Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

bgambino

Members
  • Posts

    712
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by bgambino

  1. Hey guys

     

    I am about to put my 2004 wrx (2.0) on the road

    I took it out and was idling it while I washed it

    I was not paying a lot of attention but then noticed it was not idling low...not normal

    Checked and tach was reading about 1800 RPM

    Had reached normal op temp for quite some time

    hit pedal a few times...would not drop

     

    Any input would be much appreciated

    I was thinking maybe the coolant temp sensor??

    I don't know where it is of if there is a way to test it

     

    No check engine lites but....  1st...my battery was dead for a week..,,,2nd....I only idled it for 20 minutes and took it for a 5 minutes spin

     

     

  2. Got a friend with a 98 impreza

    She said months ago her blower motor stopped...them came back on...been fine ever since

    Now it quit again

    She says she checked fuse but I wil check and swap it as a first step

    Then see if there is 12v at motor....if not, I'll test the motor with 12v

     

    If no power to motor, I guess it could be the switch....not sure how best to check that

    Any thoughts?

    Does a 97 legacy use the same heating switch? I have a one as a parts car....

  3. ok....who here has done a leak down test??

    What I understand is that I need to get each cylinder to TDC and tap 30 PSI into the C. Chamber...and look for bubbles in coolant--is that correct?

     

    How do I find TDC for cyl 1---2004 WRX

    Once found, my understanding is that I just need to turn crank 1/4 turn and then #3 cyl is ready to be tested then same for 2 & 4

    That sound correct?

     

    Also...see pic of label under the hood.....I was looking for the size of the engine.....I was a little confused by the "2.5" about the 2.0L on the line below it

    I assume this is a 2.0L turbo and not a 2.5?

    I need this info for getting brake pads etc

     

    post-613-0-47921500-1437404642_thumb.jpg

  4. I'll tell you....I have been driving subarus since 1980.....

    They just seem to be riddled with some bad designs....most notably the HG issues for almost 10 years

    It's disappointing to a loyal enthusiast

     

    Emily....that's NOT the answer I wanted to hear haha

    I can't complain....I'm sure I can sell it for $3500.....I was just looking for an easy fix and a bigger killing (hey, they rarely come around like this)

     

    Let's see what other suggestions pop up though

     

  5. Thanks for the info Emily

     

    Okay let me give what little history I know and have recently found out about this car.

     

    I bought it sight unseen.  Was about 2 hours from me in Long Island.  My cousin works for a tow shop/body shop.  His boss towed the car to a mechanic shop for the customer. This non Subaru private shop said the engine was shot.  My cousin contacted me and asked if I was interested in the car for $800?  After seeing some pics I said heck yeah! (later I found out his boss got it for 600 and made a quick 200 on me---who cares haha...his loss for not keeping it..!!)

     

    Since then I spoke to my cousin and got just a little more info

    He said that the owner told him that he had a $1500 exhaust put on (Looks like thick Stainless steel...its not all the way to the front though)....he claims it overheated on him at some point and he blames the fact that they never "replaced" the 02 sensors (as if to say they did not take the old ones out and put new ones on.  I'm pretty sure I saw the wire going to the front one---I have to double check that both stock ones are there---but cats "look" like they are stock).  Now this does not make a lot of sense to me. Even non functioning 02 sensors should not cause over heat

     

    If it overheated...the question is why?  Overheating could definitely have blown the turbo.  I do agree that I think it is oil blowing all that smoke. When the car was flat bedded to me, I noticed the oil was at the bottom of the dip stick and dirty.  I changed it (have not monitored the levels yet--I should).

     I also seem to hear an intermittent rattle or something near the turbo while it idles.

    Also....the antifreeze is super clean and with a fresh green color.  I have to think that it was recently changed

     

    Over the weekend I used (for the first time) the CO2 test kit with the vials filled with the blue fluid.  I did it twice and repeatedly squeezed the bulb many times...negative on the color change

     

    The one thing I should do is run the car for awhile and check that gurgling and the pushing of the Afreeze into the overflow tank...see if it happens all the time.  Temp gauge operates totally normal during warm up and sticks where it should during idle.  If it is gurgling, I have no idea why.  If it were coming a HG leak, that could only happen while engine is running

     

    So...aside from the suggestions from you guys forthcoming, I need to do these things:

    1--Monitor and test the gurgling after shut sown---does it happen all the time? Is there any oil at all in a freeze in overflow tank

    2--Monitor oil level on dip stick

    3--check to be sure both 02 sensors are there and wired up

     

    If I buy a rebuilt turbo.....and then drive and find out it over heats.....I'm not sure where that puts me

    Can you get a false negative on the CO2 test? Maybe the head gaskets are shot also.

    Maybe a turbo is all it needs.

    Not knowing for sure if the HGs are bad, maybe its better to sell the car as-is....with a bad turbo.  I did get a negative on the CO2 test.  I might be ahead of the game if selling it now.

    Oh what to do....?

     

  6. Hey ccr...is that you Emily?

    Both you and Fairtax.......I am encouraged that maybe it is fixable.....I have questions

     

    Fair---is that Saab an oil leak in the turbo or antifreeze (or not sure)?

     

    I have yet to find any vids on youtube of antifreeze leaking out of the turbo and into the exhaust stream....thought I would

     

    If it is a leak of AF into the turbo...why would the overflow tank bubble and fill up after shut down?

    That is not normal (motor temp is normal)

     

    OK...what to do at this point?

    I just bought one of those CO2 testers....I guess I should test it out tonite

    If CO2 present....there is HG or cracked block or head

    If not....it could be a false negative....

     

    I will take some pics and video of the smoke too altho I have no idea how to post the video or if I can here

     

  7. So my cousin found this GT turbo for me.....

    93k

    On start up it blows a tremendous cloud of smoke...I mean big! I have never seen anything like it.

    I was afraid the neighbor might call the fire dept..>!

     

    When warmed up and idling for awhile it settles down but hit the gas and it bellows.

    Pretty white in color.

    No real power...barely moves out of it's own way.

    I assume it's choking on anti-freeze.

    (THE pic attached does NOT show the real pillows of smoke that it can do---I forgot to take one)

     

    Head gaskets THAT bad?

    Cracked head/block?

     

    I got it cheap so I am thinking of selling it as-is but......is it possible that it could be Anything more simple?? Another way coolant could be getting in there?

    I am just taking a shot in the dark before I pull the trigger on selling it

    post-613-0-78455900-1436798328_thumb.jpg

  8. So I am at my desk at work about 3PM last Thursday...perusing several different geographic areas on CL for

    Subarus. I click on Albany NY (about a 2 hour drive from me) and I scroll to a posting that was about 1 hour old.

    I have been seeing A LOT of dumb scams for the past few months...but they have been SO obvious to spot.

    I thought perhaps this was a more clever scam.

     

    It read that this person was selling her friends 2004 WRX (and the friend was an older woman) which had too much rust under it and they would not pass it for its NY State inspection. 46,000 miles-- original owner for $2500.

    I said, that is too good to be true.I wondered HOW MUCH rust could be under there

    But I know it was worth twice+ that in parts alone

     

     

    I text her (what also made me think it was a scam too was that it was a N Carolina number)

    After texting I said...let me try and call....crap...no answer--left message

    LO and behold she calls back in 5 minutes

    Says she was on the phone with the very first caller

    Promised him he could come at 9 the next morning

    big time CRAP

    The next morning at 8 I text her and tell her to set me up with a tentative appt at 10...if that guy calls to postpone his 9 AM visit...tell him you have a commitment for 10

     

    5 mins later she texts..... "call me"

    Sure enough the guy called and lamented that it's kinda far blah blah.

    I'M IN...!

    1.5 hours later I arrive with money in hand (she was about 45 mins away)

     

    It was no scam

    Her 90 year old lady friend(YES 90!!!!) bought the car new...and it's a 5 speed no less.

    She was driving it up till the week before

     

    I look under it expecting massive holes in the sheet metal floor pans...............

    NOPE----the rust is on the cross member bracketry/sway bar/cross member support/trailing link etc

     

    Yes the rust was heavy....but not in danger of breaking immediately or anything

    Interior after a light detailing will be a 9/9.5

    Body at least an 8.5...I think I was too darn excited to scrutinize it LOL

    Ran fine

     

    I will have it flat bedded Wednesday

    I only got one pic....I said to Charlotte..."NO ONE is going to believe that I bought this for a little 90 year old woman"...she was a sweet woman. (I had to text my 17 + 21 year old boys right away....they were arguing between them who deserved it..yeah right !!)

    Pic attached.....in a few weeks I will post pics after I have time to detail it....maybe the rust sooner

     

    The car once I replace the rusted parts is worth $10,000 easy

    This is almost a once in a lifetime buy....

    post-613-0-00447700-1436790991_thumb.jpg

  9. I've yet to find a decent set of forester struts to lift my 95 legacy

     

    I did read the sticky but have questions:

     

    First....someone above mentioned 98-08 struts would fits...true?  Is there any difference in what needs to be done when using 98-02 struts compared to newer 04-08 struts?

    I would like the option of using up to 2008 as they would be newer and it gives me a wider search possibility

     

    2--I read things about new camber bolts in rear--would I need this/

    3--what about trailing arms or trailing arm brackets? different ones needed?

    4--spacers? of any kind needed?

    5--drilling of may holes required?

     

    Not being terribly versed in this I am hoping to unbolt and bolt in different struts and get 2" lift

     

    thanks for the advise and the patience

  10. I made an error....

    I want to put a 2002 or a 2004 (I have both as parts car--prefer the 02 motor tho) into a 2004 Impreza (not a 2005

    But the 04 and 05 imprezas look the same--so I am guessing it may not matter that the one I am looking to buy is actually a 2004?

     

    I am nervous to buy this 04 impreza with the blown motor as we have emissions here in NY and I don't want to do a lot of work and it ending bad....

    Any other experiences would be great to hear about.

    I did not realize that was ccr above.....

  11. I made an error....

    I want to put a 2002 or a 2004 (I have both as parts car--prefer to 02 motor tho) into a 2004 Impreza (not a 2005

    But the 04 and 05 imprezas look the same--so I am guessing it may not matter that the one I am looking to buy is actually a 2004?

     

    I am nervous to buy this 04 impreza with the blown motor as we have emissions here in NY and I don't want to do a lot of work and it ending bad....

    Any other experiences would be great to hear about.

    I did not realize that was ccr above.....

  12. Fairtax or anyone
     
    I found a diagram online that seemed to indicate the PW circuit breaker was under the steering column
     
    So from the 02 OB wagon I took the seat out of...I went under the column and don't think I could find it
     
    See the 3 pics attached---sorry they are not great
    I don't see anything with an amp rating
    Anyone know what this thing looks like or where it is exactly?
    thanks very much

    post-613-0-12885200-1432920900_thumb.jpg

    post-613-0-03808200-1432920920_thumb.jpg

    post-613-0-33936300-1432920940_thumb.jpg

×
×
  • Create New...