kenshin01

The Check Engine light was on since Sunday so I took it to Subaru Specialties to get the code. Steve thinks it's one of following: Piston or Valves and both seems expensive to fix.

My car has been giving me issues and I am not sure if I want to dump another 2-3k to fix it. Maybe this is the final fix? Or maybe this is just the beginning?

I do have 125000 miles on my car.

Problems I recalled

The plastic on the Radiator Crack... replaced Radiator (Thanks Mike)

Patterson Fuel Pump!!! (Thanks Soggy)

AC issues

Air Bag light turn on and off (still can't figure out what happened)

Changed some belts

Also change the timing belt, water pump...etc because I was planning to keep the car for a long time.

The joint rubber thing near the wheels

Am I thinking too much? Or it's time for another car. I like Subaru... but maybe I am better off with a honda

theheckwithyou

well louis you do drive like 30k a year, and don't you drive the car kinda hard?

kenshin01

Yes, I drive hard on everyday driving. And my car go thru hell too... like 100 degree heat in lone pine and then 40 degree on snow in an hour... for several days... back back to 100 dgree in lone pine... that kind of abuse.

stupidchicken03

iTrader: (38)

damn 30k a year! thats a lot


do you know what the exact code was?

sigma pi

iTrader: (6)

timing belt is normal maint.

this is a big thing though i dunno what to tell you


JC has a honda acc that has brake problems and trim piece problems

white04wrx

iTrader: (4)

well if you decide to keep the car i know how you can fix your air bag light. theres a wire connection under the driver seat that gets disconnected when you move your seat. just turn off your car and make sure the wires has a firm connection and that should get rid of that light. i went through the same thing. i guess this fix is minimal to the engine problems your having. good luck with the honduhh if you get one.

subi4justin

iTrader: (3)

that is crazy because I have been thinking the same thing as you. I feel like I just keep dumping money into my car and it never stops, and its not even in modifying the car, its just in fixing things that seem to break on it.
I just got a CEL code in my subi for a misfire in cylinder 4 and a few months ago i had an o2 sensor go bad on my car too. I know subaru is a great car and all, but its too expensive to keep it running. I need a car that will run good everyday and not break down so often.
Im looking at trading my car in on a 2007 civic si. its not exactly what i want but i dont have the funds to keep dropping into this car.

kenshin01

well I started putting money in the car because I was planning to drive for several more years. If I try to get rid of it now, all those parts I changed is kind of a waste. Plus I don't know how much I can sell it for with this condition. Depending on how much I may just fix it this time and see how long my car will run. I am still trying to figure out the math. Say a new Forester... $25000. I may get rid of my problem now by not fixing the car (say a 2k fix) and sell it. Get a new car that won't give me problems for a few years... but now I need to make payment for the several years.

kenshin01

Maybe I should just put a STI engine in my wagon... and have more problems LOL

kenshin01

$2300-$2500 to fix the issue. Something to do with Exhaust Valve...

stupidchicken03

iTrader: (38)

i might be doing a 2.5 swap

kenshin01

I talked to a few people and they also suggest a 2.5 swap. But when my car is only worth maybe 7k it's not that smart for me to drop another 4.5k to fix it because I won't get that much for it if I decide to sell it in 2-3 years. I may just fix the valves and sell it in 1-2-3 years.

For now, the two reasons below make me lean toward to just fix the valves.

1: I may get rid of my car in 2-3 years. It's hard for me to do that when I dump 4.5k
2: If my car is total, I am not going to get the market value + say 3k just because I did the swap.
3: Harder to resell (but this is not really a reason)

I can still drive it for a bit so I have some time to think about.

theheckwithyou

i say you should just fix the valves and then sell it in the next 2-3 years

sigma pi

iTrader: (6)

+1 try to get some of your money out of it

kenshin01

Yes I think I am going to this direction. You guys have been feeding me useful information. Now I am more inform about what I want to do.

Maybe I'll get the earthy people forester and drive that when I travel far. Just so we don't have patterson Part 2. I think I skip the turbo this time.