need some help ,picked up my first scooby this morning, all going well,
drove the 20 or so miles home when i got out the engine making a very nasty banging noise which after speaking to a mechanic reckons its something very serious eg, big end gone which he said would mean new engine/ engine rebuild

so two questions really

1) where do i stand with the seller ?(private cash sale)

2) anyone have experience of this type of problem, how much would a rebuild be?

cheers steve

 

What model? Did you sign a sold as seen (if private)?

 

its a96 uk turbo
the only thing i signed was the v5 forms
car was fine on test drive and i stopped once on the way home and it was idleing ok

 

Uuuummm, phone the citizens advise bureau to see what they think (free). Its all a matter of the signing bits of paper these days, as long as you didn't sign a sold as seen-tried and tested you can get something back, but you'll need some form of legal help.

 

A rebuild is somewhere around £2000-£2500 for this sort of problem. Talk to David at API Engines, or you could get an STI 2.0 bottom end (ex-Type 25) fitted by Powerstation, which is what I nearly did when I had the same problem earlier this year. It's absolutely gutting when it happens, believe me I know and I do sympathise - my own car (MY00, 68k miles) suffered a big-end failure on my normal commute to work, despite being properly cared for all of its life and having a full Subaru service history. The day before it happened I'd have told you the car was mechanically perfect.

In a private sale, I'm afraid you probably don't have any comeback. These failures can and do happen without warning, so just as I didn't know of any problem with my car before it died, the seller could quite honestly not have known of any impending failure. In any case, private sales are ALWAYS sold 'as seen' unless the seller actually offers you a warranty, which is exceptionally rare. A seller does have to answer your questions honestly, and must not knowingly lie about the condition of the car, but unless he knew the engine was on its way out AND you actually asked about it, I'm afraid you have no comeback.

 

oh well cheers for the info mate

 

Does seem like a Big End has gone - they have a habit of doing that I'm afraid.



Shout Dave API three times and he'll appear

 

i dont know if this would have any effect but the oil level in the engine sits a good bit above the max mark on the dipstick, the previous owner said that only a couple of hudered miles ago he changed the oil and filter, could this have caused any of the problems?

 

Yes, they have a wonderful habit of knackering the big ends shortly after servicing.

So much so that there is a specific method changing the oil, where the oil filter must be filled up and the engine cranked over with the crank sensor disconnected.

High oil level is not good either as it does cause problems in other areas, it finds its way into the boost solonoid and pressure sensor. Seems that the previous owner had a "little" knowledge on cars - but as they say, a little knowledge can be dangerous.

 

Agreed, it's big ends, then. Starting the engine for the first time after an oil change knackers the bearings in the time it takes to build up oil pressure, then it's just a matter of time (I think four miles is the record) before they let go. The correct procedure involves pre-filling the new filter then turning over the engine with the crank sensor disconnected and, ideally, spark plugs removed. This relieves the bearings from having to sustain combustion loads before oil pressure is built up.

 

I'm here !! I seem to be getting telepathic or is that tele pathetic !!

Santacruzsteve, gimme a call I can help you.

David APi Engines / APi Impreza 01926 614333