Before buying a Subaru Many people ask the question: are these machines reliable? Will Subaru need repairs? long road, for breakdowns of which units and when to prepare? How much does it cost to repair a Forester, Legacy or Impreza? Based on our 20 years of experience repairing and tuning Subaru, we have summarized the main problems with the reliability of cars of this brand.
Radiators
Problem: Coolant leak due to the design features of the radiator. Because of this, many Subaru are heated, especially older cars.
Models: majority Subaru models any years and markets. Only cars younger than 2009 are less prone to this problem.
Solution: Radiator replacement. Mandatory preventive flushing once a year, especially if dashboard does not have a coolant temperature gauge. This is important because you can't follow elevated temperature easy, and Subaru overheating leads to costly engine repairs.
Alternative solution: installation of a non-standard all-aluminum radiator, which is comparable in price to the cost of the original. Preventive flushing is also desirable for non-original radiators.
steering rack
Problem: due to design flaws, the electric rack bearing breaks and a knock appears in the steering rack. You can ride like this for a long time, but it is very unpleasant. Hydraulic racks are also prone to breakage - this is a leak.
Models: cars manufactured 08-09 and younger (Forester, Outback, XV 2nd generation) for electric rack and all models of all years with hydraulic booster.
Solution: electric power steering - replacement of the steering rack for Subaru original. It is better to be in time under warranty, since the problem manifests itself on average with a run of 50 thousand kilometers. Hydraulic booster - Subaru steering rack repair in specialized services.
Automatic E-5AT
Problem: overheating due to aged oil leads to a deterioration in the performance of the valve body, jerks appear during switching, errors in diagnostics
Models: Subaru with big and powerful engines: e.g. Forester S-Edition and tS, Outback 3.6, Legacy 3.0, Tribeca
Solution: complete oil change in Subaru automatic transmission every 30 thousand mileage. It is enough to do this operation during the TO30 of your Subaru, and it will become a habit. The price is about 10,500 rubles, including consumables. If you ignore it, then replacing the valve body with a Subaru will cost about 100 thousand rubles in total.
Alternative solution: installation of an oil cooler for the gearbox. This solution delays oil aging and prevents Forester, Legacy and Outback automatic transmissions from overheating, but is necessary mainly for cars with increased power. In other cases, it is enough to change the oil regularly.
Knock rear pillars STI
Problem: due to the design features of the shock absorbers-shifters ( poor seal rod lubrication) rear racks in general, they remain operational for quite a long time, but the Impreza suspension knock appears. To a lesser extent, this applies to the front.
Models: STI generation GD (2000 - 2007). Subaru suspension knock occurs on other models, but not as often, and its nature is somewhat different.
Solution: Disassembly, renewal of lubricants and seals. Estimated price - about 6,000 thousand rubles per pair.
Alternative solution: insertion of grease fittings and periodic relubrication. This is a little cheaper and easier, but does not always solve the problem completely, and also requires more frequent repetition of the procedure.
EJ25 turbo engine breakdowns
Problem: because of design flaws all 255 and 257 engines are prone to overheating and destruction of pistons even on short runs - an average of 50 thousand kilometers. Depending on the severity, damage to the block heads, scuffing on the cylinder walls, destruction of the piston ring partitions is possible. high consumption Subaru oil most likely indicates an imminent breakdown of the Subaru engine.
Models: WRX, STI, Forester, Legacy - all Subaru with 2.5-liter turbo engines
Solution: polishing heads in case of slight overheating or overhaul (over 200 thousand rubles with work) / replacement of the Subaru engine if the pistons and block are damaged. It is necessary to prevent overheating (preventive flushing of the radiator is mandatory), change engine oil at least once every 5 thousand and avoid low-quality fuel. When overhauling, it makes sense to put reinforced pistons and thicker gaskets.
The destruction of the viscous coupling
Problem: because of natural wear and tear Subaru's viscous coupling locking mechanism stops working, while twitches and vibrations are felt when moving in an arc. Ignoring the replacement can also lead to damage to the Subaru gearbox.
Models: mostly WRX, but also all Subaru with manual transmission, except STI
Solution: Replacement. There are precedents for disassembling and repairing this assembly, but the effectiveness and reliability of such a solution is low.
Rear gear rumble
Problem: characteristic hum rear gear Subaru and its subsequent seizing are caused by the aging of the lubricant in it. To maximize the life of this unit, the oil should be updated every 30 thousand mileage. It is enough to do this operation during the TO30 of your Subaru, and it will become a habit. Estimated cost operations - less than 2 thousand rubles.
Models: all Subaru with all-wheel drive, mostly older cars.
Solution: replacement of a part, the cost of a “contract” unit is about 10 thousand rubles.
Some world statistics. Here's what the world's top ratings say about Subaru breakdowns. reputable American agency J.D. power studied three-year-old cars, and as a result, Subaru got a rating below the average, and the body / interior became the main problems. By the way, last year Subaru's reliability was rated as higher, as it was given an average rating.
Other Americans ( consumer reports) recommended for purchase in 2015 (the rating takes into account reliability in three main criteria) three models at onceSubaru– Impreza, Legacy and Forester won in their respective classes. And in 2014 they gave the brand 7th place in the overall ranking.
According to the European organization OCU, in the Old World Subaru cars behave better: 8th place in the list of the most reliable brands. True, after most other Japanese. Last year, the British from What Car? sent Subaru close the top ten the most reliable brands of 3-8 year old cars. And the Germans from TÜV put the Forester on 9th place in the list of the most reliable 9-10-year-olds and on 2(after Porsche 911) – among models aged 10+.
World statistics confirm the Russian one: Subaru should by no means be considered unreliable if you follow them and treat them thoughtfully. Therefore, love your Subaru, give them the right parts and service them in the right services!
From 1992 to the present day, 5 generations have appeared Subaru Impreza. These compact cars produced in hatchback, station wagon, sedan, coupe. Some models have been used in different countries as police cars. Parallel to basic model Subaru line launched Impreza WRX, and in 1994 an improved version appeared WRX STi. WRX and WRX STi - all-wheel drive sports cars, which were equipped with more powerful turbocharged engines.
Types and characteristics of Subaru Impreza engines
All installed on Subaru Impreza engines were 4-cylinder, four-stroke, horizontally opposed (H4), mostly petrol. An engine with a camber angle between the cylinders of 180° is called a boxer engine. Until 2006, they were used exclusively ICE series EJ, then the EL15 Subaru Impreza engine replaced the EJ15. Since 2012, Subaru Impreza has been equipped with FB engines. Engines of the EJ series up to 2 liters were produced with only one camshaft (SOHC), in the EJ20 and EJ25 lines there were also models with 2 camshafts (DOHC). All of them were 16-valve, that is, they had 4 valves per cylinder, some were equipped with a turbocharger. The Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STi were equipped with EJ series engines with a turbine:
- 2 l - various modifications of EJ20T - EJ20G, EJ20K, EJ205;
- 2.5L - EJ255 (US market only) and EJ277.
The EL15 is the only engine in the EL series. His distinctive features– the presence of 2 camshafts and the system active management AVCS valves. The same system is used in the FB series. It includes DOHC engines with an increased piston stroke and a reduced cylinder diameter (in the FB16 model, the stroke is 82, the diameter is 78.8 mm, in the FB20 the stroke is 90, the diameter is 84). Thanks to this, engines have become more environmentally friendly and economical.
AVCS is an efficient gas distribution technology developed by Subaru. The system controls the intake valves and regulates the position of the camshafts based on data received from a number of sensors. intake camshaft can be rotated up to 35° in the desired direction, the angle of rotation depends on the oil pressure, which regulates the control valve. At low load and Idling the opening of the valves is delayed, the higher the load, the earlier they open and the earlier they close intake valves. As a result, with the same fuel consumption, engine power is increased and emissions are reduced.
Characteristics gasoline engines Subaru Impreza
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injection system |
Peculiarities |
Application in auto Impreza |
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multipoint |
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GC1 series up to 2006 |
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multipoint |
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1993–2007 GC4 |
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carburetor with port injection or single injection |
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atmospheric boost, model EJ204 with AVCS |
1993–99 GC–GF |
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turbocharger, intercooler |
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multipoint |
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turbocharging |
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With electronic control |
turbocharged / non-turbocharged |
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Since 2006 GD, GG, GE, GH |
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Subaru Impreza's only diesel engine is the EE20, a 2-liter internal combustion engine with a capacity of 147 hp. with., DOHC, installed on 3rd generation models. This is the first experience in history of using the opposite diesel engine on passenger cars. The minimum volume of Subaru Impreza engines is 1.5 liters, the maximum is 2.5 liters. The most powerful among them is the EJ257 engine (305 hp), which was equipped with the Impreza WRX STI MY08-MY17 for the American market.
Resource and causes of breakdowns
Subaru's horizontally opposed engines are commonly referred to as "boxers" due to the specifics of the pistons' movements, they resemble the movements of the hands of rival boxers. The advantages of these internal combustion engines include high strength, good balance, minimal vibration during operation, and a resource reaching a million km. On practice Subaru engines Impreza serve without overhaul 250 thousand km or more. On the forums, you can find reviews from car owners who, for more than 300 thousand kilometers, only changed the cylinder head cover gaskets.
True, for turbocharged engines, which are designed specifically for sports cars, this does not apply. All modifications of EJ20T engines are subjected to intense loads and often need to be overhauled after 100-150 thousand kilometers, and sometimes overhaul does not help, the unit is simply not recoverable. The most reliable engines are up to 2 liters - EJ15, EJ16, EJ18. But Subaru Impreza with 2.0 engines is more popular because it is more powerful. The resource of the FB series engines, according to Subaru engineers, has been increased by 30% compared to the previous generation. The main disadvantage of the Subaru EJ and EL engines is the design features service complexity. In models of the FB line, access to the engine for maintenance is simplified, the timing chain has become maintenance-free.
Subaru Impreza engines, like any gasoline internal combustion engines suffer due to the use low-quality gasoline and oil, untimely oil changes, aggressive driving, work on maximum speed crankshaft. The inner surface of the cylinders is subject to chemical corrosion, which can be provoked by high content sulfur in gasoline, and mechanical abrasive wear (abrasive inclusions contain carbon deposits). As a result of these processes wear out faster piston rings, oil consumption increases. When using a low viscosity oil, the pistons jam, too high viscosity leads to oil starvation. Engines are demanding to warm up, especially in winter.
For engines with a volume of less than 2 liters, the 92nd gasoline is recommended, with a volume of 2 liters and more, the 95–98th. Oil must be selected according to the season in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, the optimal replacement frequency is 7.5 thousand km. For complete replacement 4 to 5 liters required engine oil, depending on engine modification. Another measure that can extend the life of the engine is installation from below. additional protection crankcase.
On Russian roads the risk of breakdown or deformation of the crankcase when hitting an obstacle is quite high, in addition, a fair amount of dirt gets into the engine. In cars Subaru Impreza regular engine protection does not always do its job. In case of damage, you can purchase a contract. They produce designs for crankcase protection and third party manufacturers. They are made of steel, alloys, composite materials. They not only protect against adverse mechanical and chemical influences, but also make it difficult for thieves to access wiring in engine compartment. When installing additional protection, it is important to choose it correctly in accordance with the modification of the body.
Different engines have characteristic weak spots and typical problems:
- V different modifications EJ20 - knock of the 4th cylinder, it occurs due to the imperfection of the cooling system. A short (2-3 minutes) knock after starting is normal. Knocking on a warm car lasting up to 10 minutes is an alarming symptom indicating the need for major repairs.
- wear, play of valve covers and camshaft seals, leading to oil leaks. If the problem is not corrected in a timely manner, the oil pressure drops, all symptoms occur oil starvation;
- in turbocharged versions - deep rings, leading to increased oil consumption;
- The models in the EJ25 line share many of the weaknesses of the EJ20, but they also have their drawbacks. Thinner walls of cylinders of increased diameter are subject to overheating, the cylinder head is often deformed, gaskets flow. In modifications of the EJ257 and EJ255, the inserts often rotate;
- in FB20, the catalyst is very vulnerable, sensitive to the quality of gasoline and oil level. In models manufactured before 2013, defects in the cylinder block are often found, and coked oil scraper rings cause increased consumption oils.
The operation of a car with a failed catalyst has detrimental consequences, faulty system cooling, untimely replacement fuel, air, oil filters, candles. Frightened by myths about the difficulty of replacing spark plugs in cars with horizontally opposed engines, owners often try to delay this moment. In fact, it is not necessary to remove or even lift the engine for this procedure, it is enough to disconnect a number of parts located on top. The process for the GC8 with EJ205 engine is shown in the video below. With old candles, the engine starts to triple, its dynamics worsens, fuel consumption and volume increase. harmful emissions eventually the motor fails.
Another problem that is not related to the engine itself is a break, displacement of its pillow (support), usually manifested by a noticeable vibration. Replacing the Subaru Impreza engine mounts is a rather expensive undertaking, but it cannot be neglected, otherwise the subsequent ICE repair will cost even more. You can save money if you can find contract engine mount V good condition. There are many models of supports, so before buying it is important to make sure that the part matches your car model.
Subaru Impreza Engine Repair
First of all, Subaru Impreza engines need to be replaced cylinder head gaskets. But it is better to buy a complete repair kit, which includes gaskets valve covers and bolts to them, pump gaskets, inlet and outlet valve stem seals. It is cheaper than purchasing consumables separately, and all these elements need to be replaced quite often. It is advisable to immediately buy tension and bypass rollers for timing belt, cylinder block and cylinder head bolts. Indigenous and connecting rod bearings, it is better to change them for preventive purposes when disassembling the engine, even if the condition is satisfactory. You can’t save on consumables, be sure to use original ones. Coked oil scraper rings for the first time, you can try to decoke, remove, clean and install again, but this is a temporary measure, it is better to replace them immediately.
What other parts need to be replaced will become clear during the disassembly of the engine. Camshaft and crankshaft journals, pistons must be measured with a micrometer to determine the degree of wear. Quite large-scale and expensive types of repairs may be needed:
- oil and water pump replacement;
- timing belt replacement;
- crankshaft replacement. You can try to resort to grinding, it eliminates scuffing, but does not help with the bending of the axis of rotation. In addition, the crankshaft may have internal cracks that are not visible, but will make themselves felt after repair;
- repair of the connecting rod and piston group - replacement of heavily worn pistons, deformed connecting rods;
- cylinder head repair. Replacing this block in most cases is not required, it is enough to grind the plane, adjust the valves, replace valve stem seals;
- boring of the cylinder block (it is not always possible to find a specialist who can perform this procedure).
Subaru Impreza engines (with the exception of those installed in WRX and WRX STi sports cars) are highly maintainable. But there are situations when, due to extremely careless operation or after an accident, the engine cannot be repaired. If the crankshaft or cylinder block needs to be replaced, repair work taking into account the cost of new components, they will cost too much, it is more cost-effective to replace the entire engine. But not everyone can afford to buy a Subaru Impreza engine when it comes to a new unit, because this is one of the most expensive units. And here is the contract engine for Subaru Impreza GG3 EJ15 cost; no more than a refurbishment.
The cost of contract units varies quite widely, it matters the engine model, the mileage of the auto donor, the condition of the motor. Sometimes the goods get to the buyer, passing through the chain of intermediaries, which also affects the price. JapZap purchases all parts at auctions in Japan, prices available through high speed and the absence of intermediaries. In addition, here you can buy with a guarantee contract engines from Japan without a run across the Russian Federation. A lot has been said about how the quality of gasoline, oil, roads, driving style affect the condition of the engine. Engines from Japanese showdowns in this regard outperform power units taken from cars that were operated in the Russian Federation or the USA.
9
Subaru Impreza, 2007
During operation Subaru car I didn’t have any breakdowns on the Impreza, I only went through MOT every 5-7 thousand km. Subaru Impreza - very nice car dynamic and comfortable at the same time. Great for winter operation thanks to all-wheel drive. The car was bought in 2008, I bought it in January 2012. At 89 thousand km, a large MOT was completed with the replacement of the timing, all fluids, etc. Further MOT took place every 6-7 thousand km. Recently passed MOT with oil and filter changes, also changed brake discs with pads. Does not require investment. Installed turbo timer.
Subaru Impreza, 2007
If you fall in love with Subaru, then this love is for life. I have it already the second, I want the third Imreza 2012. Was younger, was Forester turbo. Got older, bought an Impreza 1.5 liter with mechanics. economical car, run in - there was a dynamics. Reliable if taken care of. The cost of the service is not higher than other Japanese foreign cars of this class. In short, a super car for fans all-wheel drive and connoisseurs of handling and drive.
Subaru Impreza
on credit!
I'll tell you about my experience of owning a Subaru.
The car was purchased from official dealer- to U-service in Krylatskoye in January 2007. I chose a car on principle - up to 30-33 thousand dollars and with the understanding that I need a driver's car. As a result, there were three options left - the Impreza, the sixth Mazda and the Honda Accord.
The chord was dropped due to high hijacking - who cares, but personally I don’t need problems (even potential ones). Mazda disappeared for another reason - firstly, there are too many of them, and secondly, it seemed to me that it was less reckless than the brainchild of Subaru.
Total - January 2007, there is a desire to buy a car, but the configuration that I wanted is not available. Under the order they promise not earlier than May-June. He spat on everything and took the car in stock - the simplest equipment (no sunroof, no sports seats, no spoiler), black, 28000 + insurance costs + crankcase and rear differential protection.
What I liked right away (let me remind you that in Moscow the month of January, snowfalls and generally vile weather), is the stability on the road - I really felt like a king, in non-critical modes (it steers perfectly, very predictably and confidently), xenon in the base, and, no matter how strange salon. There are a lot of complaints about him, but I like him - modest, but very comfortable for me. Excellent, simply excellent seats, with good lateral support. The only thing I would like is a more pronounced lumbar support, but even so I don’t get enough of them. And one more thing - the Impreza has not just amazing doors - without window frames, I personally like it very much.
From the fact that immediately and really did not like - it's music in the car. Just a shame - some kind of Chinese rattle. And the U-Service sticker on the ass of the typewriter was also wildly annoying.
Calmly and slowly ran in the first 1,500 thousand kilometers, went to zero MOT in the U-service. I called on Friday evening, signed up for 11 am on Saturday, arrived, gave the machine, drank about forty minutes of coffee and voila. 2.5 thousand rubles (I can lie, but something in this area) for everything about everything. In addition, they gave me a liter of oil and a U-service jacket. In general - the most positive impressions.
The first problem appeared at the end of February. Apparently, the headlight washer nozzles are clogged and now, when washing the headlights, the rising nozzles do not fall back to the end. So far, we’ve scored on this - we’ll figure it out at the 15,000th maintenance - in three weeks.
Another problem - the trunk lock periodically wedges - the trunk opening handle from the passenger compartment does not open. You have to open it with a key. Annoying, to be honest. I also decided to make it to MOT - it’s too lazy to go to Krylatskoye.
This seems to be the end of the list of problems.
In winter I felt like a king, on dry summer roads - just confident and comfortable.
Summing up the interim results - a two-liter Subaru Impreza is a noisy, expensive, but with a poor interior car. BUT! All these shortcomings for me personally fade when an infrequent opportunity to ride "with the breeze" is issued. No, do not flatter yourself - 160 "horses" is far from a sports car, but my God, how it rulitsya, how it "writes" turns - it's just happiness. Each such trip is another not wasted day.
