thedoctor Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 I'm new and I'm here because I need to be with people who can think. I just spent the past three days dealing with "mechanics" at my local Subaru dealership. I had my 1983 DL 1.8 towed there with a no-start problem. These guys had nothing to plug their computer into. They said there is nobody working here who was around when these kind of cars were on the road! Excuse me, I thought I was bringing my car to THE source of knowledge about Soobies. I finally got them to think a little outside the box and actually test a few things. After they replaced the coil and the new coil still didn't generate spark, they hit upon the pick up coil as possibly the problem. They did work with me and let me procure my own rebuilt distributor. I'm back on the road, but I will definintely be avoiding the dealership. (I think they all secretly enjoyed the thinking though... at one point four of the mechanics were "donating their time" trying to figure out this ancient machine. So that's my hello to the community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstaru Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 you came to the right place.......oh by the way,there not THAT hard to work on yourself...lol.welcome,please fasten your seatbelt,keep your tray in it's upright position, sit back , and learn..........thats what i been doing:brow: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenTBK Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 First off, welcome to USMB! You'll find that theres plenty of info to be found all over the board as well as plenty of helpful folks to give you gentle kicks in the butt to get you in the right direction. #2, you'll find that plenty of us have the same feelings about the Subaru dealers. It seems they've completely forgotten where they came from, and refuse to recognize their past when its staring them in the face. I've gone to my local dealership for parts in my Brat, and I've have numerous new sales guys ask me if that "thing" I drive is a Subaru. "No, I'm just here to use the can and raid the snack machine." Again, welcome to the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahag1978 Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 You're first mistake was assuming that the "mechanics" at the Subaru dealerships are familiar with Subarus... they are familiar with diagnostic computers... and if the computer can't give them the answer, then there is none. The members of this board know the answers... just explain in good detail... they'll figure it out! Believe me on that! Good luck! Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLCraig Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 The thing with dealerships is the mechanics who work there tend to get burned out after only a few years. So for the most part you're only going to see mechanics who are familiar with the newer subarus. You're best bet is to find a local repair shop the specializes in Subarus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudduck Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Speaking of local shops that deal with subarus and only subarus, if you are in Colorado, around Golden, there is a place called the mobile mechanic. This guy has been working on subys since the mid seventie's and knows his stuff!!! He is the only one any of my subys would go to if i could't fix them my self. Its to bad i am not in colorado any more. I don't think i would find a shop like that in North Carolina. I have only seen one other older subaru on the road here since i moved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. RX Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 1983, there are people on this board who weren't even born yet in 1983. But yes, you have come to the right place, there are a few of us fossils here too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealleyboy Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Hey Doc: That's f-ing hilarious!! Every time I drive my 93 Loy to the dealer, all these guys with bad ties come out and gawk at my "classic". One dude was amazed that they actually stored the spares in the engine compartment on those older Subes. The Puegeot alloys with Subaru centercaps always throw them for a curve too.. Problem is that "real" mechanics are few and far between. Not only with Subes, but across all makes. Truth is, a lot of the amature Sube derelicts on this Board know more about their cars than the ASE mechanics working at the dealers. Your best bet is learn as much as about these cars yourself and eliminate the hassles and frustrations of dealing with incompetants at the shop. These are relatively easy cars to work on, and they are cheap and forgiving. Perfect if you have interest, motivation, and a screw (or two) loose... good luck, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 What's up Doc? Welcome to the board. you've discovered problem solving at its best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tizzle Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 I like getting, "A RX, I've never heard of that" from the parts guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstaru Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 my favorite is getting::::::why would you lift that????with a smirk i say ,cause it can out drive your dodge pickup, or ford or whatever....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Welcome to the board, you have come to the right place! When I inquired about getting taller pistons from an EA71 engine to put in my EA82, the dealer parts guy said, "Huh, they really are interchangable?" People on this board have been interchanging those pistons for years. Once I did talk to a dealership guy that was impressed with my lifted Subaru, so they're not ALL bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nug Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 I like getting, "A RX, I've never heard of that" from the parts guy Yeah, that one gets old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subeman90 Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Please tell us which dealer this was that didn't do so well with the 83. I like to keep things like this in the back of my head for refrence. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajavwnsoobnut Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Welcome to the board and I must be lucky then cause of the local Dealership (Lithia) still has the books (parts and FSM's dating back to 72) for the older (as in gen 1) cars and sometimes they do find parts! and also some of the mechanics have been there since like 1978 so they know the gen 1 vehicles very well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahag1978 Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Welcome to the board and I must be lucky then cause of the local Dealership (Lithia) still has the books (parts and FSM's dating back to 72) for the older (as in gen 1) cars and sometimes they do find parts! and also some of the mechanics have been there since like 1978 so they know the gen 1 vehicles very well I agree, I wish I were closer to them, we're as far away from each other as can be without getting our feet wet. I have bought parts from Lithia... they are very nice to deal with! They ship too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbrand Posted January 15, 2005 Share Posted January 15, 2005 My opinions..... I have only used a dealer a couple times for service, never for my ru's. Not happy with the expereinces, and i think many chain and independent shops share some-but not all-of the problems. I thinks some dealerships would just as soon not have a service dept, thier business is selling cars and the service dept is required for warenty service, and to make money off owners for things beyond warrenty. Also a handy sales tool, your car requires $3000 work of work but hey, we'll make you a special deal to trade in for our new model...... As far as actually diagnosing and fixing problems, I think there are several problems. Daignosis is the difficult part, changing parts can be (and many times is) left to the semi-skilled. One the astronomical overhead rates that force shops to skimp on truly identifying the cause and effect relationship, and also many vehicles have neglected mainatainance so the filter changes, tune-ups,belt changes, etc. that get sold are needed, and many times solve problems. Second, since computer diagnosis/fault trees are available it is used as a substitute for actual diagnosis-read the codes, replace the parts, sent the customer on thier way, only to have the codes reappear because the problem was not fixed. No codes? You dont have a problem! And esp at dealers there is no incentive to stay current on older models, agian they expect to see only the newer stuff in thier shops. I know of a dealer that is close to 100 years old that trashes all parts for models over 10 years old! Even independent shops have problems too with older cars-my 73 maverick that had the exhaust torn up on gravel roads and welded back together about 100 times, was inspected in 1986 and i was told someone had cut the catylitic converter off because they saw pipe spliced into the exhaust. Cats didnt come out until 75, but the guy wouldnt listen. Or about 10 years ago was in a shop when a guy brought in a classic car for some work, and was told the tune up had to wait until tuesday-that is when the "old retired guy" came in for a day to help them out-and only he could tune up a car with points! When in college I felt I had to do my own work, for monetary reasons. I still feel that way, for lack of trust reasons, and feel much better knowing my cars inside and out, if it has a problem after 5 on friday or 1000 moles from home. Just my opinions...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballitch Posted January 15, 2005 Share Posted January 15, 2005 I have to agree, Lithia Subaru in oregon city is awesome, i cant wit to get my conversion and lift in so i can go around to all the dealerships i know of and see which subie techs say " badass dude" and which ones say, "did the EJ22 motor come out in 1986?" ~Josh~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajavwnsoobnut Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 Yeah Especialy Capitol :-p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewDenverKid Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 HA HA:banana: Those posts are hilarious!!!!!! I'm going thru the same problems right now with my gl carb problems!!!! during the techs road test hestalled my car and couldn't get it started, he called for back-up and the 3 other techs on at the time drove out to help him. They tried for an hour to get it started to no avail!!! I show up with my cheapy Canadian Tire battery booster, stick a pen in the choke plate(flooding problem ) and let her turn over a couple times and she starts right away:grin: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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