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Subaru Forester Engine problems

439 messages,  Last post on Aug 25, 2012 at 2:58 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Engine, Wagon

Messages Page 42 of 45

#405 of 439 Re: 2011 Subaru Forester vs 2010 Subuaru Forester? [amkmeco90] by saedave

Jun 05, 2011 (10:52 am)

Replying to: amkmeco90 (Jun 05, 2011 8:46 am)
Most Foresters will NOT have the failure, but a few will if they are like other years using the same engine. Head gasket problems have also been in early years of Toyota Celicas and other makes and models. Toyota fours do not have the problem today; they fixed it. The new Subaru engine has been improved to greatly reduce the probability of such a failure. Volkswagen had head gasket and transmission gasket failures in their early VR6s; later ones seem to be fine. If the price difference were smaller, I would buy the 2011. The price difference you were quoted seems excessive.

#406 of 439 Re: 2011 Subaru Forester vs 2010 Subuaru Forester? [amkmeco90] by aatherton

Jun 11, 2011 (10:48 am)

Replying to: amkmeco90 (Jun 05, 2011 8:46 am)
"Do u mean z 2010 forester owners will experience the head gasket failure? And does the way of driving will affect this?"
 
The way of driving has no effect. The 2010 engine is the least likely of all the old EJ engines to have a head gasket leak. It has a redesigned head gasket that only fits that year.
 
The new 2011 FB engine was redesigned to separate the cooling of the head from the rest of the engine. The head gasket between the block and the head was then no longer the weak point in the cooling system

#407 of 439 Sustained Piston slap at 83,000 miles by subydo

Oct 08, 2011 (1:11 pm)

The dealer dropped my Impreza Outback Sport off the hoist & totaled it. They want to replace it with a 2001 Forester. It has had 5 owners and 3 independent mechanics I took it to expressed considerable concern over hearing sustained piston slap (long after engine is warm). I told the dealer about this & they confirmed it does indeed have piston slap but assured me that they don't think it is a problem or will become bad enough to be a problem. This 2001 Forester has 83,000 miles on it now and I need it to last for another 100,000. Will the piston slap turn into a serious & expensive problem in that time? The dealer did not actually tear stuff apart to actually have a look at the pistons. Help, I do not know who to believe!

#408 of 439 Re: Sustained Piston slap at 83,000 miles [subydo] by xwesx

Oct 10, 2011 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: subydo (Oct 08, 2011 1:11 pm)
Five previous owners in 83,000 miles; that says quite a bit all by itself. Honestly, I would probably take the insurance payout on the Impreza and just put it toward a replacement car of your choice (new or used).
 
Even if the issue is "just" piston slap, the concern expressed by the mechanic and the dealer's own lack of credibility (after all, this is the same place that totaled your car in the first place!) means you likely will have more than a few headaches down the road.

#409 of 439 Re: Sustained Piston slap at 83,000 miles [xwesx] by ateixeira

Oct 11, 2011 (9:38 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Oct 10, 2011 3:02 pm)
I agree, 5 owners is a red flag. Most Foresters that age are on their 1st owner, maybe 2nd.

#410 of 439 CEL Light for 10 seconds by wolfzr2

Oct 29, 2011 (8:08 am)

2011 Forester Non-Turbo. ( FB25 ) 1200 miles.
 
Got a CEL and VDC light a few weeks ago while in the midst of a 3rd gear WOT kickdown.
 
When I had the code checked, it stated the engine ran too lean for a bit. Was this simply due to going from cruising at 30mph to nailing it to pass this other car at 60?
 
Both lights went out on their own after 2-3 seconds and the car is running fine. Thoughts? Is this just a case of a sensor detecting something out of range for a split second, then seeing that it's cleared up and shutting off the CEL and merely storing the code?
 
I should mention it did it again last night, same exact scenario. Floored it to pass someone and got the CEL light blinking. VCD light was on as well ( I'm assuming it was temp disabled during CEL ).. CEL and VDC light went out after around 10 seconds. Car ran fine the whole time, no hiccups, no loss of power.
 
ECU issue?

#411 of 439 Re: CEL Light for 10 seconds [wolfzr2] by aatherton

Oct 29, 2011 (4:26 pm)

Replying to: wolfzr2 (Oct 29, 2011 8:08 am)
"Got a CEL... a few weeks ago while in the midst of a 3rd gear WOT kick down... code... stated the engine ran too lean for a bit. Was this simply due to going from cruising at 30mph to nailing it to pass this other car at 60? ... went out... after 2-3 seconds and the car is running fine.... Is this just a case of a sensor detecting something out of range for a split second, then seeing that it's cleared up and shutting off the CEL and merely storing the code?... did it again last night, same exact scenario. Floored it to pass someone and got the CEL light blinking... ECU issue?"
 
I think so. The CEL would have stored a DTC for the dealer to see. Take it in. Leanness when demanding WOT could result in less than full power when it is needed most.

#412 of 439 Forester troubles by isaac17

Dec 12, 2011 (4:20 am)

I own a subaru forester stb automatic and have had it fr a month or so and have noticed that the car is a bit jumpy, like when i put my foot down, it feels if th turbo struggles to kick in makn th car jump , sorry but this is the best i could describe it . Any ideas on what would be causing this ?

#413 of 439 subaru engine failure #4 HELP by blown_engine

Dec 12, 2011 (8:32 pm)

I currently own a 2010 subaru forester and going on engine #2, before this it was a 2008 wrx and again went through 2 engines. I am at a road block as subaru canada and the local subaru dealership are of no help. Basically they are trying to find us at fault, the vehicle has all maintenace records and well taken care of. Subaru has us signing waivers and told us be prepared to pay. I cannot understand this as the engine currently only has 10,000 km on it. It is a warranty thing.The vehicle has 38000 km total and on 3rd engine. If anyone else has this problem please let me know. This is horrible customer service. They say they stand behind their product,but leave customers stranded. I have owned a subaru for 2 years and my vehicle has been in the shop for 11 months of this 2 years and is still ongoing. I am 4 weeks with this one and they are refusing to do anything until we pay for removal and diagnostic!!!! Again its warranty!

#414 of 439 Re: subaru engine failure #4 HELP [blown_engine] by aatherton

Dec 13, 2011 (10:09 am)

Replying to: blown_engine (Dec 12, 2011 8:32 pm)
You say "… 2010 subaru forester and going on engine #2… The vehicle has 38000 km total and on 3rd engine… the engine currently only has 10,000 km on it…"
 
Are you saying that engine #2 is in the car now, with only 6,000 miles since it was installed, and that now the car needs a 3rd engine at 24,000 miles? Three engines needed in 24,000 miles? The dealership is proceeding carefully with such a case.
 
Did you buy this car new from the dealership, and did the dealership provide (that is, furnish and install) engine #2?
Or did you buy this car from a used car dealer after engine #1 failed, engine #2 was not provided by a dealership, and now the dealership and Subaru Canada are being asked to provide engine #3?
 
I can understand why they would not agree to pay for engine #3 without doing a diagnostic removal and tear-down to investigate the cause engine #2's failure.
And it is logical that they would want you to pay for the investigation, in case it indicated that Subaru was not the cause of the failure.
 
The dealership and Subaru Canada would want to investigate the circumstances of engine #2. Was it a new Subaru engine, installed by a dealer? Was is properly maintained and driven? What was the internal mechanism of failure?
 
If they provided engine #2 and find you were not the cause of its failure, they will reimburse you for its investigation, and provide engine #3.

Messages Page 42 of 45

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