Out with the old.. in with the new...

[Fred Boer]

Hi All:

Well, 2007 *had* been good to me... my steering problem has definitely
disappeared. But.............

Tonight as I drove off to the video store with my son, the check engine
light came on, then blinked off, then on, then off... about 7 times. By the
time I managed to turn off my son's hideous music on the stereo, the light
was off and stayed off, so I can't say if there was some unusual noise (i.e.
from the car, anyway! <g>)

I've seen a lot of my check engine light over the years, but I haven't seen
that sort of blinking on and off behaviour.. any thoughts?

I have noticed, very occasionally, a kind of deep low pitched rattle
separate from the engine but seemingly in synch with the revolutions of the
engine. I put it down to some rattling heat shield or something, but could
it be an engine death rattle?

Legacy 2002, 150,000 kilometers (96,933 miles)
Repair/maintenance costs 2007 ($4700.00)
Repair/maintenance costs 2008 ($35.00 and counting....)

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi All:

Well, 2007 *had* been good to me... my steering problem has definitely
disappeared. But.............

Tonight as I drove off to the video store with my son, the check engine
light came on, then blinked off, then on, then off... about 7 times. By the
time I managed to turn off my son's hideous music on the stereo, the light
was off and stayed off, so I can't say if there was some unusual noise (i.e.
from the car, anyway! <g>)

I've seen a lot of my check engine light over the years, but I haven't seen
that sort of blinking on and off behaviour.. any thoughts?

I have noticed, very occasionally, a kind of deep low pitched rattle
separate from the engine but seemingly in synch with the revolutions of the
engine. I put it down to some rattling heat shield or something, but could
it be an engine death rattle?

Legacy 2002, 150,000 kilometers (96,933 miles)
Repair/maintenance costs 2007 ($4700.00)
Repair/maintenance costs 2008 ($35.00 and counting....)

When are u supposed to have a timing belt change in this car? If it was
done at 60K - did they change the tensioner I wonder.
Can you get the code read at an Autozone or other facility?(should be
stored, even with the light off)

Carl

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi Carl:

Recently I had the head gaskets done (people may be sick of me talking about
it!), and since they had the engine apart anyway, I had them install a new
timing belt at the same time. Are you thinking the timing belt might be
related to the CEL or the noise, or both?

Thanks!
Fred

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi Carl:

Recently I had the head gaskets done (people may be sick of me talking about
it!), and since they had the engine apart anyway, I had them install a new
timing belt at the same time. Are you thinking the timing belt might be
related to the CEL or the noise, or both?

Thanks!
Fred

Just wondering if the tenisioner could be 'weak' such that the belt is
flopping around, rubbing on the inside of the covers and maybe creating
a 'disagreement' between the crank and cam angle sensors.
Probably not the ONLY scenario that would create occasional CEL AND a
noise. Plus, the 2 may be unrelated.
Just the first thing that came to mind. having the actual code may be
very helpful.

dunno

Carl

 

[Fred Boer]

I appreciate the suggestion! I will be watching closely for a recurranceof
the CEL.. We don't have AutoZone where I live, and the dealership is over an
hour away, so I can't easily get the code(s). If it happens again, I will,
of course, be taking it back to the dealership.

I wonder if the car is just missing its friends at its second home in the
dealer's garage...

 

[Fred Boer]

Dear Carl, et al...

Problem recurred, and CEL remained on. I thought, from the sound this
morning that I'd lost the engine! Rattling, dieseling horrible sound...

Got it into the dealership. Code P0303 Cylinder # 3. Apparently there was
some corrosion on the fuel injector(?) The service manager started by
telling me that there was a problem with a fuel injector and that they cost
$600.00. I practiced my new "calm breathing at Subaru dealership" ritual.
After dropping that bombshell, and *only* after *that* did he say that they
just had to clean it up and it solved the problem. $107.00.
(Exxxhhhaaaaallleeee...)

He suggested a new battery, but I figured it wasn't essential right now, and
I didn't think I needed a Subaru brand battery. Which brings up a new
question... which I will put into a new thread...

Legacy 2002, 150,000 kilometers (96,933 miles)
Repair/maintenance costs 2007 ($4700.00)
Repair/maintenance costs 2008 ($142.35 and counting....)

 

[Ray]

Got it into the dealership. Code P0303 Cylinder # 3. Apparently there was
some corrosion on the fuel injector(?) The service manager started by
telling me that there was a problem with a fuel injector and that they cost
$600.00. I practiced my new "calm breathing at Subaru dealership" ritual.
After dropping that bombshell, and *only* after *that* did he say that they
just had to clean it up and it solved the problem. $107.00.
(Exxxhhhaaaaallleeee...)

Ouch! I think fuel injectors for my ancient Bronco cost about $100 each and
half of them are very easy to replace yourself. The other half require a
bit more work to get at. If someone quoted me $600 for a fuel injector
(even including labor) I don't think they'd ever see me again.

 

[Fred Boer]

I wonder if someone who knows might comment on the cost of a fuel injector
replacement? Obviously, I seem to have avoided it now.. but I'd like to know
just in case! (With my luck!)

 

[bigjimpack]

Time for a new car dude!!!! That $4700 would be a nice down payment
on a new car!!!

 

[Fred Boer]

<Chuckle> Well, maybe... but then I'd have payments!

Time for a new car dude!!!! That $4700 would be a nice down payment
on a new car!!!

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

<Chuckle> Well, maybe... but then I'd have payments!

Time for a new car dude!!!! That $4700 would be a nice down payment
on a new car!!!

Yeah, $600 is what - 2 months payments? And it isn't even broken!

It's only a new car when its at the dealership, its used when you drive
off in it.

carl

 

[bigjimpack]

But you'd have warranty and a car that wont nickeland dime you and
inconvenience you by needing repair all the time. I like no payments
too but if a car always needs fixin I'd rather makepayments

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi:

Well, there are differing points of view: I think buying a car and keeping
it going as long as possible (i.e. driving it into the ground) is cheaper in
the long run - assuming, of course that you get a reasonably reliable car
(why I bought a Subaru <sigh>), and maintain it properly. I *do* expect to
have to pay maintenance and upkeep costs to keep it on the road after the
warranty is over. I *expect* that these costs would be well below the costs
of a new car payment. (Assuming that a loan is required...). Sadly, in my
case my maintenance costs have been very high over the last year or so. My
car *should* be good for several years of fairly reliable service, imho, and
I am hoping that things improve for me and justify my purchase of a
Subaru...

The other option is buying a new car, but I can't imagine that that would
make sense financially - given the depreciation.

Leasing might make sense, on the other hand, but mileage limitations make
that not a good option for me.

--
Fred Boer - Amateur Access Enthusiast
Interests: Library software / Z39.50 / Web Services
Freeware Small Library Application available here:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/lornarourke/

But you'd have warranty and a car that wont nickeland dime you and
inconvenience you by needing repair all the time. I like no payments
too but if a car always needs fixin I'd rather makepayments

 

[Fred Boer]

Just fyi... chatted with a mechanic this morning who confirmed that a fuel
injector replacement was, "ballpark", $600.00...