Asante

Hi What other info did the previous owner give you? Why hadn't the car been fixed Before the sale? Also did you change the crankshaft key yourself? What happened when the key came off during driving? Was it a quick sudden stop? Any sounds in the engine while the car was coming to a stop? Lastly is the car standard? Turbo? Any mods?

Yes it is the intercooler pipe that's leaking, planning to fit a bigger intercooler while the momentums up. The budget has been violated big time! But she's in good Working order, next is to re-do the vehicle registration to reflect the new motor. Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated!

Ok guys, new engines in, seems to be working fine...only driven it about 20 kms so far, the turbo 'hiss' is very loud in the car now, i kept the original turbo on there from my old engine, any ideas? As for the test drive with the engine cold, i agree, the engine wouldn't knock while doing a rear cradle change...not sure why the car was started in the first place...but we learn as we go along and i should keep the car keys on me if i take it in for anything that doesn't involve the engine...

Yes that is another factor, the engine importers are coming in Today to listen to the motor they supplied us with and it seems like They will replace it...I still believe there's more to it. I'll keep everyone posted And hopefully by weeks end I can upload pics of the car back on The road, where she belongs! Subaru pulled the history of my Vehicle and also informed me that there was never anything wrong With my engine since I always take it there for services and checks So how the mechanics on changing the rear crossmember managed To get the engine to knock, is beyond all the guys who know My vehicle!

That is an idea, I'm sure the new engine has been standing for a really long time We haven't run it hard or even driven the car to give it a chance to settle, what I'll do is drive The vehicle to a petrol station, put some fuel, and drive it back to the workshop And if it still sounds like garbage that's that. Will advise once this is done... There is another fuel filter which I also would like to swap and refill the tank with high octane Fuel. The new engine hasn't been let to run for 10 mins so let's just see. Hope that's The solution, also the MFI could be the problem....

The plug wires, would there be any physical signs to look for Maybe on the wires? I am going to ask the guys to change that too. Another question is, if the trial and error takes a while, it is possible To damage the engine, correct? My other option is to let them put in another motor, I paid for a new engine And they might've got a bad one, I wait till I get what I paid for, which is A servicable vehicle. They have 3 days to put in a new engine and the price Was already agreed to so I'm not paying another cent, it sounds harsh But they quoted me a price including labour to get the vehicle running I've paid for the parts, now they must replace the engine at their own cost Cos if it turns out they bought a faulty motor, I can't be held accountable. I will get a Subaru mech to take a look in a few hours seeing as it could Be a host of issues. Fingers crossed...

Hi Doug The noise starts at about 2000rpm but we haven't run it much in fear of damaging The engine...the old engine ran perfectly till I took it in for the rear suspension fix, now its A nightmare...I somehow wish you guys were with the car. It could be the engine itself but Thing is to get a 3rd engine to check is a timely and costly option. If its something else Then I guess I have 2 EJ20 motors that can run perfectly...I will start with the fuel, then ECU And maybe check that when reconnecting the lot the flywheel mountings were conncted properly. I drove the old engine a bit and the sound definitely increases when the engine is under load, Its quiet when just coasting on the throttle, ignition timing is a factor here as well...what's the best Way to start checking stuff, and in the process eliminate improbable causes?

Hi Bill Thanks for that, I too assume it must be something other than both engines I will get Subaru to diagnose the ECU, I do recall passing by a gas station about 20 kms before Taking the car in, ithe tank was empty and I only added about 8 litres as it was heading To get the rear crossmember changed, and I planned to fill it up once it was fixed. I mentioned that it could just be bad fuel but the guys don't take me seriously, they insist I Need a new motor, which is not viable. The new engine started up first time, ran a bit, then started pinging Like the old motor, so I'll tell the guys to swap fuel filters, drain the tank, top it up and let it run. The subaru diagnostic to engine metallic knock states either *loose flywheel mounting bolts *damaged engine mounting *wrong spark plug *improper gasoline. so, refuell her and change fuel filter, Then diagnose the ECU. I've heard another scoobie with an engine knoc and it sounded terrible, Here its more of a pinging and I actually hope its fuel starvation or pre detonation We'll see tomorrow, the car starts with one crank and if left to idle there is no knock, only when rpm increases I hope this helps a bit more with diagnosing the problem. 2 different engines, same symptoms...its blowing my mind.

To explain, the engine was a complete unit with its own turbo and intake manifold. It was a matter of lifting the old engine out, dropping in the new one, and reconnecting All the cables and stuff, the old motor is not in the vehicle. So could this be symptoms Of an ECU that's stuffed? Or maybe the pinging is from something loose within the drivetrain?

It is highly unlikey it's the engines, or maybe its just bad luck, but I paid good money For the replacement engine knowing it would solve the issue. Ok, after the full engine change the car started with initial start with no problems. The knocking started after a few seconds, the engine was fine initially. The sound Is like a light tapping, that is consistent with rpm, inside the vehicle you must Turn off the music and open the windows to hear it above any ambient sound, but it is Loud (in comparison to what sounds I'm used to out of the motor) there isn't any vibration As such, the engine turns on, is quiet, then seems like something takes over and it starts making The knocking sound, its non existant below 2000rpm but beyond there its evident. On both engines! And if I do record a sound I'm assuming it would have to be with a mic placed above and dead centre Of the engine block? Would removing the rear differential and reinstalling it incorrectly somehow cause the sound? The workshop is not a subaru workshop however they only work with Subaru's, but I am in doubt and Maybe I need to get an actual subaru tech to listen to that noise. I will do that first thing in the morning. What bugs me most is that the vehicle had no engine trouble before at all, until that rear crossmember was replaced Now its a mess...

My original engine was standard, the one they replaced it with is also A standard engine. No mods as far as I know. Could it be something as simple As the wrong fuel or bad fuel? The car had no history of engine problems Before I took it in for a replaced rear crossbar so I'm very Suspicious but I need the car functioning. Any ideas anyone? I drove the car into the workshop with a sound engine, and Subaru themselves serviced The car 2 months ago with no major recommendations or sugestions of a critical Engine meltdown in the near future...and 2 engines giving identical symptoms???

Its a 5 speed manual, the engine block was replaced with the other one

Hi guys, I need some serous help. I have a GC8A WRX fully imported from japan, full Jap Spec everything in it. I've had it for a year and a half. A while back I slid into a curb and damaged the right rear suspension, everything was replaced and all went well. I noticed the alignment was getting worse after 6 months and after close inspection I was told that the rear crossmember (cradle) was bent. Since the car is Jap spec the parts are totally different so I arranged a replacement part. After the part was replaced (which involves removing the rear diff), on collection Of the vehicle I was informed that the engine had a knocking sound. It was the fst I've ever heard of it as the car has been totally reliable and I drove it into the workshop with a running engine. I was told to buy a new engine, which I did. A week later and a new engine later, the imported EJ20 was in, I was present when it was started for the first time, about 30 seconds in, the engine developed a knock too!!! Now I can't buy a 3rd engine, financially its killer! But any ideas why this would happen twice? I have ideas for the guys in the workshop but I need some help please...I've driven Subarus for 6 years now and never any problems. Could it be incorrect fuel added by the agent? Faulty knock sensor? Rear cranckshaft/drivetrain refitted incorrectly? Spark plugs? ECU? Water in the fuel tank? The knocking occurs exactly as with the replaced engine, at 2000rpm and I know the engine was replaced I witnessed everything... Pls assist me...