stift040 Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Hello! I am new to the Subaru community. I'm picking up my very own first car this Saturday. It's a 2001 Impreza, standard L wagon, with just shy of 100,000 miles on it. A friend of mine bought this car since the last owner passed on. they replaced one spark plug and the knock sensor. They also Completely reupholstered the inside of the car since it was getting a bit used. I've driven the car and it drives really well. Really excited about it! I've looked a bit and realize that the timing belt is something that should be replaced right around this mileage. So, I am wondering if this really is something that needs to be done, along with other tasks that should be completed at this age of the car. As a side note, shower me with any general knowledge you have of this model, or just any specifics I should know about this car! Any and all help is appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushwick Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) If it's running with original rubber belt at 100k miles, I personally wouldn't drive it until it's replaced. Very easy to do. When I did mine: I pulled the radiator fans out for more room. Think they were 10 mm bolts. Liked to snap, so soak with a good PB blaster or something. Both plastic covers need removed, and the center nut holding the crank pulley needs removed. I used a long breaker bar, and used the starter to crack it free. Just be careful and cover the radiator fins to prevent them from getting dinged. Replacement belt should have the markings on it to align with both cam sprockets and crank. This video might be helpful: DOHC 2.5L SOHC 2.5L The DOHC video the guy seems to cover the important stuff as far as removal goes (I skimmed through the video- can't find the one I watched when I did mine 1st time unfortunately) and SOHC cars are basically the same. If you have a SOHC 2.2L, the videos will still be the same, just look at the SOHC 2.5L video for how to line up the belts as it's the same deal. Very easy to do, and can be done in a hour or 2 depending how motivated you are. Edited January 29, 2014 by Bushwick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stift040 Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Thank you! that was very helpful. Is it really that big of a deal to drive around with? If it is I can just leave it in the garage for the rest of semester and do it quick when summer hits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stift040 Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 I guess the next question to ask is what the best way is to get my hands on a new belt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushwick Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 If it's original belt, I honestly would park it until it's replaced. They can let go without ANY warning and at any engine speed. If the valves hit, you'll be looking at engine repairs or engine replacement since yours is an interference design. When you do the belt, replace all the pulleys under the cover too. You are at the mileage they need replaced anyways. If those are ignored, they'll eventually fail and as you guessed it, will throw the belt. I buy stuff from Rockauto.com for my Subaru and Saab, as do MANY others here. They will hands down have better prices than your local parts store, and they carry (or have access to) all the hard to find stuff many stores won't or don't carry, and have all brand names. Even with cheapest shipping method, you'll still be cheaper than store bought. Here's a link for Impreza. Just select proper engine size and look under the "engine" category for belts and tensioners. For some reason, it looks like a 2001 is slightly more pricey, but anyways: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,make,SUBARU,year,2001,vtype,EU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stift040 Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Thank you so much! I'll order one asap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 it's 30% beyond the age limit, forget mileage. it's 105,000 miles/10 years, that belt is 13+ years old. replace all the timing components - belt, 3 pulleys, and tensioner. amazon has gates kits for $125-$130 with all that. they do break - google or search any subaru forum, it happens and that motor will bend valves, i've repaired them before due to broken timing belts. i've finished a timing kit in 45 minutes before. if the timing cover bolts aren't rusty it's an easy job and not that bad. if they are rusty, get some tips from us and you can do it sooner rather than later. If they replaced one spark plug (instead of them all) due to being cheap - i'd be changing the oil, transmission fluid, and front differential oil in case they were cheap on that stuff too. hopefully they didn't replace one due to some existing issue. most of us look for like-new reliability and another 100,000 miles/10 years and replace the cam seals and reseal the oil pump and maybe the water pump while we're in there. but if they're not leaking the seals can generally be risked and EJ water pumps rarely fail so you can skip that if you're trying to skimp on some area. all of those items require pulling the timing belt to repair and the seals will eventually leak. i'd call it lucky or rare for a seal that doesn't leak by 200,000 miles. other than first time learning curve getting the cam bolt off - it's only one bolt to replace the cam seals and only takes a couple of minutes. there are some parts you want to use Subaru only on: water pump gasket, original OEM spark plugs (though you can get those in any auto parts store), seals and orings (cam seals, crank seal, oil pump oring), thermostat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stift040 Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Okay, I think I can do the timing belt with little to no issue. But is there a good place to get a shop manual to help me along the way? Also, going along with the timing belt, I imagine that the water pump is something that needs to be done. Is that also something that can be done in a reasonable amount of time and ease? I recognize that the pump itself is probably about $40-$50, and I'm pretty sure there's a thermostat that need to be replaced with that, but I'm wondering if this is something I (someone with limited experience) would be able to confidently replace on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yes, be sure to replace the water pump along with the timing belt since the pump is driven by the belt. eBay is actually a good source for timing kits with the water pump included. MizumoAuto and TheImportExperts both have decent kits. I like the Mizumo kits because they come with oil seals, and they offer an Aisin brand water pump which is an OE part manufacturer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stift040 Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yes, be sure to replace the water pump along with the timing belt since the pump is driven by the belt. eBay is actually a good source for timing kits with the water pump included. MizumoAuto and TheImportExperts both have decent kits. I like the Mizumo kits because they come with oil seals, and they offer an Aisin brand water pump which is an OE part manufacturer. So, this would be ideal? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Subaru-Forester-Impreza-Timing-Belt-Water-Pump-EJ22-25-/220762875048?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2001%7CModel%3AImpreza&hash=item33667e24a8&vxp=mtr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) Nope. That's just a belt and a water pump. http://www.ebay.com/itm/260925199792 Replace everything. The toothed idlers fail and will shred the belt and leave you stranded in a heartbeat. The tensioners also fail with age and will allow the belt to go slack and jump time. The other two smooth idlers don't fail as often but are cheap enough to replace for for peace of mind. The only thing you need to add to the kit I linked above is a water pump gasket from a dealer. The paper gaskets are junk and will go bad. Use a dealer gasket or RTV on the water pump. Edited January 30, 2014 by Fairtax4me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) what he said - replace everything - all pulleys and tensioner too. do *not* use an aftermarket water pump gasket, they're flimsy, thing cardboard junk. get the metal one from Subaru. and yes they're really easy - once the timing belt is off there's like 6 10mm bolts and the pump is off, very easy. and the metal gasket require little clean up. Edited January 30, 2014 by grossgary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yes, replace the tensioners at least. The belt more often fails from bad pulleys than the belt itself. The water pump coul probabyl ride it out till 200,000 mi, but do it anyway if you are in there. You are better off re-using the original thermostat than using an autozone or what have you cheap aftermarket. PArts should be around 375 altogether with belt kit incl tensioners and idlesrs, and a water pump. Some kits are available that include the water pump. PAy the money for a good gates brand timing kit over some cheap chinese. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hush777 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 One thing that I have found out is that your local subaru dealer will be happy to give you any information about what maintainance and repairs that they have done on the vehicle if you give them the vin number. You can check with them about if the t-belt was done around 60k like it should have been. We have a couple dealers around here that I check with. Hush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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