Hi guys, just brought a vlimited of a clear enthusiast! Specs are as follows

Td05 18g turbo
Front mount intercooler
Walbro fuel pump
Japspeed oil cooler
Full decat exhaust system
HARVEY SMITH PORTED AND WRAPPED HEADERS WITH SPECIAL UP PIPE
HKS SSQ OFF VALVE
Flamer kit
LATERAL PERFORMANCE INJECTORS
RACE DYNAMIX REMAP BRINGING THE POWER POWER UPTO 356.5BHP
Speed camera detector system
Turbo timer
Bc racing coilovers full adjustable (camber etc)


The car is fantastic has just hit the 54000 mile point and looks as if its done 30k all credit to previous owner!

I do however have my first issue.....
The top radiator pipe is split and I've done a quick repair while the new one has been ordered. However it has steam pouring out after just 500 meters driving and it sounds like something on the left hand side of the engine is dripping onto the hit exhaust and creating steam- does smell like coolant any ideas? Car is also over heat now and the hot air has stopped and I'm only getting cold air??any help would be much appreciated !

Also can anyone give me info on the vlimited ? Mainly in terms of engine spec isit sti spec?

Any meets down in the southeast area I'm always available!


Many thanks in advance

Dan

 

Do not run the car until the leak is fixed properly or you will blow the head gasket if you haven't already.

 

Welcome to the site, Sounds like a head gadget issue,would get a pressure test ASAP just to be sure, pipe could have split due to compression? Worse case , Or an airlock caused by the split, best case (just need to drain the system and refill, use the search option above ) we would need your vehicle code mate, there are sti and wrx v-limited editions, which will effect the spec you have.

 

Cheers guys , at idle the car runs fine but after a little drive it shoots the temp up but then driving slowly it drops down , should a head gasket go at 54k? Might sound stupid but how can I get it to a garage with out driving it? Also any other Simptons I would have if its head gasket?

 

symptoms of head gasket - heater not blowing warm air - pipe could of split due to system pressuring due to head gasket. do not drive your car do not even let it tick over. given as you were not aware of the basics do not use the search function,:do not try and refill your own system, it WILL air lock on you, DO NOT try and fix it your self. DO take it to someone that knows subarus not your local garage or mate. call them first they my be able to pick it up. give your keys to someone to hide them from you until someone gets it to a garage.

 

Wow panic has now set in! I guess that bring me into my next question, does anyone recommend a garage in the Watford/ herts area?

Thanks for you help

Any idea what sort of cost I'm looking at?

 

500 - 1500

 

Ill ring around a few garages in the morning, not a great start had the car 12 hours!

Thanks for your swift replies much appreciated.

 

+ 1

 

Speak to Richard @ FB Tuning 07595 493581. He is over your way and highly recommended by me and many more people on here.

 

Take it back and get your money back, you may of been had!!!

 

As above, you don't know if the HG has failed yet but it doesn't sound good. Even if the leak is repaired HG failure may now show it's self at a later date & to repair it properly will cost a fortune.

 

Was it purchased privately or from a dealer ??

 

Oh dear 12hrs ownership and the system is pressurising, sounds like someone saw you coming.

 

poor guy's bricking it now!!!

i'll give you £500 for it

 

I hope the flamer kit gets removed!

 

Dont panic stright away the top hose can touch on the pulleys have seen this a few times then it cuts a little nic in the pipe and it splits
I hope this is the case
Phil

 

Cheers phill, had a mate take a look today and he was pretty sure it's not a head gasket , no oil in the coolant, no coolant in the oil and no change of power I.e compression is unchanged and he mentioned the fact it has a damaged rad pipe that has a get you home type repair but still leeks and the steam smells if coolant is to much of a coincident and also Made a good point a leeking head gasket would very unlikely be a fast drip as it would be such a tiny crack. Taking it into local mechanic tomorrow to change leeking pipe and flush coolant and raditor, fingers crossed!

Sorry guys wanted one of theses all my adult life no way would I sell however much the cost is!

If anyone is interested extreme scoobies quoted £1400 to pick car up on truck, replace gasket, skim heads, parts and labour inc vat.

Fingers crossed tomorrow new pipe sorts issue out!

 

Hope you get it sorted mate, Nothing worse picking up a new car up and having to fix something expensive.

Fingers crossed its a cheap fix!!!

 

WOW - a leaking head gasket would very unlikely cause a fast drip, did you mate actually say that ?

no change in compression ? so you did a compression test and a leak down test ?

mate even if it has not gone your gonna end up with a shagged car. take it to a specialist not your mate and not your local garage. its the best and only advice I can give you and most on hear will say the same.

 

listen, you know the pipe has split thst is there to see. so WHY has the pipe split ?

you mention that it is ok at slow speed but at high speed it over heats.

you say your mate says no change in compression ?

ok for me I'd be saying

reason it's ok at low speed vs high, the head gasket is under far more pressure on boost which is when you are far more likely to blow the gasket. If the gasket has blown and pressurised the cooling system it will pop or slit a pipe.



mate take it to a specialist before you fu*k it up

 

When I had my classic MY99 the top rad hose went at around the same mileage as yours basically had a pin hole in the pipe. Reason it went was just age and deteriation, think it's quite common on the classics.
You should not run the car at all until you have this top pipe replaced and the coolant changed and properly bled.

Personally I would get it along to someone who knows Subarus, you have had recommendations already. You have bought a car from an enthusiast as you put it yet they had bodged a repair on a rad pipe on a performance car and sold it like that, not good. Get the car checked over, that way if there are any other bodges you can either get these sorted and/or get back to the seller and go from there.

 

Take it back & ask for a refund while you can. Did the seller point out the leak & bodged repair & advise about the overheating because if not you are entitled to a refund. If the car has been driven for any length of time in that state then the HG may of failed even if it hadn't before. Imprezas rarely mix fluids when HG fails & often a block test is useless as when it first goes it leaks compression into the cooling system only at high boost the first symptoms are coolant spewing out of expansion tube on the near side under bonnet & heaters blowing cold.

 

check the header tank is not split around the seam also. common fault and would cause the steam and loss of fluid. get all the leaks fixed top it up and then go from there before you assume head gasket.

 

Guy many thanks for all you input much appreciated but it gives me great great pleasure to tell you ....new radiator pipe came today I fitted it ran the car topped up radiator fluid and squeezed the pipe a few times and hay presto , hot air back on and car running sweet as nut no leeks or steam and no over heating!!

Thank god for that! Many thanks guy

 

Get some pics up of the car mate

 

Excellent news mate

 

With pleasure if I new how?? Lol

 

Create a photobucket account, upload the pics to it and then copy/paste the img code on here.

 

Also, have a check of the radiator end tanks. They have a habit of failing and leaking coolant. I know you have 'sorted' the problem but it may well be that having put an air lock and or undue pressure on deteriorated parts elsewhere.

Get a torch and check down the fronts of the radiator end tanks for any signs of splits and/or leaking. Anyone with a classic that hasn't had a new rad should check. I've looked at and owned loads over the years and they're nearly always leaking.