I bought a standard 1998 Version 5 STi Type R about 3 weeks ago, the car was imported and the engine failed/seized within 200 miles of being in this county. The engine was rebuilt by a Subaru Specialist and I bought it with about 600 miles on it since rebuild [and the 500 mile oil change complete] with the understanding that the remainder of the warranty was transferable [I don’t have anything in writing from the company that rebuilt it but my private sale receipt states it is]. I spoke to the specialist just after I bought it and they said they suspected it had been run low on oil in its earlier life .. they didn’t replace the oil pump as it was tested and was within tolerance.

I have run it in driving below 3.5k as stipulated [and since then still driven it softly – with occasional 5.5k revs] and today at 1200 miles I ‘think’ the bottom end has gone again. I was driving along steady [on the way to an antiques auction] and I heard a horrible knocking noise ... I immediately backed off and pulled in .... the car sounds fine at tickover but when revved to about 2.5k knocks really loud from the centre of the engine. I have listened to similar noises on You-Tube and it sounds identical .. there is plenty of oil in it.

Anyway I’m gutted! As my worst fear when buying this car has been realised!

Description of the work carried out from the invoice:

“Remove engine & strip down to investigate damage from seizing. Crankshaft & associated bearings worn. Send crank away for regrind & renew big-end & main bearings. Rebuild engine & renew cambelt and fluids” It had a full gasket and seal kit / No. 4 con-rod and all new bearings.

I’m just after some advice on what to do next?

As I see it my options are:

1. Contact the company who rebuilt it ... get the car recovered to them and let them have a look at it. Although I don’t know how much confidence I have in them if the bottom end has gone again so soon. Surely they should have identified any issues during the rebuild.

2. If I can’t get the warranty honoured I will need a new engine! What are my options? I don’t want second hand and I don’t want to rebuild myself ... I also don’t want to spend a fortune but I want 100% confidence and reliability. How much is it going to cost? Should I get the heads rebuilt as well. Who are the best companies to go to?

The other option is to sell spares or repair with the knackered engine. How much could I realistically ask for the car? Market rate minus £2k?

n.b I don’t want any more power out of a rebuilt engine .. I’m more than happy with what the standard car should do!

Sorry for the long post!!

 

Bad luck
A good engine builder would never regrind an Impreza crank they are always replaced and I think most would want a new pump on it.
If it has a warranty it has to go back to them.

Oh and you always have to change the oil Modine as it would hold some swarf from the bearings.

Give API a ring they will give you no obligation advice and have a good reputation

 

sorry to hear that mate, i would go with option 1 and see what they say. good luck whatever you choose.

 

sorry to hear your bad new's mate , id go to the engine builder's and explain the fault thing is if they strip down and find it's your fault your left with a large bill to pay just to get your car back !! .or you could try speaking to api very well known engine builders with a very good reputation .Sounds strange to me that they had the crank reground as there cheap to buy a new one and ive read you cant regrind subaru one's ?? . hope you get it sorted mate .

 

The first thing you do is contact whoever rebuilt the engine. Let them have a go at diagnosing whatever the knocking is and take it from there. Don't be tempted into the whole 'name and shame' witch-hunt before you know the outcome. I wouldn't want to be charged for this either!

As you're a long term member I'd say you'vebeen putting high octane fuel in?

Regarding selling the car with a gone engine, depending on information you've supplied, I'd expect offers around £3k.

 

Also, £2k seems cheap for a typeR rebuild if that is what was paid.

 

I think the fact that the crank was reground confirms your fears, bad luck!

 

that would be worth more if you broke it up i think .

 

Gutted for you matey! I hope things turn out for the best!

 

Sorry to hear the bad news i would have thought a new oil pump would have been one of the first things to replace at the rebuild.Any good engine builder would have changed the crank instead of regrind talk to them and try to get some sought of refund.
Good Luck

 

I'm a long term member but not a regular if that makes sense ... yes I've been running it on Tesco 99 since I've owned it ... I even put some Octane Booster in it today in preperation to start driving it a bit harder!

£1700 is cheap for the rebuild but that was at trade prices [the engine build was paid for by the importer] and they used there local specialist who does all there work.

I wasn't aware of the issue regarding grinding Impreza cranks [can't check EVERY thing when buying a used car I suppose] .... I think I'll get it recovered over there and let them have a look and diagnose!

To be honest if it is terminal then I might be tempted to just sell on with a knackered engine as I can't really be arsed with all the hassle. Motorbikes are my main passion.

How much should I budget for a GOOD engine built to standard spec from APi? Drive in drive out.

n.b. I wont be naming and shaming.

 

Gutted for you really mate, just had same happen to me.

regrinding a crank is a big no no as far as im concerned.

I would def go back to the company who built it, regardless of what you think of them. its their mistake/job mate. if it comes to it pay for a new crank,race bearings. if your not worried about power standard rods/pistons are fine

The build will cost about 2k-2.5k fitted mate.

Talk to David@API, such a nice bloke and no bull****. getting my car rebuilt there soon(when money is good)

Sorry again mate, worse noise ever lol

 

Turnkey from api for a bog standard rebuild and recovering your car would be ballpark £3k. I'd call David (API) and ask his advice if you don't get any joy from this garage. From reading above it doesn't look good though.

On the plus side, even though you're into bikes, if you do get the car done properly, once run in and performing well, a sti5typeR is one awesome machine.

 

Gutted for you
They need to replace that crank for sure, one of the latest grooved JDM ones is a good bet but they should do the rebuild if it hasnt been done right in the first place....

Tony

 

how much does the vehicle owe you?

 

Just in case the warranty isn't transferable, can you not go back to the importer and ask them to go to the garage on your behalf?
I'm sure if you were nice enough to them considering you bought a car and it wouldn't cost them - they would help?
Bit of a hot and sticky one though if you go to the garage first and tell them it is in fact now your car (maybe they will wriggle out of it?)

Bad luck though and I do hope it gets sorted out fast and cheap (or free ).
Let us know how you get on.

Where about are you from? Only you 'think' the bottom end has gone...

 

Sounds like the rebuild wasn't a good one.

I'd never regrind a crank and I'd never use the same oil pump after a failure.

Take it back to the engine builder and ask them to replace the crank, bearings, pump and oil modine as a bare minimum.

 

£5k, why?

 

It was quite a complicated purchase ... I didn't buy it from the importer direct. The importer brought the car in and it was used by one of there staff until it siezed. The import company paid for the rebuild and was then wound up and the member of staff bought 4/5 cars himself to sell on to make a bit of money. I bought it from him as effectively a private sale with the understanding the warrenty was transferable.

I'll speak to the specialist on Monday and let you know how I get on.

I'm from Bristol ... i'm not 100% sure its the bottom end but I'm pretty confident thats what it is.

 

is the car- very good/good/mint

may be worth cutting your losses instead of having a car worth 5k that owes you 7k or 8k if you know what i mean

 

I remember you posting when you bought the car a few weeeks ago. The car looked great.
API will sort you out. Good luck.

 

Yeah that’s what I'm thinking ... I would describe the car as good to very good. I might be better of cutting my losses and losing £2k now rather than ending up like you say spending £7-8k for a £5k car.

If I had known I would be spending £8k on a new car I’d of bought something else!

How likely am I to sell it with a knackered engine? E-Bay my best bet?

Obviously the first thing I'll do is send it over to get it checked over by the specialist and see what they can offer.

 

I bought my last Impreza with a knackered engine, £1500 for a MY00 UK saloon with lots of extras. He advertised only on here. If you do want to get rid post in for sale and I'd probably bung it on Ebay as well.

If I was to get another typeR it would be one with a knackered engine. I'm sure there are others out there who are the same, especially as the failure is quite a common thing.

From your posts I wouldn't hold out much hope with either the previous owner, the 'warranty' or the garage who done the work.

 

Have a word with the peron you bought it off first to mate to double check it is transferable. Better then, as said above, them having grounds to wriggle out of it.

ps did you buy it local? If you did i have a feeling i know who it was from.

 

I bought it about 100 miles from Bristol so t's gonna be a pain in the **** sending it over to the garage!

Is something like this worth considering? Or a false economy?

SUBARU IMPREZA STI 92 - 98 EJ-20 EJ20 ENGINE on eBay, also, Subaru, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 04-Feb-09 11:38:20 GMT)

 

It sounds to me as they only did a bottom end rebuild & not stripped & cleaned everything, the biggest killer of any rebuild is debris from the previous failure, as we say in the trade cleanlyness is next to godlyness.

 

You need a phase 2 engine, the picture is of a phase 2 new age which would fit with no issues though you would have to change the turbo or have the car remapped at the same time, but a 92-98 engine is a phase 1 or 1.5, and you need a 2.

Tony

 

although you will lose money on a rebuild it is false economy to sell it at a loss of more or less the cost of a rebuild, you will need a new car so thats where the false economy comes in. do you get a rebuild at £2-3k or do you lose the same by selling. either way you are a couple of k down. it comes down to this, do you like the car? if yes rebuild it if no sell it. whatever you do it will lose you about the same money.

 

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I buy them with goosed engine or could look at a reasonable repair
bristol not so far from me.

Wanna sell get in touch