NeilR

Well, it had to happen sooner or later.

I was travelling on the M4 this afternoon when i detected a strange noise from under the bonnent. It sounded like wind was causing a loose spoler pannel to vibrate but i soon discovered that applying the throttle made it rhythmic !!!!

It got worse and i stopped at the services, lifted the bonnet and couldn't see anything. i blipped the throttle and a nasty metalic rasp made the word 'Bollox' appeared in the tought bubble above my head. After phoning the missus saying i may be late, i decided to attempt to limp the car home. 4 miles later the metalic noise was getting worse and the engine 'missed' . I pulled over and called the RAC.

Just spoken to the garage, they shall do a detailed investigation tomorrow but they don't like the sound of the engine. They are running a book on what it could be and at the moment, Big end failure is winning.

This sounds very expensive.

So, the book is open, what is your best guess as to the problem guys ( & gals) .

No prizes for winning, can't afford it

NeilR

Fugged STI III

R19KET

Neil,

Very sorry to hear of your problem. Hopefully you caught it early, and any damage is minimal.

Mark.

NeilR

Thanks for the kind words Mark,

As soon as i described the noise the RAC chap, he instantly chucked the car onto the Trailer without attempting to touch the engine.

To me, the noise seemed to be coming directly from the camshafts / Turbo side.

Very Loud, not good!

Still, 75,000 miles filled with B roads and country blasts, car tuned up a tad was going to break something sooner or later.

It's been a fantastic car but im seriously considering throwing in the towel at the moment.

NeilR

bob

Sorry to hear about the car. It could be another No3 big end problem. PE cars get this quite often.
How long can a tuned car last?
Some 600 miles and some 75,000 miles.
I think you done well to last this long.
I sale mine every 18 months.
Hope all goes well for you.
**** Stirring Bob

NeilR

Cheers Bob...

For Sale (maybe) STI III Type R

Cost 15,000 - engine rebuild cost.

Ian Cook

Crap, Neil sorry to hear that, from what you describe it sounds exactly like Anders car did when it went, like a bag of spanners rattling round in there No 3 big end ! Obviosuly not having heard it, thats total and utter supposition !

Hopefully thats all that went and it didnt bend/twist the crank while it was going

strong

I'd bet it's big end failure for the simple reason that the dealers and tuning companies are currently seeing a lot of this on the Impreza, regardless of type of car (UK or Jap) or state of tune (both un-modded and tuned are failing).

Paul

bob

Paul Strong/
Lots of No 3 big end failers in UK & Jap cars, tuned or not. Are you saying we cannot blame these problems on any said tuning companies.
**** Stirring Bob at his best.

Ian Cook

I personally havent heard of any un modded cars going pop,other than STi 5's.

coop

99 T ST IMPREZA BUG END GONE 5.5 WEEKS TO REPAIR. BUMMER BUT ALL UNDER WARRANTY.

DavidRB

Ummm, why should a tuned engine last exactly the same length of time as one left at the manufacturer's spec? A tuned engine puts more stress on all of its internal components, thus "lifing" them more quickly. Tuned Fords & Vauxhalls go bang all the time, it goes with the territory.

Tuning road cars for a "bit more poke" is no different from tuning racing cars - an engine can be tuned to as much power & torque as you like, the limiting factor is something breaking. Untuned road cars can last for several hundred thousand miles, highly tuned racing cars require rebuilds every few hundred miles. Tuned road cars are simply somewhere in between on a sliding scale.

Unless you dismantle your engine and photograph the piston heads before getting a tune-up chip fitted, you cannot possibly hope to prove that any engine blow-ups are caused by a chip.

Bad luck though NeilR, I once had a spark plug pop out of an old car (crossed thread finally gave way!), made the oddest noise I've ever heard. I pulled over as quickly as I could, switched it off and didn't switch it back on again!

BarryK

My neighbour has a std UK MY97, just about 3 months out of warranty, no mods. A big end went, don't know which one. Got it rebuilt as though still in warranty period after dealer (Robinson's Rochdale) got permission from IM to go ahead and do the goodwill job.

Car has always been dealer serviced and mileage is around 45k odd.

I suspect they know something.

Lucan

Big end bearing faailure is more common than you might realise. UK, WRX or STi. - Just ring round the known repairers and ask what they have got in.

bob

Hi
I must make an apology to anyone who thinks that I have badmouthed any tuning companies. I have always stated that I do not believe that the big end problems are with tuned cars or the tuning companies. Standard cars are also having these problems.
I have been told that:
Power Engineering has been asked to repair 8 engines with big end problems.
Graham Goode Racing has also repaired 8 engines.
Park lane have had 3. These are all big end related problems.
These are UK, WRX and Sti cars they are all getting these problems.
If standard cars are getting these problems how on earth can we blame any tuning company if we get the same problem?

Jonathan

Bob

You forgot Palmer Promosport who had to get rid of their std STI's because of major engine problems as well.

Jonathan

NeilR

A low mileage Version 4 STi Engine will be 'popped' into my car very soon. A Std V4 ecu will accompany it until i can get my usual ECU re-remapped by Power Engineering.

It looks like i may have the choice between a VF22 and the version 4's VF28 (or is it 23?)

so then, which will it be.

NeilR

Mark Brown

If you don't mind me asking, what is the going rate for an STI 4 engine?? How much labour is envolved?

Mark

R19KET

Neil,

I thought the V3's used a VF23, but certainly stick with the VF22, if that's what you've got. Or VF23.

The V4 uses a VF24 (same as VF28) apart from the actuator. These are both small by comparison.

Mark.

strong

Neil,

I think you've got to go for the bigger turbo to retain the power, otherwise you'll be complaining that it's slower than before and feel cheated. Of course if you hate turbo lag then switch to the smaller one.

NeilR

VF22 ..... VF23....... I shall find out although i now suspect you lot are right and it's a VF23. Can someone explain to me which one is biggest out of the two.

I am paying 3000+vat for a complete V4 engine. It's done 15,000Km (9500miles)

I think i'll have the clutch changed whilst im at it as the existing one has done 75,000 miles and must ready for a change soon.

ScoobyMania quote 395inc vat for the AP uprated. Is anyone aware of the alternatives?

NeilR

Tim Skerry

£15,000??
Try 01663 744114 ANDY. GRADE A SUBARU BREAKERS. I think he had an STI in recently.
Standard engines are round £1500, so I expect a used STI would be more affordable than a rebuild.

MorayMackenzie

Strong,

...Or you could go for a supercharged, turbocharged, nitrous oxide injected unit that has no lag, way too much power and returns 1 or 2 gallons per mile...

Moray

Stef

Neil.
I have an AP clutch from Scoobymania and it is truly awesome.
Get it.

Stef.