ty1

Hi everyone,


Ive just bought a 51 plate wrx, from a guy down in b-ham, and got so ripped off its UNREAL!!... and now im stuck & confused and really need help.

I drove the car back, on motorway it was totally fine...as soon as i hit central london, the car decides to over heat, me being new to the subaru scene thought maybe its because i pushed it a little hard on the motorway,

However it soon emerged that the over heating issue started to get worst and it went past the "H" on the gauge, i decided to pull over and inspect the engine bay with basic knowledge thinking its maybe the coolant...

opened the coolant cap and saw gunge like mud?...brown crap!,

Ive taken it to my mechanic to understand the issue further and it seems, the coolant has like exploded everywhere, on the engine bay, you turn the car on car as it warms up...and the minute you jump & rev it, its on fire and goes stright to "H", the fans stay on constant!?!?!?...the oil cap when removed you can see its bubbling up inside like a kettle...In other words some people call it pressurizing?...the pipe that goes to the radiator is building up and gets really hot, asif its not circulating, and when you turn the car off let it cool down...then open oil cap and sqweez the pipe it makes gargeling sound?...

We also found out that the thermostat has been taken out, the heater does not blow in warm air...

Im really confused , my garage who are not subaru specialists are saying that they will charge me £1600 for the following work...which should fix the over heating problem as they suspect my gaskets are gone???

head sets - all other oil seals & gaskets
head gasket
bolts
water pump
cambelt
thermostat
cylinder head - surface grind 7 pressure tested
cooling system flush
anti freezz
engine oil & filter

all in @ 1600

What i need to know is , can the problem come back if i chnage the following things listed above?...isit even the head gaskets?...or isit better to get a rebuild engine, *if so who can help me get this done without breaking the bank....???

Also what would be really helpful is if anyone know any good subaru specialists down in london, who are good and honest!...and can do this kind of work because iam sure im not the first person, who has had an over heating issue.

Any help would be great!!!!

jef

iTrader: (13)

shouldnt be too long before someone recommends some good guys down your way

sorry to hear of this mate

you really should get someone to check over a car before you buy it, if you can.

id be tempted to get it right back to the guy that sold you it tbh, and have a few words

Budgie

iTrader: (4)

send a pm to fiestaboy
ex zen technician
subaru expert for over 6 years
not far from west london either
i trust him with my car

ty1

Thanks jef, i tell you ive always wanted a impreza, just my luck finally got one and turns out to be a complete disaster,

Ive spoken to the guy, and hes said he was "un-aware" of the issue and was certain he sold me a car which had not faults....frankly i dont believe him. But your right i made the classic mistake of not giving it the once over properly, had i done so i would not be out of pocket of about 3-grand

mike h

iTrader: (10)

Thats a bummer mate
I know how you must feel. Day after I bought mine the head gasket popped, lucky enough the guy I bought it off had his own garage so done the work as a good will gesture and i payed for parts. 3 months later the bottom end went.
Sent it up to API impreza in warick for a full rebuild in the end.

Anyhow, if it is in need of head gaskets then may aswell have a full rebuild (if it's financially possible) If you intend on keeping it for a few years any way.

fastmike

iTrader: (4)

The thermostat was removed so he must have been aware of the overheating, I know that isnt much help tho , I hope you get it sorted mate......... and you WILL be impressed with it once its running right

jef

iTrader: (13)

live and learn mate

am sure you wont make the same mistake twice

as said the thermostat has been removed, so he either bought it like that and was running unaware or he was attempting to deceive a buyer (id persoanlly go with the latter)

anyway go with the recommendations given here mate - hope you get it sorted ok

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

That job done here at APi exactly the same as your quote above is £850.00 + VAT which in round numbers is £1000 ish all in, using genuine Subaru parts. £1600 is over top by some long way.

On an older car, I would not do simply just the head gaskets as the bottom end usually falls to bits soon after. BUT new age engines are much better at staying together and I would be happy to just do the necessary.

We are just up the M40 at junction 12. " Thiefrow " is less than an hour away [ on a non snowy day ]

We open again on Jan 4th and l'll be happy to talk you through it all then.

Better luck in 2010 mate.

David APi 01926 614522

dj219957

do not use the car untill this is sorted. if you do you could wreck the big end bearings as the water and oil mixture you have will not protect them under full load. provided the head gaskets are replaced by a compitent mechanic and the heads are checked then theres no reason why the engine will not be back to normal and the new gaskets should last for many 10s of thousands of miles. I highly recomend APi in Warwickshire. they are not close to you but they will do a great job, at and competative price and there customer service is outstanding. they can collect vehicle too. they back up all there work with a no bull**** warranty so to speak. i.e youve been ripped once, dont get ripped again with the repair work. api would get the car running sweet for you first time and you can then enjoy the car. i dare say someone will be along soon to recomend someone in your local area.

dj219957

ha ha ^ just as i typed that here is dave from api^^

slyv12

iTrader: (3)

I can sympathise with you mate, bought mine with a cracked radiator, changed that then water pump started leaking so i had it tested and the headgaskets had gone but no overheating. Had to change a few more bits and it cost me about £700 with the radiator although i did only pay a grand for the car. Got sti multilayer steel gaskets so hopefully wont go again for a while.

Simon.

ty1

thank you to everyone.... who has responded to this thread it means a lot, and have really made feel like there are some honest people out there.

API David, thanks for the quote i will be in touch on the 4th...

As it is i spoke to a place called "Scooby Clinic" and "Scooby Bits" im sure you guys have heard of them..they told me that it was totally pointless doing the above work as it will mess up again if some sort of "bearings" have gone :S and that you cannot surface grind those heads???... and that its better i get a rebuilt engine in there etc...

is that really the case?,

dj219957

i think what they would have said:

....you cant surface grind the crank,
....you may have already damaged the big end bearings becuase water has mixed with the oil...which caould be a slow means to an end now...maybee.

personally if its not knocking and provided you dont drive it anymore i would go with just new gaskets. but its not unfair to say that you might as well do the crank and bearings while your there. problem is that thats gonna cost more. far more than what david has quoted you....

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

If you car was much older or with high miles l would tend to agree. We will not just do head gaskets alone on a GC8 - first shape - car. They do have a habit of going bang on the big ends soon after head gaskets are done. BUT, the new shape cars' engines are more robust and we have not yet found a need to do as we would have done on a GC8 car.

How many miles has yours done ? Tht may make a difference to my opinion if it is high.

David APi

ty1

It states 49K...comming up to 50k. As it is at the moment its not making a knocking noise....btw david this is off the topic but how much would a rebuild cost?

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

2 Grand inc VAT minimum as a start point. After that, it is unknown until the engine is in bits and the customers start talking about buying all the ' bling 'and useless crap he has seen all over the 'net.

I spend more time ' managing ' my customers ideas, than l ever do advising them what is right for their car

David

PS 50 k is fine, I'd be happy to just do the head gaskets.

ty1

thanks for everyones help ive now got it fixed!!!... woohoo, full recon so im now back on the road,

dj219957

who did the work?