SubiPilot

Well I just got word from the shop... Appears the tranny is starting to go, but that is the least of my worries as the engine knock appears to be something more serious and related to my ongoing saga with CCR motors. Here's a link to the related thread... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=97617 Mal

The saga continues... 30k miles now on CCR#3 and it's developed a bad knock and seems to be using a lot of oil now. Power seems to be lacking at times. Had it into the shop to see what my mechanic thought and the news isn't good. The only saving grace so far has been the good people at CCR standing behind their work... hopefully this continues. More info to follow... Mal

I've got it at the garage now... hopefully they can find what's wrong... The knocking actually seems to get quieter when I release the clutch in neutral... I did notice a transmission related thing... as I'm coasting in gear the tranny seems awfully loud... someone suggested maybe throwout bearing? Mal

Manual Transmission.... BPT? Sorry not sure what that is? I'll see if I can't get some audio or even video of what it is doing. Mal

Howdy group! I now have 30k miles on CCR motor #3 but it has developed some issues. At idle there is a noticeable knock, on acceleration a stutter, and an occasional miss or shudder at idle associated with a 'pok' type of sound. The knock seems to be coming from the rear/bottom of the motor. The knock can be heard best at idle but can't be heard at normal operating speeds. The knock can't be heard after a cold start but only after reaching operating temp. Performance seems fine for the most part aside from an occasional hesitation or stutter when starting from a stop or accelerating... after the hesitation power comes back quickly. Also intermittent rough idle. At idle there is an occasional 'shudder' which I think may be related to the hesitation under acceleration issue... at idle when this happens there is a 'pok' sound that seems like it could be a switch, relay or some kind of valve. This sound seems to be coming from the driver's side rear top of the motor although I haven't been able to isolate it. Any ideas or thoughts? I've recently replaced plugs, wires, fuel filter, injectors and throttle position sensor and the vacuum lines. Thanks, Mal

OK ... UPDATE CCR# 3 is supposedly on it's way after speaking with Terry on Thursday. He had called to see if it were OK to send it to Colonial Subaru which the 2nd opinion garage had recommended. This is the dealership I caught trying to rip me off for headgaskets back in 2005 when all I needed was a new radiator. This is the thread if anyone wants to revisit. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=51975&highlight=SubiPilot Why the 2nd garage recommended Colonial instead of offering to do it themselves is beyond me, but I definitely feel more comfortable with my regular mechanic. Not only do I feel he is more trustworthy, his shop rates are also $10 and $15 p/hr cheaper than the 2nd garage or Colonial. His diagnoses have also been correct. CCR#3 was 'bench tested' to some extent, at least as fully as CCR was able to test it. Leak Down #1 (10) #3 (20) #2 (15) #4 (10) Compression test: #1 (160) #3 (160) #2 (160) #4 (160) At least this is what the email stated... assuming it's accurate. I am really hoping CCR#3 is right, I've just about run out of patience. I still haven't received tracking information... not sure if it actually shipped today or not. Mal

I'm with you Hank on point #2... I would have to think that CCR can't afford a 3rd mistake and frankly I can't either. It stands to reason that CCR would do their very best to ensure CCR#3 is spot on. I've been told that Rick will be supervising the build himself. As to point #1, CCR states in their warranty that they will repair or replace. They don't refund. They have offered me a complete new warranty with the new motor (this isn't standard apparently). Now I just need the good motor. Mal

UPDATE.... I still have not heard from Terry or Rick as I was told... but I did call CCR and spoke with Emily (Rick's wife/office manager) and she assured me that Rick has decided to replace CCR#2 ... when is still not clear. My feeling is CCR would rather spend time and money (yours and theirs) trying to prove their bad motor is good than ensuring you receive a good motor in the first place. I'm still hoping for a GOOD motor but after 2 strikes my hopes and patience are fading. Mal

I hear ya... and here I thought I was doing the smart thing getting a remanufactured motor over a used one. Definitely not worth the amount of grief I've experienced and still no end in sight. My mechanics have actually had better luck ordering used motors from Japan... only took 1 bad motor before getting a good one. Mal

It seems to me that this endless grief could easily be avoided if CCR bench tested their motors. If CCR motors were bench tested they could send a report showing the performance of the motor. Then it would be very clear when an external source was the cause of the problem. However, CCR DOES NOT BENCH TEST their motors. The first time the motor is actually run is after it has been installed. This makes if very easy for CCR to point the finger at the installer or an external source when they have no proof that the motor was good in the first place. The next step is waiting for CCR to contact me tomorrow after speaking with both mechanics...more BS. Mal

UPDATE Garage #2 Diagnostic Results: Compression Test (cold) #1 Cylinder 130 lbs #3 Cylinder 130 lbs #2 Cylinder 150 lbs #4 Cylinder 150 lbs No vacuum leaks found. Suspect valves may be tight or valve seat dropping. Timing Belt looks OK. Waiting to hear back from CCR for the next step. I got some interesting info chatting with the owner of Garage #2... he said he recently replaced a 2.5 motor he got directly from Subaru. He said it took him 3 tries before getting a good one. Perhaps the root of the problem lies with Subaru? Mal

Yea you mentioned the timing belt, but this has nothing to do with my mechanic, it comes installed with the long block from CCR. Why is it you seriously doubt this motor has problems? The fact of the matter is this motor had problems before leaving CCR and was rebuilt a second time before it was shipped. The problem was leakage. This was posted previously perhaps you missed this bit of info? I also put an additional $800 worth of new components into this vehicle when CCR#1 was installed. If these things you off-handedly mention were the culprit I'd have to think that they would have been a problem with CCR#1 as well... which they weren't. I run 3 Legacy wagons with EJ22 motors and my mechanic has kept me on the road for the past 3 years. I average about 50k miles per year per vehicle. I seriously doubt you could do a better job than he has done. Subi 2 has 292k miles on it and runs like a champ so I know the reliability and longevity of these motors very well, and trust my mechanic knows his stuff. As I mentioned before my mechanic is a Subaru Factory Trained Technician with 25 years experience, most of them working for a Subaru dealer. What are your credentials exactly? This post is making your head spin? At least you have the option of ignoring this thread. Me... I've got to find a solution and get Subi 3 working again! Mal

Thanks nipper, always informative! Well first off since the timing belt comes installed with the long block from CCR I hesitate to instruct anyone to dive into what CCR has supplied me without CCR instructing me to do so. I'll have this checked again by the new shop that is doing the diagnosis for me tomorrow, however if the timing belt is found to be off it's marks, it was installed by CCR not my mechanic... just to clarify. Mal

Howdy nipper, Yup good thought, the timing belt comes with the long block. My mechanic checked the timing belt, which was one of the first things he thought of when he encountered the rough idle, and the timing marks line up correctly. Mal

OK... well first off my mechanic is a Subaru factory trained technician, 25 years experience. He considered fuel wash. There is no fuel smell, gas mileage is normal, and the oil isn't getting thinned out. This is the same manifold that was on CCR#1, but not the same problems. CCR#1 had very noisy valves, lack of power, and the rings didn't seat properly on the right side. CCR#2 compression is off 50lbs between the left and the right side causing the whole engine and wagon to rock at idle, valves sound normal, power is better but still not right. The motor smoothes out at 1100 rpm, hence the vacuum test CCR requested to have performed by a different shop (my mechanic did a visual inspection for vacuum leak). To me it would seem that if it's a common denominator then it would be similar problems? I find it interesting that you guys come up with things that neither my mechanic nor CCR come up with. I'm not doing this blind or by myself. My goal here is to have a good remanufactured motor. I have no interest in causing CCR (or myself) extra grief for any reason. I simply need a reliable remanufactured motor....period. Having this wagon out of service is costing me money daily! Mal