Project 'shafted' (Spec-C content)
28 August 2011, 08:51 AM
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Project 'shafted' (Spec-C content)
Hi guys, I've been meaning to post this for a while now but am expecting some of it to be deleted/adjusted due to the dealer concerned and his fanboys!
Little intro to set the picture, I've been on the Scooby scene since I got my first Scoob in September 2002, I bought my first (and last) brand new car, a Bugeye WRX with a whole 4 miles on the clock and was chuffed to bits!
Day I got it......
It stayed pretty standard except for a Forge dump valve (I'm an Essex boy and couldn't help it!) until the warranty ran out 3 years later.
I spent the next 4.5 years messing around with it and making it the best car for my needs. I completed 90k miles in it which included various trackdays, a CATD training day at Milbrook (fantastic by the way) and a few trips to the Germany WRC, which included a couple of cheeky ring laps (would have been rude not too!). The only problems I ever had was blowing the 5-speed box up at around 40k and the turbo actuator getting stuck open and making me think the turbo had gone.
It ended up looking like this....
After a fantastic 7.5 years with the car, I decided I fancied some more POWER and looked at my options, it became apparent that I needed a 6-speed box, hubs and bits, a 2nd hand STi8 engine to re-build and then all the ancillaries, turbo, heads, mapping etc.. or I could be really stupid and get a big loan for something newer and better out the box.
The stupid option won! I originally looked for a blobeye Spec-C but as soon as I laid eyes on this, I knew I had to have it, after speaking to the dealer on numerous occasions, firing off lots of emails and PM's I viewed the car and all seemed well, 2 weeks later I drove back up to Manchester to PX my Bug and que BIG loan and BIGGER smiles....
Dealer pictures....
On the journey home from Manchester we had some lovely weather which caused the trip to last 6.5hrs!
Day after I got it home I gave it a good wash, polish, claybar and wax
Stupidly loud RCM Team Ice full exhaust
And one very happy bunny!!
Ross
Little intro to set the picture, I've been on the Scooby scene since I got my first Scoob in September 2002, I bought my first (and last) brand new car, a Bugeye WRX with a whole 4 miles on the clock and was chuffed to bits!
Day I got it......
It stayed pretty standard except for a Forge dump valve (I'm an Essex boy and couldn't help it!) until the warranty ran out 3 years later.
I spent the next 4.5 years messing around with it and making it the best car for my needs. I completed 90k miles in it which included various trackdays, a CATD training day at Milbrook (fantastic by the way) and a few trips to the Germany WRC, which included a couple of cheeky ring laps (would have been rude not too!). The only problems I ever had was blowing the 5-speed box up at around 40k and the turbo actuator getting stuck open and making me think the turbo had gone.
It ended up looking like this....
After a fantastic 7.5 years with the car, I decided I fancied some more POWER and looked at my options, it became apparent that I needed a 6-speed box, hubs and bits, a 2nd hand STi8 engine to re-build and then all the ancillaries, turbo, heads, mapping etc.. or I could be really stupid and get a big loan for something newer and better out the box.
The stupid option won! I originally looked for a blobeye Spec-C but as soon as I laid eyes on this, I knew I had to have it, after speaking to the dealer on numerous occasions, firing off lots of emails and PM's I viewed the car and all seemed well, 2 weeks later I drove back up to Manchester to PX my Bug and que BIG loan and BIGGER smiles....
Dealer pictures....
On the journey home from Manchester we had some lovely weather which caused the trip to last 6.5hrs!
Day after I got it home I gave it a good wash, polish, claybar and wax
Stupidly loud RCM Team Ice full exhaust
And one very happy bunny!!
Ross
28 August 2011, 08:52 AM
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The car took a while to get used too, for a start it had almost 100bhp more than my EcuTek'd Bugeye, it was also the first time I had used a 6-speed box and the 'funky' diff. I was originally scared of stacking it but once I got some confidence I really started to enjoy it!
After a while I got lucky (in my opinion) and found a 2nd hand set of RA wheels on Scoobynet with Yoko ADO7's with tonnes of tread left. I also stuck some mudflaps on for good measure..
For the next 6 months and 5kmiles, all was well in Scoobyland, then it all went a bit **** really!
Whilst cruising on the M25 on my way to Bruntingthorpe to attend the Asda charity day last year with the WR1OC, I got approximately 20 miles from home and had a massive loss of power and plumes of white smoke out the back of the car. Pulled over and couldn't see anything wrong, I natually thought a head gasket had gone (bearing in mind I bought the car with 11k miles on the clock and it now had 16k miles).
Got it low loaded home and went to the Asda day with a mate and spent all weekend with the raving hump so got rather drunk!
After the weekend I contacted RCM as the car had been serviced and modified by them for the previous owner. I was just after some advice, but when I explained what car it was, they instantly remembered it and told me the previous owner had loads of work done by them, got it mapped elsewhere, then it had blown up!!! He then got another engine put in by someone else (don't know who or what engine they used) and the car had loads of issues and never ran properly. The dealer which I had bought the car from had then bought it from the previous owner at a knock down price due to the engine issues and had 'fixed it' and sold it on!
Obviously I was not very happy with this, the dealer had more than enough chances to tell me the history of the car, he had advertised and sold it as an immaculate and original 2006 Spec C with 11k miles on the clock!
After contacting the dealer he told me that RCM were lying and it was only a £40 sensor, but during the same heated telephone conversation he then let slip that he had 'spent £2k replacing the pistons'!!
So I now have a car which has been totally miss advertised and sold, I have no clue what state the engine is in, or even what engine is actually fitted to it!
The dealer wanted to take the car to his mechanic in Manchester and said that if it was found to be his mechanic's fault, then he would pay for the repairs, but if it was my fault, then I would have to pay for it. I did not agree with this, if his mechanic had done something wrong then he would never admit to this and blame it on me no matter what the issue was! Plus if this was the same mechanic that had already worked on it, then there was something wrong with his work. I also didn't want him to take the car to Manchester because then he would have all my cash AND the car, I maybe silly but I'm not stupid!
I nominated a Subaru specialist near me and after a lot of protesting he agreed he could do a full engineers report on the engine.
The engine was taken out of the car and on a visual inspection it was found that
1. Split in inlet pipe next to turbo
2. Broken and bodged brown and black engine loom plugs
3. Speaker wire used for intake temperature sensor
4. NGK5 spark plugs in cylinders 2 & 4
5. NGK7 spark plugs in cylinders 1 & 3
6. Compression test showed no compression in cylinder 2
7. Scope shows scoring on wall of cylinder 2
8. Wrong crank pulley
The dealer then agreed that the specialist could take the engine apart for pictures and a full report.
During this time the specialist had a family member pass away and after 5 weeks, the engine was still sitting on his stand in the workshop. The dealer was kept up to date with the issues.
I finally decided to take the engine elsewhere and with the agreement of the dealer I collected it from the first specialist and drove it straight to the agreed second specialist.
Upon stripping the engine, these are the pictures I took...
Wrong screw for dip stick
Wrong crank pulley
Running rich
Speaker wire on charge temp sensor
Brown loom plug
Black loom plug
Cylinder 2
Sump pickup with metal parts
Sump full of metal (crap picture)
Leaking headers
Damaged gudgeon pin stopping piston from being removed
Cylinder 2 damage
Every single bearing scoured
Cracked ringlan
Piston 2 - no surprise!
After the full report with pictures (there are many more) was sent to the dealer, he immediately said that I had ragged it to death and ran it low on oil, which is total rubbish. I have maintained my Bugeye myself and thats the last thing I would ever do!
He then went back and forth offering me second hand engines and then a brand new crated one, but all these offers rapidily dissapeared. He then said I had taken a different engine to the second specialist than was originally in the car when sold - again, total rubbish.
The first specialist had not taken any details or pictures of the engine which I had specifically requested so I had no proof to show it was the same engine that came with the car.
The dealer continued to mess me around so I threatened court action which he seemed to be scared about. After getting advice from my solicitor and after he had spoken to the dealer and sent him a letter to which the dealer did not bother replying too, I was advised that I needed a witness statement from the first specialist to show he had taken the engine out and it was the same engine I took to the 2nd specialist.
I never got anything from the first specialist so had no evidence to produce. This meant that I was pretty well stuck, even though the first invoice from the original specialist pointed out the exact same issues the 2nd specialist had found before spliting the engine!
Basically, the dealer had totally shafted me and the first specialist had a big part to play in this!
If I the dealer told the truth about the car's history in the first place and how HE replaced the engine then I would never had bought it! Due to his continous lies and 'so called' good reputation, I took his word as the truth and thought the car was in the condition he advertised it as, which was yet more lies!
So what do I do now??
I could put a second hand engine in the car and hope it never fails, or I could save up and get a new engine built.
After a few months saving I gave the go ahead for a fully forged 2.1 engine to be built using Lateral components.
This is from the first specialist that took the engine out of the car, after 6 weeks it went to the second specialist who noted ALL of these EXACT SAME things at the beginning of the engine report!!......
After a while I got lucky (in my opinion) and found a 2nd hand set of RA wheels on Scoobynet with Yoko ADO7's with tonnes of tread left. I also stuck some mudflaps on for good measure..
For the next 6 months and 5kmiles, all was well in Scoobyland, then it all went a bit **** really!
Whilst cruising on the M25 on my way to Bruntingthorpe to attend the Asda charity day last year with the WR1OC, I got approximately 20 miles from home and had a massive loss of power and plumes of white smoke out the back of the car. Pulled over and couldn't see anything wrong, I natually thought a head gasket had gone (bearing in mind I bought the car with 11k miles on the clock and it now had 16k miles).
Got it low loaded home and went to the Asda day with a mate and spent all weekend with the raving hump so got rather drunk!
After the weekend I contacted RCM as the car had been serviced and modified by them for the previous owner. I was just after some advice, but when I explained what car it was, they instantly remembered it and told me the previous owner had loads of work done by them, got it mapped elsewhere, then it had blown up!!! He then got another engine put in by someone else (don't know who or what engine they used) and the car had loads of issues and never ran properly. The dealer which I had bought the car from had then bought it from the previous owner at a knock down price due to the engine issues and had 'fixed it' and sold it on!
Obviously I was not very happy with this, the dealer had more than enough chances to tell me the history of the car, he had advertised and sold it as an immaculate and original 2006 Spec C with 11k miles on the clock!
After contacting the dealer he told me that RCM were lying and it was only a £40 sensor, but during the same heated telephone conversation he then let slip that he had 'spent £2k replacing the pistons'!!
So I now have a car which has been totally miss advertised and sold, I have no clue what state the engine is in, or even what engine is actually fitted to it!
The dealer wanted to take the car to his mechanic in Manchester and said that if it was found to be his mechanic's fault, then he would pay for the repairs, but if it was my fault, then I would have to pay for it. I did not agree with this, if his mechanic had done something wrong then he would never admit to this and blame it on me no matter what the issue was! Plus if this was the same mechanic that had already worked on it, then there was something wrong with his work. I also didn't want him to take the car to Manchester because then he would have all my cash AND the car, I maybe silly but I'm not stupid!
I nominated a Subaru specialist near me and after a lot of protesting he agreed he could do a full engineers report on the engine.
The engine was taken out of the car and on a visual inspection it was found that
1. Split in inlet pipe next to turbo
2. Broken and bodged brown and black engine loom plugs
3. Speaker wire used for intake temperature sensor
4. NGK5 spark plugs in cylinders 2 & 4
5. NGK7 spark plugs in cylinders 1 & 3
6. Compression test showed no compression in cylinder 2
7. Scope shows scoring on wall of cylinder 2
8. Wrong crank pulley
The dealer then agreed that the specialist could take the engine apart for pictures and a full report.
During this time the specialist had a family member pass away and after 5 weeks, the engine was still sitting on his stand in the workshop. The dealer was kept up to date with the issues.
I finally decided to take the engine elsewhere and with the agreement of the dealer I collected it from the first specialist and drove it straight to the agreed second specialist.
Upon stripping the engine, these are the pictures I took...
Wrong screw for dip stick
Wrong crank pulley
Running rich
Speaker wire on charge temp sensor
Brown loom plug
Black loom plug
Cylinder 2
Sump pickup with metal parts
Sump full of metal (crap picture)
Leaking headers
Damaged gudgeon pin stopping piston from being removed
Cylinder 2 damage
Every single bearing scoured
Cracked ringlan
Piston 2 - no surprise!
After the full report with pictures (there are many more) was sent to the dealer, he immediately said that I had ragged it to death and ran it low on oil, which is total rubbish. I have maintained my Bugeye myself and thats the last thing I would ever do!
He then went back and forth offering me second hand engines and then a brand new crated one, but all these offers rapidily dissapeared. He then said I had taken a different engine to the second specialist than was originally in the car when sold - again, total rubbish.
The first specialist had not taken any details or pictures of the engine which I had specifically requested so I had no proof to show it was the same engine that came with the car.
The dealer continued to mess me around so I threatened court action which he seemed to be scared about. After getting advice from my solicitor and after he had spoken to the dealer and sent him a letter to which the dealer did not bother replying too, I was advised that I needed a witness statement from the first specialist to show he had taken the engine out and it was the same engine I took to the 2nd specialist.
I never got anything from the first specialist so had no evidence to produce. This meant that I was pretty well stuck, even though the first invoice from the original specialist pointed out the exact same issues the 2nd specialist had found before spliting the engine!
Basically, the dealer had totally shafted me and the first specialist had a big part to play in this!
If I the dealer told the truth about the car's history in the first place and how HE replaced the engine then I would never had bought it! Due to his continous lies and 'so called' good reputation, I took his word as the truth and thought the car was in the condition he advertised it as, which was yet more lies!
So what do I do now??
I could put a second hand engine in the car and hope it never fails, or I could save up and get a new engine built.
After a few months saving I gave the go ahead for a fully forged 2.1 engine to be built using Lateral components.
This is from the first specialist that took the engine out of the car, after 6 weeks it went to the second specialist who noted ALL of these EXACT SAME things at the beginning of the engine report!!......
Ross xxxxxx Engine Inspection
On Sunday 28/11/2010 I was brought a 2006 Subaru Impreza JDM Sti engine (Number xxxxxx) for strip down and inspection. The engine had already been removed from the car.
On initial inspection several faults were noticed prior to stripping the engine down, and consistent with the engine having previously been removed.
The inlet manifold wiring harness has damage to the connector blocks where it interfaces to the car’s wiring loom - Several of the wires had been pulled out of the connector, and a poor quality ‘repair’ had been made, with aftermarket wire, bypassing the OE connector completely.
The locking clip on one of the loom plugs had been broken off.
There was evidence of the exhaust manifold blowing, from one of the manifold to cylinder head gaskets.
The turbo intake pipe had a split of approx 1” at the point where it joins the turbocharger. - The pipe was secured to the turbocharger with a plastic cable tie, and an attempt had been made to seal the split with black silicone sealant. This pipe should be secured with a stainless steel jubilee clip. Any air leak in this pipe would cause the engine to ingest unmetered air, and cause it to run lean.
Incorrect grade, and a miss-matched set of Spark Plugs were fitted to the engine.
The passenger side (Cylinders 2 + 4) were fitted with NGK PFR5B
The driver’s side (Cylinders 1 + 3) were fitted with NGK PFR7G
The standard spark plug for this engine should be an NGK PFR6B. - It is common (and acceptable) practice to fit plugs of one heat grade colder (NGKPFR7B)
In my experience, the colder grade (PFR7B) will run fine in a stock engine, but a hotter than standard grade (ie PFR5B) is likely to cause detonation and preiginiton, ultimately resulting in premature engine failiure.
The wiring to the charge temperature sensor fitted to the inlet manifold has been previously repaired and extended with clear coated stereo speaker wire.
The wiring harness plug that connects to the charge sensor is incorrect and is actually intended to fit a camshaft sensor. The charge temperature sensor itself had to be modified to permit the incorrect plug to fit. This arrangement does not allow the locking tab to secure the plug on the sensor correctly.
The turbo oil drain pipe was secure to the cylinder head using a non-standard jubilee clip. - This is not a problem in itself, but is consisten with the turbocharger having been previously removed.
The oil dipstick tube was secured to the engine block with an incorrect M6 bolt. - A pan head bolt from an oil pump had been used instead of a 10mm hex head.
The outer front crankshaft pulley fitted to the engine was from a WRX model, not an STi.
On strip down of the engine, the following faults were found…
All rocker cover bolts were incorrectly tightened.
All pistons fitted to the engine are not original, and are of a ‘cast’ design. This engine should have forged pistons fitted from the factory.
The piston from cylinder 2 had a 1” diameter hole blown through the crown - This is consistent with detonation and/or preignition related failiure. Several parts of the piston and piston rings were found to be missing, and evident as debris within the engine.
The damage to the piston in cylinder 2 has also scored the cylinder bore - This will require a rebore to 0.5mm oversize to rectify, and then will need to be rebuilt with oversize pistons.
The piston gudgeon pin from cylinder 2 was overly tight and difficult to remove from the piston. Upon removal it was evident that fragments of aluminium from the failed piston had jammed the pin. This has also damaged the small-end aperture of the conrod that was fitted to it.
The piston from cylinder 1 has a cracked ring land area. This is damage caused by detonation.
Evidence of the failed piston was found throughout the bottom end of the engine, resulting in contamination and damage to the following items which will all need to be replaced..
Crankshaft
Pistons
Main Bearings
BigEnd Bearings
Oilpump
Conrod small end brass sleeve bearings (Replace conrods)
Oil Cooler.
In addition to the damaged items listed above, there is also debris contamination to the following items, which will need to be stripped, cleaned and inspected…
Cylinder heads
Oil Pan
Oil Pickup pipe
In my professional opinion, the short engine is beyond economical repair, but the cylinder heads can be overhauled to an acceptable standard for reuse with a new short engine.
The primary causes of engine failiure are due to having been incorrectly fitted with cast pistons and incorrect heat grade of spark plugs.
The 'hotter' plug fitted to cylinders 2 + 4 will have made these cylinders more suceptible to detonation.
The JDM Spec C standard ecu is in a relatively high state of tune, and factory mapped for forged pistons, which are inherently stronger than the cast design pistons that were actually fitted to this engine. All Sti (and SpecC) engines will tolerate more ignition timing than WRX models (which were fitted with cast pistons as standard) and this is evident when comparing factory ecu maps. Running more ignition timing than the engine (pistons) will tolerate leads to detonation taking place and ultimately engine failiure, which is evident with this engine.
On Sunday 28/11/2010 I was brought a 2006 Subaru Impreza JDM Sti engine (Number xxxxxx) for strip down and inspection. The engine had already been removed from the car.
On initial inspection several faults were noticed prior to stripping the engine down, and consistent with the engine having previously been removed.
The inlet manifold wiring harness has damage to the connector blocks where it interfaces to the car’s wiring loom - Several of the wires had been pulled out of the connector, and a poor quality ‘repair’ had been made, with aftermarket wire, bypassing the OE connector completely.
The locking clip on one of the loom plugs had been broken off.
There was evidence of the exhaust manifold blowing, from one of the manifold to cylinder head gaskets.
The turbo intake pipe had a split of approx 1” at the point where it joins the turbocharger. - The pipe was secured to the turbocharger with a plastic cable tie, and an attempt had been made to seal the split with black silicone sealant. This pipe should be secured with a stainless steel jubilee clip. Any air leak in this pipe would cause the engine to ingest unmetered air, and cause it to run lean.
Incorrect grade, and a miss-matched set of Spark Plugs were fitted to the engine.
The passenger side (Cylinders 2 + 4) were fitted with NGK PFR5B
The driver’s side (Cylinders 1 + 3) were fitted with NGK PFR7G
The standard spark plug for this engine should be an NGK PFR6B. - It is common (and acceptable) practice to fit plugs of one heat grade colder (NGKPFR7B)
In my experience, the colder grade (PFR7B) will run fine in a stock engine, but a hotter than standard grade (ie PFR5B) is likely to cause detonation and preiginiton, ultimately resulting in premature engine failiure.
The wiring to the charge temperature sensor fitted to the inlet manifold has been previously repaired and extended with clear coated stereo speaker wire.
The wiring harness plug that connects to the charge sensor is incorrect and is actually intended to fit a camshaft sensor. The charge temperature sensor itself had to be modified to permit the incorrect plug to fit. This arrangement does not allow the locking tab to secure the plug on the sensor correctly.
The turbo oil drain pipe was secure to the cylinder head using a non-standard jubilee clip. - This is not a problem in itself, but is consisten with the turbocharger having been previously removed.
The oil dipstick tube was secured to the engine block with an incorrect M6 bolt. - A pan head bolt from an oil pump had been used instead of a 10mm hex head.
The outer front crankshaft pulley fitted to the engine was from a WRX model, not an STi.
On strip down of the engine, the following faults were found…
All rocker cover bolts were incorrectly tightened.
All pistons fitted to the engine are not original, and are of a ‘cast’ design. This engine should have forged pistons fitted from the factory.
The piston from cylinder 2 had a 1” diameter hole blown through the crown - This is consistent with detonation and/or preignition related failiure. Several parts of the piston and piston rings were found to be missing, and evident as debris within the engine.
The damage to the piston in cylinder 2 has also scored the cylinder bore - This will require a rebore to 0.5mm oversize to rectify, and then will need to be rebuilt with oversize pistons.
The piston gudgeon pin from cylinder 2 was overly tight and difficult to remove from the piston. Upon removal it was evident that fragments of aluminium from the failed piston had jammed the pin. This has also damaged the small-end aperture of the conrod that was fitted to it.
The piston from cylinder 1 has a cracked ring land area. This is damage caused by detonation.
Evidence of the failed piston was found throughout the bottom end of the engine, resulting in contamination and damage to the following items which will all need to be replaced..
Crankshaft
Pistons
Main Bearings
BigEnd Bearings
Oilpump
Conrod small end brass sleeve bearings (Replace conrods)
Oil Cooler.
In addition to the damaged items listed above, there is also debris contamination to the following items, which will need to be stripped, cleaned and inspected…
Cylinder heads
Oil Pan
Oil Pickup pipe
In my professional opinion, the short engine is beyond economical repair, but the cylinder heads can be overhauled to an acceptable standard for reuse with a new short engine.
The primary causes of engine failiure are due to having been incorrectly fitted with cast pistons and incorrect heat grade of spark plugs.
The 'hotter' plug fitted to cylinders 2 + 4 will have made these cylinders more suceptible to detonation.
The JDM Spec C standard ecu is in a relatively high state of tune, and factory mapped for forged pistons, which are inherently stronger than the cast design pistons that were actually fitted to this engine. All Sti (and SpecC) engines will tolerate more ignition timing than WRX models (which were fitted with cast pistons as standard) and this is evident when comparing factory ecu maps. Running more ignition timing than the engine (pistons) will tolerate leads to detonation taking place and ultimately engine failiure, which is evident with this engine.
Last edited by ALi-B; 02 September 2011 at 10:41 PM. Reason: updated info at OP request
28 August 2011, 09:50 AM
#3
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my heart bleeds for you, very nice car, dont give up,put the forged engine in, pamper it, love it, drive it, look after it,then leave it to your grand kids!!
28 August 2011, 10:47 AM
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Im sorry to hear that. i would not expect that type of history or drama on a 11k miles car.
And yes all above screams bodge job for the car Certainly no pride or proper repairs done.
Although i will say none to your failure which i think was a lean spot which mapping perhaps would have resloved. Did you ever get her mapped or map check like rolling road to see where fueling was at considering she was a jdm model in the 5k miles yoh had her?
And yes all above screams bodge job for the car Certainly no pride or proper repairs done.
Although i will say none to your failure which i think was a lean spot which mapping perhaps would have resloved. Did you ever get her mapped or map check like rolling road to see where fueling was at considering she was a jdm model in the 5k miles yoh had her?
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28 August 2011, 11:05 AM
#10
..........ah! Just twigged from the corner / kerb in the first picture. probably a bit slow for a Sunday morning... if that's the case then this post not the public face they would like to project.
I would expect it to be vaped quite soon.
Shaun
I would expect it to be vaped quite soon.
Shaun
28 August 2011, 11:10 AM
#12
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I have a fair idea who the dealer is having been up to look at one of his cars and recommending that the guy I went up with walk away - calling it a shed was being polite
Hope you get something sorted as this is a rotten situation to be in
Hope you get something sorted as this is a rotten situation to be in
28 August 2011, 11:18 AM
#13
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Kin Quick - amazing restraint to not name and shame the dealers!
Unless there is still legal issues, I'd have no hesitation to let people know, if only to stop other people being on the end of their dreadful customer service.
I suspect I know the local 'specialist' and have been 'lucky' enough to to have received similar service, but at least he didn't thump you, unlike another customer!!!!!
Unless there is still legal issues, I'd have no hesitation to let people know, if only to stop other people being on the end of their dreadful customer service.
I suspect I know the local 'specialist' and have been 'lucky' enough to to have received similar service, but at least he didn't thump you, unlike another customer!!!!!
28 August 2011, 11:57 AM
#14
Specialist No.1 doesn't get any votes from me either 
Still you got there in the end Rossy and IMHO you win
You've now got a top car built by a top specialist
....and you're still a top fella with more integrity than either of the toss monkeys mentioned 
JDM FTL 
Just finish the last of it and get your **** to Snetterton and have some fun
It was Bob Rawle mapped by the previous owner to the dealer IIRC. I doubt the bodge job repair was treated to the cost of a Bob Rawle map revisit by the dealer 
To sell a car as original without declaring it's problematic history is unprofessional. To then sell a car with a rebuild and no map revisit is unforgivable
There's no bargepole long enough to make me buy a car from this dealer seeing what I've seen !!!
Still you got there in the end Rossy and IMHO you win
You've now got a top car built by a top specialist
....and you're still a top fella with more integrity than either of the toss monkeys mentioned JDM FTL Just finish the last of it and get your **** to Snetterton and have some fun
Although i will say none to your failure which i think was a lean spot which mapping perhaps would have resolved. Did you ever get her mapped or map check like rolling road to see where fueling was at considering she was a jdm model in the 5k miles yoh had her?
To sell a car as original without declaring it's problematic history is unprofessional. To then sell a car with a rebuild and no map revisit is unforgivable
There's no bargepole long enough to make me buy a car from this dealer seeing what I've seen !!!
28 August 2011, 01:00 PM
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Ross,
Having been involved since you first started rambling on about Spec C's, i am glad your finally getting the car back to where it should have been a year ago and have found someone you trust to carry out the work.
I couldn't believe it when it went pop and was dumb struck when i saw the state of the internals.
The seller clearly mis lead you and continued to do so by changing his story from a lambda sensor to head work to admitting it had been rebuilt, in the same conversation.
If he is reading this, please answer why the engine was rebuilt using old and incorrect spark plugs, split hoses and bodged wireing. Clearly done on the cheap!
Its a credit to yourself that you stuck with the car and did the job properly, the way it should have been done in the first place.
There is nothing that can excuse his behaviour and attitude. i rate comapanys on how they act with issues and when things have gone wrong and this one i would avoid like the plague- absolute joker.
Car had previously been mapped in the UK and there used to be a video of it on the rollers- this has since dissapeared from YouTube.
Having been involved since you first started rambling on about Spec C's, i am glad your finally getting the car back to where it should have been a year ago and have found someone you trust to carry out the work.
I couldn't believe it when it went pop and was dumb struck when i saw the state of the internals.
The seller clearly mis lead you and continued to do so by changing his story from a lambda sensor to head work to admitting it had been rebuilt, in the same conversation.
If he is reading this, please answer why the engine was rebuilt using old and incorrect spark plugs, split hoses and bodged wireing. Clearly done on the cheap!
Its a credit to yourself that you stuck with the car and did the job properly, the way it should have been done in the first place.
There is nothing that can excuse his behaviour and attitude. i rate comapanys on how they act with issues and when things have gone wrong and this one i would avoid like the plague- absolute joker.
Car had previously been mapped in the UK and there used to be a video of it on the rollers- this has since dissapeared from YouTube.
28 August 2011, 01:07 PM
#19
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Don't worry about PM, sink the shady git on here.
Edited to add: Im not removing this, because that is a bit of a low act, but having seen the post below there are two sides to every story. I need to think more before commenting on threads like this.
Edited to add: Im not removing this, because that is a bit of a low act, but having seen the post below there are two sides to every story. I need to think more before commenting on threads like this.
Last edited by Myles; 28 August 2011 at 03:21 PM.
28 August 2011, 01:17 PM
#21
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Lets be honest- it wouldn't have been "brand new" would it! It would have been a second hand engine- not necesarrily a spec c engine either.
28 August 2011, 02:53 PM
#22
In response to the bulls**t accusations
1st of all I don't operate my business for a profit just as long as it pays for it's self and is self sufficient. Therefor there is no greed involved and I certainly don't need the money. For those who know me,will know i do it as a hobby and I enjoy meeting like minded enthusiast.
I got a phone call of Ross claiming the engine had let go,to my surprise having paid a fortune getting it sorted 7 months earlier.
It's the first time I have ever had an engine build on a car however it was left with a trusted garage who have many years of experience dealing with Impreza's.
Long story short Ross rings me 6 months later saying the engine let go.
Although it was out of the 3 month warranty I said I would have it looked at and sorted. However he was adamant the car stay with him........fair do's.
I asked a few questions such as ,have you tracked the car or has it been starved of oil or has it been modified.....in which he replied "No".
He seem'd to already know that the car was low on compression and that him and his Mechanic mate had diagnosed the car in his shed......Ummmmmmm.
We agreed that he would take the car to a garage of his choice.
Now this is where it gets interesting, it took a day for a diagnostics which had revealed that one of the pistons was low on compression.
I asked for the engine to be stripped and offered to pay all the cost's and asked for a full report which was supposed to be done within a couple of days.
After 8 weeks (not 5 weeks Ross and I have e-mails to prove this )passed by and not a word from Ross 
I was never kept uptodate at all ,if I was surely your phone records will prove that or e-mails.
Then I get a phone call telling me the garage is taking the pi** and they haven't stripped the engine. I spoke to the garage and asked them to confirm a few details regarding the engine and to take pics which they said had been done.
Upon request of this information no pics were provided and I never had a response other than from Ross saying he knows what I want and that the garage hasn't got it
??????????????????????????????????????
Ross and his mate GTRCROOK (the mechanic) pick the engine up in his focus take it back to Ross and then a few days later drop it of at another garage.
I was then given a Documented report which had shown a list of unusual things. And pictures were provided with a full report.
Now the garage that did the rebuild for me is a well respected outfit and it was there word over Ross however I decided that I would be happy enough to sort Ross out with a new engine and requested a bill for parts.
The total bill came up to £6k plus for a rebuild. However I had access to brand new crate spec c engine and offered to replace his engine with one of those and have it sent to him. He refused which I found a little odd.
After doing a little digging on scoobynet I see that Ross has been to the Nurburgring / trackdays and a few of his threads are edited.
SO WHY LIE????????????????????????????????? if you had nothing to hide?
At this point I decide to check everything, the engine number was listed in the report provided by the 2nd specialist.
I had some paper work relating to the car and made a few enquiries to verify the vin number given.
The engine number given in the report wasn't the same at this point I told Ross to foooook off and that I am happy to resolve this matter in court.
After that it just went quite
Seriously Ross you must think I am an idiot
I am happy to take this to the courts as I have all my proofs and evidence do you have yours
Immy
1st of all I don't operate my business for a profit just as long as it pays for it's self and is self sufficient. Therefor there is no greed involved and I certainly don't need the money. For those who know me,will know i do it as a hobby and I enjoy meeting like minded enthusiast.
I got a phone call of Ross claiming the engine had let go,to my surprise having paid a fortune getting it sorted 7 months earlier.
It's the first time I have ever had an engine build on a car however it was left with a trusted garage who have many years of experience dealing with Impreza's.
Long story short Ross rings me 6 months later saying the engine let go.
Although it was out of the 3 month warranty I said I would have it looked at and sorted. However he was adamant the car stay with him........fair do's.
I asked a few questions such as ,have you tracked the car or has it been starved of oil or has it been modified.....in which he replied "No".
He seem'd to already know that the car was low on compression and that him and his Mechanic mate had diagnosed the car in his shed......Ummmmmmm.
We agreed that he would take the car to a garage of his choice.
Now this is where it gets interesting, it took a day for a diagnostics which had revealed that one of the pistons was low on compression.
I asked for the engine to be stripped and offered to pay all the cost's and asked for a full report which was supposed to be done within a couple of days.
After 8 weeks (not 5 weeks Ross and I have e-mails to prove this
)passed by and not a word from Ross I was never kept uptodate at all ,if I was surely your phone records will prove that or e-mails. Then I get a phone call telling me the garage is taking the pi** and they haven't stripped the engine. I spoke to the garage and asked them to confirm a few details regarding the engine and to take pics which they said had been done.
Upon request of this information no pics were provided and I never had a response other than from Ross saying he knows what I want and that the garage hasn't got it
??????????????????????????????????????
Ross and his mate GTRCROOK (the mechanic) pick the engine up in his focus take it back to Ross and then a few days later drop it of at another garage.
I was then given a Documented report which had shown a list of unusual things. And pictures were provided with a full report.
Now the garage that did the rebuild for me is a well respected outfit and it was there word over Ross however I decided that I would be happy enough to sort Ross out with a new engine and requested a bill for parts.
The total bill came up to £6k plus for a rebuild. However I had access to brand new crate spec c engine and offered to replace his engine with one of those and have it sent to him. He refused which I found a little odd.
After doing a little digging on scoobynet I see that Ross has been to the Nurburgring / trackdays and a few of his threads are edited.
SO WHY LIE????????????????????????????????? if you had nothing to hide?
At this point I decide to check everything, the engine number was listed in the report provided by the 2nd specialist.
I had some paper work relating to the car and made a few enquiries to verify the vin number given.
The engine number given in the report wasn't the same at this point I told Ross to foooook off and that I am happy to resolve this matter in court.
After that it just went quite
Seriously Ross you must think I am an idiot
I am happy to take this to the courts as I have all my proofs and evidence do you have yours
Immy
28 August 2011, 03:41 PM
#25
The engine fails after six months and 5k miles hmmm, if there was a problem it would have come to light in the first few days it wouldn't take six months to manifest itself. No dealer is going to warrant a car that is ragged around a circuit. Furthermore from what Juggers has posted it seems Ross has not been entirely truthful.
28 August 2011, 03:44 PM
#26
Yup a fictionally convenient one and the poor buyer that got mis sold an already troublesome car.
So I assume this garage that 'fixed' the car for you Immy had a running in map and health check done lol. I doubt it given your naive step into open source mapping
I have seen the car and quite simply Ross got fooked end of. To compound his misfortune the 1st negligent specialist is equally at fault for not doing more to speed up diagnostic resolution.
Either way it will never get resolved but lording it up saying Ross is a liar is never gonna solve your liability except from a financial point of view. You done wrong end of. Bit like negating on an ebay sale because you were watching the football rather than bidding it up 
But this is of course a project thread so crack on Rossy, onward and upward
So I assume this garage that 'fixed' the car for you Immy had a running in map and health check done lol. I doubt it given your naive step into open source mapping
I have seen the car and quite simply Ross got fooked end of. To compound his misfortune the 1st negligent specialist is equally at fault for not doing more to speed up diagnostic resolution.
Either way it will never get resolved but lording it up saying Ross is a liar is never gonna solve your liability except from a financial point of view. You done wrong end of.
Bit like negating on an ebay sale because you were watching the football rather than bidding it up But this is of course a project thread so crack on Rossy, onward and upward
28 August 2011, 03:47 PM
#27
It comes down to a trust issue, Subaru UK do not crate a spec c engine and that would mean getting one from Japan. God only knows what piece of s**t he would try and pass off going by his current behaviour.
Lets be honest- it wouldn't have been "brand new" would it! It would have been a second hand engine- not necesarrily a spec c engine either.
Lets be honest- it wouldn't have been "brand new" would it! It would have been a second hand engine- not necesarrily a spec c engine either.
28 August 2011, 03:48 PM
#28
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[quote=juggers;10208359]
I got a phone call of Ross claiming the engine had let go,to my surprise having paid a fortune getting it sorted 7 months earlier.
It's the first time I have ever had an engine build on a car however it was left with a trusted garage who have many years of experience dealing with Impreza's.[quote]
Correct me if i am wrong but you said you spent 2K on the rebuild- a fraction of what you should have!
[quote]
Long story short Ross rings me 6 months later saying the engine let go.
Although it was out of the 3 month warranty I said I would have it looked at and sorted. However he was adamant the car stay with him........fair do's. [quote]
Why would he trust the car going back to you after what you have already done?
[quote]
I asked a few questions such as ,have you tracked the car or has it been starved of oil or has it been modified.....in which he replied "No".
[quote]
Fitting mudflaps and a backbox doesn't blow a hole in a piston or fit the broken/suspect parts that were on the engine!
[quote]
He seem'd to already know that the car was low on compression and that him and his Mechanic mate had diagnosed the car in his shed......Ummmmmmm.
[quote]
A compression test is easy enough to be carried out as well as bore scopes to see the damage- this wasn't carried out by a mate- it was the tuner that was to carry out the initially strip the engine. Carried out in his home garage due to the car not being able to move under its own steam
[quote]
We agreed that he would take the car to a garage of his choice.
Now this is where it gets interesting, it took a day for a diagnostics which had revealed that one of the pistons was low on compression.
I asked for the engine to be stripped and offered to pay all the cost's and asked for a full report which was supposed to be done within a couple of days.
After 8 weeks (not 5 weeks Ross and I have e-mails to prove this )passed by and not a word from Ross I was never kept uptodate at all ,if I was surely your phone records will prove that or e-mails.
[quote]
The tuner in question suffered a family berievement of which you were notified. I cannot see how you can use this in your defence- you must be a very cold hearted person!
I have seen the emails and you were most definately kept up to date as well as unanawered phone calls!
[quote]
Then I get a phone call telling me the garage is taking the pi** and they haven't stripped the engine. I spoke to the garage and asked them to confirm a few details regarding the engine and to take pics which they said had been done.
Upon request of this information no pics were provided and I never had a response other than from Ross saying he knows what I want and that the garage hasn't got it
??????????????????????????????????????
[quote]
Now think about this for one minute- the engine was removed (permission was sought from yourself on this matter) due to it sitting untouched on a stand. This would be the garagre taking the pi** as you put it. A new and more respected tuner was choosen and you agreed.
[quote]
Ross and his mate GTRCROOK (the mechanic).
[quote]
Thanks for resorting to childish name changing but i am no mechanic- can fix a car at the track but not undertake major works- till the point of taking the engine off the stand and putting it in the boot i had remained a friend on the end of a phone.
[quote]
I was then given a Documented report which had shown a list of unusual things. And pictures were provided with a full report.
Now the garage that did the rebuild for me is a well respected outfit and it was there word over Ross however I decided that I would be happy enough to sort Ross out with a new engine and requested a bill for parts.
[quote]
So respected they made so many mistakes with the rebuild and who you refused to name!
[quote]
After doing a little digging on scoobynet I see that Ross has been to the Nurburgring / trackdays and a few of his threads are edited.
SO WHY LIE????????????????????????????????? if you had nothing to hide?
[quote]
What does this have to do with it- it went to the ring, did five very slow laps laps, there's a reason he is also known as Kin Slow and drove home again.
Are you saying anyone going to the ring will blow up there engine? Shows you knew something about the engine no one else did!
[quote]
At this point I decide to check everything, the engine number was listed in the report provided by the 2nd specialist.
I had some paper work relating to the car and made a few enquiries to verify the vin number given.
The engine number given in the report wasn't the same at this point I told Ross to foooook off and that I am happy to resolve this matter in court.
[quote]
Subaru UK and Japan do not have any records of engine numbers for this car. (confirmed in Japan by a much more respected import company than you). The only way you would have that is when it was taken out the first time and the only way it would be different is if you had another engine fitted! Please correct me if i am wrong- sounds plausable though doesn't it.
The first tuner caused sooooooo many problems by not doing what was asked that you seem to think there is foul play. this is only on your side. Both engine reports (you recieved both) state exactly the same issues so the engine that was removed is the one that has been rebuilt
You may be happy to take this to court as you have already said, your not short of money. You know Ross cannot afford to loose anymore ona car that has to date set him back over 25k.
Is nice for you to show everyone on here just how you treat your customers when things go wrong though.
I got a phone call of Ross claiming the engine had let go,to my surprise having paid a fortune getting it sorted 7 months earlier.
It's the first time I have ever had an engine build on a car however it was left with a trusted garage who have many years of experience dealing with Impreza's.[quote]
Correct me if i am wrong but you said you spent 2K on the rebuild- a fraction of what you should have!
[quote]
Long story short Ross rings me 6 months later saying the engine let go.
Although it was out of the 3 month warranty I said I would have it looked at and sorted. However he was adamant the car stay with him........fair do's. [quote]
Why would he trust the car going back to you after what you have already done?
[quote]
I asked a few questions such as ,have you tracked the car or has it been starved of oil or has it been modified.....in which he replied "No".
[quote]
Fitting mudflaps and a backbox doesn't blow a hole in a piston or fit the broken/suspect parts that were on the engine!
[quote]
He seem'd to already know that the car was low on compression and that him and his Mechanic mate had diagnosed the car in his shed......Ummmmmmm.
[quote]
A compression test is easy enough to be carried out as well as bore scopes to see the damage- this wasn't carried out by a mate- it was the tuner that was to carry out the initially strip the engine. Carried out in his home garage due to the car not being able to move under its own steam
[quote]
We agreed that he would take the car to a garage of his choice.
Now this is where it gets interesting, it took a day for a diagnostics which had revealed that one of the pistons was low on compression.
I asked for the engine to be stripped and offered to pay all the cost's and asked for a full report which was supposed to be done within a couple of days.
After 8 weeks (not 5 weeks Ross and I have e-mails to prove this
)passed by and not a word from Ross I was never kept uptodate at all ,if I was surely your phone records will prove that or e-mails. [quote]
The tuner in question suffered a family berievement of which you were notified. I cannot see how you can use this in your defence- you must be a very cold hearted person!
I have seen the emails and you were most definately kept up to date as well as unanawered phone calls!
[quote]
Then I get a phone call telling me the garage is taking the pi** and they haven't stripped the engine. I spoke to the garage and asked them to confirm a few details regarding the engine and to take pics which they said had been done.
Upon request of this information no pics were provided and I never had a response other than from Ross saying he knows what I want and that the garage hasn't got it
??????????????????????????????????????
[quote]
Now think about this for one minute- the engine was removed (permission was sought from yourself on this matter) due to it sitting untouched on a stand. This would be the garagre taking the pi** as you put it. A new and more respected tuner was choosen and you agreed.
[quote]
Ross and his mate GTRCROOK (the mechanic).
[quote]
Thanks for resorting to childish name changing but i am no mechanic- can fix a car at the track but not undertake major works- till the point of taking the engine off the stand and putting it in the boot i had remained a friend on the end of a phone.
[quote]
I was then given a Documented report which had shown a list of unusual things. And pictures were provided with a full report.
Now the garage that did the rebuild for me is a well respected outfit and it was there word over Ross however I decided that I would be happy enough to sort Ross out with a new engine and requested a bill for parts.
[quote]
So respected they made so many mistakes with the rebuild and who you refused to name!
[quote]
After doing a little digging on scoobynet I see that Ross has been to the Nurburgring / trackdays and a few of his threads are edited.
SO WHY LIE????????????????????????????????? if you had nothing to hide?
[quote]
What does this have to do with it- it went to the ring, did five very slow laps laps, there's a reason he is also known as Kin Slow and drove home again.
Are you saying anyone going to the ring will blow up there engine? Shows you knew something about the engine no one else did!
[quote]
At this point I decide to check everything, the engine number was listed in the report provided by the 2nd specialist.
I had some paper work relating to the car and made a few enquiries to verify the vin number given.
The engine number given in the report wasn't the same at this point I told Ross to foooook off and that I am happy to resolve this matter in court.
[quote]
Subaru UK and Japan do not have any records of engine numbers for this car. (confirmed in Japan by a much more respected import company than you). The only way you would have that is when it was taken out the first time and the only way it would be different is if you had another engine fitted! Please correct me if i am wrong- sounds plausable though doesn't it.
The first tuner caused sooooooo many problems by not doing what was asked that you seem to think there is foul play. this is only on your side. Both engine reports (you recieved both) state exactly the same issues so the engine that was removed is the one that has been rebuilt
You may be happy to take this to court as you have already said, your not short of money. You know Ross cannot afford to loose anymore ona car that has to date set him back over 25k.
Is nice for you to show everyone on here just how you treat your customers when things go wrong though.
28 August 2011, 03:51 PM
#29
Yup a fictionally convenient one and the poor buyer that got mis sold an already troublesome car.
So I assume this garage that 'fixed' the car for you Immy had a running in map and health check done lol. I doubt it given your naive step into open source mapping
I have seen the car and quite simply Ross got fooked end of. To compound his misfortune the 1st negligent specialist is equally at fault for not doing more to speed up diagnostic resolution.
Either way it will never get resolved but lording it up saying Ross is a liar is never gonna solve your liability except from a financial point of view. You done wrong end of. Bit like negating on an ebay sale because you were watching the football rather than bidding it up
But this is of course a project thread so crack on Rossy, onward and upward
So I assume this garage that 'fixed' the car for you Immy had a running in map and health check done lol. I doubt it given your naive step into open source mapping
I have seen the car and quite simply Ross got fooked end of. To compound his misfortune the 1st negligent specialist is equally at fault for not doing more to speed up diagnostic resolution.
Either way it will never get resolved but lording it up saying Ross is a liar is never gonna solve your liability except from a financial point of view. You done wrong end of.
Bit like negating on an ebay sale because you were watching the football rather than bidding it up But this is of course a project thread so crack on Rossy, onward and upward
28 August 2011, 03:51 PM
#30
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The engine fails after six months and 5k miles hmmm, if there was a problem it would have come to light in the first few days it wouldn't take six months to manifest itself. No dealer is going to warrant a car that is ragged around a circuit. Furthermore from what Juggers has posted it seems Ross has not been entirely truthful.
The point, which you clearly missed is the fact Kin Quick was mislead and left to sort it him self.