Ask the Car People.SM


Subaru Forester Timing belt

30 messages,  Last post on Feb 14, 2013 at 2:33 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester

    

Messages Page 2 of 4

#8 of 30 Re: premature timing belt damage [nishtar] by xwesx

Jan 25, 2011 (10:18 am)

Replying to: nishtar (Jan 25, 2011 7:26 am)
1. No, I don't think the replacement of the accessory belts could have contributed to the timing belt failure.
 
2. Most likely a manufacturing defect or a problem with alignment when the belt was originally installed. How are you out of warranty? The drivetrain has a 5 year / 60,000 mile warranty. Even if you purchased your 2007 model at the very beginning of the model run, it could not have come into service before January 25th, 2006....
 
3. I would call 1-800-SUBARU3 and discuss the situation before doing anything else. This should be covered under warranty. Even if the car is out of warranty, there is a chance Subaru will help you out with this repair.

#9 of 30 Re: premature timing belt damage [xwesx] by paisan

Jan 28, 2011 (3:10 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 25, 2011 10:18 am)
That should all be covered under warranty.
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#10 of 30 Re: Timing belt [leslieo1] by paisan

Jan 28, 2011 (3:13 pm)

Replying to: leslieo1 (Jul 22, 2010 2:57 pm)
Thank you everyone for the answers to my questions! We called the dealership and they said replacement was due at 105,000 miles, but we decided to replace it anyway since my Mom is going to use the car for a couple of long trips. The dealership did the job for $400, and my Mom feels safe, a good bargin!
  
Thanks again for the advice!
 
I'm sorry but I think the dealership took you for a ride. No dealership I know will replace what is necessary to be replaced for a timing belt for $400. The parts alone cost close to $400!
 
When we do a timing belt job at our shop here is what we do:
 
Timing Belt
Tensioner
All Idler Pulleys
Water Pump & Gasket
T-stat & Gasket
 
We charge $800 for the whole job and are considered fairly inexpensive.
 
http://azpinstalls.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=12- 2
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#11 of 30 Re: premature timing belt damage [xwesx] by nishtar

Jan 29, 2011 (4:07 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 25, 2011 10:18 am)
thank you for your reply. i wrote the dealer and got a call from them. they said it was caused by rust in the tensioner bearing which have caused the bearing to fail/ crumble and damage the tension belt, not the other way around. i was just wondering if bearings get rusted ( i am presuming theyre made of stainless steel, hence do not rust), besides, being inside the engine, i presume they are well lubricated for them to rust. that being the case, the dealer said it cant be covered by warranty for engine defects. instead they gave me a 15% discount. doesnt sound too consoling for me though.

#12 of 30 Re: premature timing belt damage [nishtar] by xwesx

Jan 29, 2011 (10:25 am)

Replying to: nishtar (Jan 29, 2011 4:07 am)
Rust? That sounds like a defect to me! First of all, the whole timing system is on the front of the engine, under a plastic dust cover. The only way moisture (other than ambient humidity) could get in there is if you drive the thing through lakes on a regular basis or if the cover is not doing its job. I had a 2.5L engine on which I replaced the timing belt and pulleys (pulleys were still original) at 192,000 miles. While becoming worn, those pulleys were still as shiny as they day they were installed at the factory.
 
In summary, that is BS. If the bearing failed due to rust, it was a warranty issue. Bypass the dealer and to straight to Subaru. If this were my car, I would be livid about it (but be nice, if not persistent, on the phone). 1-800-SUBARU3

#13 of 30 Re: premature timing belt damage [xwesx] by paisan

Jan 30, 2011 (8:22 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 29, 2011 10:25 am)
If the idler pulleys are rusted then it's likely a result of the car being flooded or driving through deep water. We do timing belts quite often (2 or so a week) and the only time we've seen rusty idlers were on cars where the customer said it had been in some kind of deep water, even if it's just 1x it can cause them to rust like that.
 
However if your car was never in a flood, I would contact SOA and get it covered. Something seems very fishy on that story.
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#14 of 30 Re: premature timing belt damage [paisan] by xwesx

Jan 30, 2011 (12:57 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jan 30, 2011 8:22 am)
Quite true, Mike. The original poster did not mention if the car was a used or new purchase, so a flood history is possible. I would think, however, that if the car was being driven through deep water, the heat of the engine would out that area very quickly unless the car was shut off immediately after.
 
Once rust gets started, even the slightest bit of moisture can encourage it with fervor.

#15 of 30 Re: premature timing belt damage [xwesx] by paisan

Jan 30, 2011 (1:43 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 30, 2011 12:57 pm)
We saw it on a friend's LGT and we said "hey was the car ever in a flood" and he said no, but then remembered when it was almost new, he said he had water up to the door sills and had to dry out his carpet. That's how the TB idler got rusty.
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#16 of 30 premature timing belt damage-PT pulley bearing failure by nishtar

Jan 31, 2011 (2:51 am)

thanks you for your immediate response guys. my forester was bought brand new, CBU( completely built up from Japan). I live in the Philippines but i have never been into a flood except when caught up in a rain while driving. the subaru happens to be a second car, we use it regularly and was never driven in a race car like manner, my wife prefers to drive it and we take it on long trips about 500 mi a few times a year. most of the time it is used around town. unfortunately for me the warranty here is 3yrs/ 60000 kms whichever comes first. it was just a month from the warranty and definitely far from the 60000km. given the stories of how subarus are sturdy and would last more than 5 years , this kind of damage is obviously quite premature. i am even wondering if the fan and ac belts frayed prematurely too, since i had it replaced when i saw frays in the belt around the 29.3k mi mileage.

#17 of 30 forrester timing belt by novice71

Feb 08, 2011 (11:12 am)

My 2004 Forrester has 103K on it and the timing belt needs to be replaced. The local Subaru dealership is quoting $800 to replace the belt, tensioners and water pump. They do mention that it's rare that the pump and tensioners need to be replaced though. It would only cost $350 if it's just the belt.
 
Another mechanic quoted $800-950 and that it would take 2 days to do the work!
 
This quotes seem higher than what has been posted here. I would appreciate suggestions for a good mechanic in the Worcester, Massachusetts area.

Messages Page 2 of 4

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement