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richardjames

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Posts posted by richardjames

  1. From where did you order your stuff? Do they use standard mail as a normal policy or did you have to insist?

     

    I ordered the parts from the website referenced above. I don't think it was the postal system that was the problem - my tracking number indicated that Canadian Boarder Services received it relatively quickly. It was customs trying to figure out how much they were going to hose me for.

  2. Funny - even if the import tax was 100%, it's still less than the dealer!

     

     

    It's been a while, however the wait was worth it.

     

    I just received my tensioner, timing belt, cam seals, water pump and oil pump seals in the mail yesterday! It was ordered on February 15th!

     

    The grand total was $265.00 CDN for the parts plus another 41.00 for GST and duty. Well worth the wait - it would have cost over 400 had I gone with the dealer.

     

    One last question:

     

    Do you recommend a Subaru mechanic or can any well experienced mechanic handle installing this?

  3. Just to confirm:

     

    You are saying you charge $650 US for parts and labour to do the following:

     

    1) change the timing belt

    2) replace the water pump

    3) replace the cam seals

    4) replace oil pump seals

    5) replace tensioner

     

    /QUOTE]

     

    Here's my dealer's quote:

     

    CHANGING THE TIMING BELT = PART COST $131.00

    REPLACING THE WATER PUMP = PART COST $ $165.00 PLUS THE GASKET COST $4.00

    REPLACING THE CAM AND THE OIL PUMP SEALS = PARTS COST $36.00

    REPLACING THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER = PART COST $220.00

     

    LABOUR TO REPLACE ALL OF THESE PARTS IS 4hrs @ $88.00 P/HR FOR AN AMOUNT OF $352.00

     

    For grand total estimate of $908.00 CDN plus tax.

     

    Even with an over exaggerated exchange rate - they are about $125 over.

  4. It runs me 650.00 u.s. including the tensioner (dont forget to repalce that).

     

    nipper

     

    Just to confirm:

     

    You are saying you charge $650 US for parts and labour to do the following:

     

    1) change the timing belt

    2) replace the water pump

    3) replace the cam seals

    4) replace oil pump seals

    5) replace tensioner

     

     

    Two other questions -

    1) If I did have 5 leaks as they said, wouldn't I have oil on my driveway?

    2) Someone mentioned I should change the oil pump. Is that necessary or a make work project?

     

    Thnx - you guys are the best!!! I feel like I owe you a beer.

  5. hi..99 Forester also and live just outside Ottawa.If the dealer is Westboro Subaru I have found them to be be fair and as honest as any dealer can be and the quoted price sounds resonable. If you are looking for a good independent I would recomend you check out Heb White Automotive in Merrickville, only about 45 minutes from Ottawa..

     

    Actually it is Westboro Subaru.

     

    Every time I went in before the transmission issue - they usually found about $300 - 400 worth of work to be done. Sometimes I complied, sometimes I didn't.

     

    Since the transmission was replaced, they started quoting in the $800 range (hence the work that was just done). Then this $1849+tax job after completing the work.

     

    I just thought of something - I changed to synthetic oil about six months ago. If I switched back to regular oil, would/could this fix up these leaks?

     

    So...the consensus is to:

     

    1) change the timing belt

    2) replace the water pump

    3) replace the cam seals

    4) continue to check oil and top up every 2 to 3 tanks of gas - and see what happens

     

    How much shoule 1, 2 and 3 cost?

     

    Any comments or other suggestions???

  6. good point, Brucey. Im the last to knock any car strickly on its look. My first impression of the Tribecca was: Hmm, the front end of my first Saab, grafted to a Murano...but truly ugly, IMHO. If time proves it a worthy vehicle, than who cares? Unlike the Aztek, which is horrible looking AND a lousy car. LOL! Still a newbie, hope I havent stepped on more toes.. I cant WAIT to get to work tomorrow and drive my Subie out of the shop under its own power, for the first time in front of the crew.....

     

    I agree - Trebecca=UGLY!

     

    I must note it's not nearly as bad as the Aztek. I can't imagine what was going through their heads when they made the aztek? I've often wondered - did they have a liquid lunch on a Friday afternoon and realize at 2:30 the plans had to be in by 4:00 ???

  7.  

    When were the differential gear oils last replaced? Is this an M/T or A/T? If M/T check out the clutch while the engine is out. If A/T how's about a fluid change.

     

    Hi Porcupine73 -

     

    It has an A/T that was replaced a little over a year ago. I wouldn't anticipate the engine seal needs replacing but they guy said there was oil all over it.

     

    Actually - I don't fully trust the dealer because of this transmission - I bought the car from them and they denied warranty service on the A/T - then a few days after it expired they said "you need a new transmission - but fortunately for you, we'll only charge you $5000 for the job." That's when I said "I think you need to re-evaluate this situation." They begrudgingly replaced it. Since then I've always had the feeling they intend on recovering the $5,000 it cost to replace it.

     

    But seriously - they need to take the engine out - and $1,849 is reasonable?

  8. I had my 99 Forester with 162,000 km (100,000 miles for the American Folks) in for it's annual maintainence yesterday.

     

    It included checking belts, hoses, A/C, lights, tire pressure and rotated, oil change/filter, replaced air filter, inspect cooling - EGR - exhaust - steering - suspension, clean/service battery, lube locks/latches/seals, reset ECM and finally - strip the brakes apart to lube/service.

     

    They determined I needed new rear rotors and pads as well as gaskets for 5 - engine oil leaks. They were going to change the timing belt but said it's best to do it when the gaskets are done.

     

    I replaced the rotors and pads and passed on dealing with the leaks right now. The total came to $885.55 CDN with taxes.

     

    In terms of the leaks - they said I need to change both head gaskets, valve cover gaskets, oil pump seals and rear separator plate. And to do this they will have to take the engine out of the car. Including the timing belt, they quoted $1,849 CDN plus taxes.

     

    I find it strange there are leaks - there isn't one drop of oil on my driveway. Not one! I do find that I have to add a litre of oil every couple of tanks but - I've read on this group that this is common for this car.

     

    Is this reasonable??? Do they need to take the engine out for a couple of gaskets and a pair of seals? Is that price outrageous?

     

    Sometimes I would like to do this:

     

    Me :Flame::slobber: Dealer

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