypertech in Bonnybridge, AWD in Perth, SW Motorsport; intact there are numerous posts on here.

 

well where in Scotland or preferably close to me
i am in Greenock. imhave heard Steve Whithon is really good in Edinburgh but it’s a fortune and tbh am
not wanting to spending £3000 plus to fix it would rather just sell it the way it is but I wouldn’t mind knowing what is wrong with the car tbh.

 

I would question the closed deck inserts, not seen any done like that.

 

[QUOTE=MOTORS S GT;12079233]I would question the closed deck inserts, not seen any done like that.[/QUOTE

 

price seems very cheap for a full rebuild if you ask me. i would expect it to cost at least £1k more than that

how long has it been built?

 

since 2015.

Right so managed to get more information on this car the work was done by a guy called Colin telfer(telfer engineering ) does rally cars or something. So he basically send the engine to Ian brown who is warpspeed down south lancs which I managed to speak with he reckons that it could be a pipe that's maybe burst or spilt and caused the car to over heat and warp the head possibly. But he said he isn’t sure why it won’t start and to give Colin a call. So the person who mapped the car last was a guy called Steve Simpson who used ag motorsports rolling road.

thats as far as I have got
just now

 

What condition is the rest of the car ? It looks good from the pics. Are you planning on keeping it a long time ? If yes to both questions get the car to a decent Subaru specialist and tell your wallet to brace itself

 

yep i agree, this car was talked about in another thread on how good it looks a few weeks ago.

decent specialist and a large tub of vaseline ..........

 

What colour was the smoke?

 

You need a diagnosis you can rely on .Then decide on a budget. Then speak to some of the quality Subaru engine builders about your options. If the engine is coming out do it right

 

yeah the car is in great condition inside and out so I think I know where the problem may lie. So the previous owner from who I bought the car and he changed the timing belt which could of been done wrongly.

 

blue

 

blue is oil being burnt so possibly piston rings

 

check the turbo as a starter point

 

UPDATE

so I have decided to send the car to take RA DEVELOPMENTS car is getting picked up today so hopefully can find out what’s went wrong between today and tomorrow.

 

Good move. Hope it goes well.

 

Good luck

 

Is the car a long term keeper ?

 

yeah

 

Any update?

 

should hopefully find out today car is still with Andy at Ra developments and engine was coming out today so will update once I know

 

Good hopefully you get a answer did you change your mind about selling it
I thought i seen it for sale on fb market place as spares

 

so basically it’s all going to come down to if I can afford to fix it I have set a budget out and if it’s over then sadly I will have to part with the car but will wait and see once Andy phones me later

 

Hopefully not a full rebuild had to do my hatch after i owned it 2months cost me £5300
good luck

 

yeah hope not man. If it’s just the head and bearings it shouldn’t be that expensive but then if it’s anything more I will need to let it go been offered my full price at £6000 for it which I think is fair

 

£6000 is fair with engine issues