rocksnap Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I have a 2001 Outback 3.0 with the H-6 EZ30 engine. At about 81,000 miles the engine developed a tic most noticed primarily in the 3000 rpm range. This was diagnosed as the Cam Chain Tensioner by myself and the dealer. Luckily this car was under a short 30 day NY state used car warrantee. The selling dealer was responsible for the repair. For a tensioner this was no easy repair. A 1 - 1 1/2 day job with a half page list of part and something like 102 bolts to remove. All was no charge to me but you can imagine this would have easily cost $1000 - $1500 for parts and labor. I have replaced the chain tensioner on a 85' Saab 900. The origional design only applied tension via hydraulic (oil) pressure. The later design has a one way ratchet mechanism that was also hydraulic but with the ratchet would allow only extension. If/when the hydraulic seal was lost the tensioner would stay extended. The time to swap the tensioners? 15 minutes with a simple socket and ratchet. Also on the H6 engine. The water pump is apparently buried in the engine requiring an extensive tear down to replace (according to the dealer). I am not looking forward to that repair and am hoping for the water pump to last the life of the engine. Wish me luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I have a 2001 Outback 3.0 with the H-6 EZ30 engine. At about 81,000 miles the engine developed a tic most noticed primarily in the 3000 rpm range. This was diagnosed as the Cam Chain Tensioner by myself and the dealer. Luckily this car was under a short 30 day NY state used car warrantee. The selling dealer was responsible for the repair. For a tensioner this was no easy repair. A 1 - 1 1/2 day job with a half page list of part and something like 102 bolts to remove. All was no charge to me but you can imagine this would have easily cost $1000 - $1500 for parts and labor. I have replaced the chain tensioner on a 85' Saab 900. The origional design only applied tension via hydraulic (oil) pressure. The later design has a one way ratchet mechanism that was also hydraulic but with the ratchet would allow only extension. If/when the hydraulic seal was lost the tensioner would stay extended. The time to swap the tensioners? 15 minutes with a simple socket and ratchet. Also on the H6 engine. The water pump is apparently buried in the engine requiring an extensive tear down to replace (according to the dealer). I am not looking forward to that repair and am hoping for the water pump to last the life of the engine. Wish me luck! From what ive seen of the design, the water pump is good for the life of the car. Its driven by the chain, so there is no side stress on the shaft like a belt would produce. The impeller is made so it wont erode, but it does make it all that more important to change the antifreeze regularly. Antifreeze lubricates the water pump, and like all lubricants, breaks down with time. GM uses the same design on its high performance v-8s and so far it has held true. The timing chain is good for the life of the car. From past exp with timing chains. In the past chains would go at around 140K. I am sure the technology and engineering has gotten so much more better that they should last the life of the engine. Your not the first one ive heard with a bad tensioner on these engines, it seems to be the achillies heel. I've seen the exploded veiw of the timing chain covers, its a mess, but then again its not meant to be serviced (in theory) for the life of the engine. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audiophobe Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Is there any preventive maintanance to prevnt the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Is there any preventive maintanance to prevnt the problem? which problem, the tensioner? i dont know without looking at the parts book to see if an older P/N was superseeded by a newer P/N. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocksnap Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 no preventive maintenance to speak of as far as replacing the tensioner. i would think the only thing related to this you could do is oil changes but even that may not be any good. once it fails.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Tensioners are usually not much trouble on a car with regular maintence. The problem is a lot of folks think cars require the same as thier fridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaggywerewolf Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Tensioners are usually not much trouble on a car with regular maintence. The problem is a lot of folks think cars require the same as thier fridge. I imagine these are the same folks who drive the $4hit out of their brand new (or leased) cars, and after 3 years of zero maintenance, sell/trade them in for another new car to abuse. And the unfortunate buyer who ends up with said vehicle gets to pay retroactively to catch up with the lack of maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxammo Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Can anyone help me find out how to line up the chain and gears again as I replace a broken exhaust cam gear. It may be lined up still but i,m not sure. This is an interferance engine right? I don't want to just go spinning things lest a bent valve right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 what do you have it apart for? that's awesome that you're digging into it. how has the job been so far, any difficult parts? i'd love some feedback as i will be getting into a timing chain some day as well, we have an H6 OBW. i've yet to see anyone post that's actually done this so there's not much first hand experience on the subaru boards. i have the factory service manual from Subaru and here's the page on alignment, looks fairly straight forward and basically like most other subaru's with just a couple tweaks. if this doesn't show up, email/PM me and i'll send you a full size version, i had to shrink it to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 in case you can't read it, the text says: 2) align top mark on crankshaft sprocket at 9 oclock position as shown in picture. 3) align four key grooves on camshaft sprocket at 12 oclock position as shown in the figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woundedbrat Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 05 outback with 300,000 needs tensioner and water pump any advice would be appreciated (special tools, parts that should be changed etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 H6 ? I see impact screwdriver recommended for all the timing cover fasteners - and make a cardboard template to store them on if re-using. start soaking them in Kroil, PB Blaster or 50:50 acetone and ATF. start that last week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccrinc Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Is there any preventive maintanance to prevnt the problem? Oil changes! Faithful, regular oil changes. Recommended: 3,750 oil change interval or 7,500 interval under easy drving conditions. Full synthetic oil. These tensioners are lubricated by the engine oil as are the timing chains (yes, there are TWO.) Emily 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 05 outback with 300,000 needs tensioner and water pump any advice would be appreciated (special tools, parts that should be changed etc.) what engine? which tensioner? timing chain, belt, or serpentine? the Factory Service Manuals are all over the internet, go there. Not really any special tools are needed - H6 timing chains have a lot of allen head bolts, so get a quality set of those. 22mm socket for subaru crank pulleys just about everythign else is standard metric tools - 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm covers nearly every bolt on a Subaru. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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