Have a 2004 Forester 2.5LX with about 237,000 miles on it.  Wouldn't run when a friend decided he didn't have time to bother with it and bought another one, giving this one to me.  A friend looked at it and said that the crankshaft bearings were out--engine wobbles or vibrates like crazy when it tries to run.  I have never pulled or taken apart a Subaru engine, though have pulled a number of engines on older (60-80s) Ford and GMC pickups.  I don't feel it would be a big problem, but just wondering if I should try to fix the engine or find another one?  If I have to replace the crank and bearings, would seem that wouldn't take much more $ to just get a good used one.  Am concerned that the engine may have other problems with so much vibration.  Appreciate any thoughts, suggestions!

It wobbles?

 

Bad rod bearings wood make a solid knock sound, but no wobbling.

Bad main bearings would give low oil pressure, and quickly lead to bad rod bearings, and knocking. If it isn't knocking, there's probably nothing wrong internally.

 

Wobbling could just be a loose crankshaft pulley. The bolt in the center will come loose and let the pulley wobble all around. Doesn't hurt the engine a bit. Just need to clean up the crank nose some where the pulley was wobbling on it. New keyway and a new pulley and torque the bolt to about 140ft-lbs.

 

Or wobbling could maybe mean it its misfiring.

 

Its hard to tell based on something that a friend told a friend who told you.

As he said - vibration is generally not engine bearing symptom.

I hear misdiagnosis almost weekly, give us the symptoms and some more details and we'll help you track down the actual issues.

 

Depending what you mean by "wobbling" it could be a misfire or engine mounts - both easy repairs.

 

Generally don't rebuild Subaru engines but you certainly can and it's done often enough.  Generally cost intensive to do it well and for that price you can generally just get a used engine that will last 100,000 miles or more just fine, so there's not a compelling reason to rebuild every time.

  Thanks for the insights.  Have gotten the vehicle here on a trailer and will see if I can check things out and just see what is actually happening, then give more information.  At least it will be what I see.  Hopefully I can spend a little time on it this week.

Do you have an old timing light about? If you do focus it on the main pulley and look for a wobble. If it is really bad, you can feel the looseness of the pully and it may cause a little vibration at idle. Beyond that we need more details.

Thanks for the input. Was able to go out today as sun broke through the rain and clouds and try to start the car. Didn't run, but cannot see anything obviously loose. Thought that it tried to fire, but will add a little starting fluid tomorrow or gas on the filter and see if there is fire. It almost seemed like it was misfiring as it cranked over a few times. Plan to also check and make sure it is getting fuel to the filter and then fuel pressure to engine. Will also check the fuses and see if I can get it to run a few minutes, then observe what is happening. Will post as soon as I can define and describe what symptoms I find. Hope to get that info out tomorrow sometime.