I wanted to get some expert opinion on mom's 93 Impreza 2.2L 2wd. She took it in to the dealer for a oil leak and complaining of poor acceleration (128,000 miles). Dealer diagnosed a head gasket blown. She lives about a days drive from me so I'm debating if I should repair it myself or try and find her something else? Dealer is looking for $2000 to fix it. I'm sure I can do it for much less. Trying to find a detailed post for a step by step head gasket replacement but I haven't found a thread dealing with a 2.2 head only the dreaded 2.5's. Any thoughts would be appreciated!!

$2,000 is insanely expensive. she should never talk to that dealer or sales person again, he/she is not to be trusted. 2.5's generally run $1,000 from the dealer.

i wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't even a head gasket issue, but so hard to say without seeing the car or having any more information. 130,000 is low mileage for a 2.2. 2.2's generally go alot of miles and are regarded as durable motors.

 

If you were to drive up there and do it yourself the easiest solution is to find a used motor for a couple hundred and swap it out. you can find them for 100-500 used. then no worries about how to do the job, needing parts, opening up seals, gaskets, timing belts, heads being warped, needing machine work on the heads/valves...etc. engine swap can easily be done in a day and doesn't require much really. install new timing belt, water pump and oil pump seals while it's out, you'd be best to do that anyway even if you did the head gasket on hers.

 

i'd tell her to ask around for an honest mechanic and have the car tested elsewhere, second and third oppinions are well worth the effort some times.

I don't think the 93 Impreza was "original" with a 2.2. It should be the 1.8. However the 1.8 and 2.2 are essentially the same.

 

 

I would report the dealer with the $2000 quote to Subaru of America. They keep track of issues that drive people away from Subaru future purchases. I would tell the dealer that you are reporting them to their franchising unit too.

I don't think the 93 Impreza was "original" with a 2.2. It should be the 1.8. However the 1.8 and 2.2 are essentially the same.

 

 

I would report the dealer with the $2000 quote to Subaru of America. They keep track of issues that drive people away from Subaru future purchases. I would tell the dealer that you are reporting them to their franchising unit too.

 

After reading the last two replies I decided to call the dealer for some additional details. Momsie left out a few details.. first there is no power to the computer so they cannot asses why the check engine light is always on. Would need to fix power issue then check the codes, right now it won't release any codes. Second they found numerous oil leaks.. front crank seal and head gasket. I asked if they are sure it's the head gasket and not the valve cover? He replied well the tech wrote head gasket.... the $2000 quote was to pull the engine and replace all seals, hence the outrageous cost. I'm sure the cam/crank seals need fixing, but I wonder if the head is really leaking or the is it just the valve covers. Have to check on the 1.8/2.2 issue. About 30K ago I changes the timing belt/water pump and I remember the engine setup just like my 97' 2.2L. I assumed it was the same, but if your saying they are almost identical, it's probably a 1.8L.

i've read on here that dealers normally do the headgasket in the car, they don't remove the engine.

 

crank seals, cam seals, water pump, oil pump are all right in front of them while doing the headgasket, there's very little associated cost in replacing those at the same time. crank and cam seals are 5-10 dollars each, same with oil pump oring.

 

call another shop and get an estimate on head gasket and crank, cam, oil pump seals and see what you get.