Ongoing Subaru Maintenance Saga

"Long Live the Longdoor" (victoryred08)
12/16/2018 at 17:30 • Filed to: Subaru Fun

Been a while since I’ve posted but thought I might chime in with our ongoing Subaru Service drama... (longish rant inbound )

So, for the past year and a half or so our Forester has been having an issue burning oil (oil light comes on when down one liter of oil ) and we were able to get three oil tests within a 6month period by our Subaru dealer (Subaru requires this before they look at any results ). So our dealer sends over the results and Subaru Canada says it’s within the tolerances of what it considers to be burning oil and agrees to a short block replacement. Great, we have ~15k kms left on our powertrain warranty and we’re happy this is being covered (as the dealer says it’d cost ~$5k to do otherwise ).

So we drop off the car to the dealer before leaving to go to England for two weeks and hope to come back to a car with a new shortblock. We get an email on the day before we return, saying that since the engine is out, we’re 10k kms from needing the spark plugs replaced and the PCV valve’s condition isn’t great, they’ll replace both with no labour cost to us; again great news and we pay the $180 for the spark plugs and PCV valve.

We get back from vacation and their service tech calls in sick ~4 days in a row and we end up needing a rental (paid for by the dealer ), a bit of a pain but no big deal.

A week later, we get the car back. Within 24 hours, we discover that the car shakes after sitting for a few seconds at idle (which it’d never done in the past ) . We take it back to the dealer the next day and they say that they’ll look at it and I can pick it up at the end of the day. I call them at 4:45pm (15 min before close ) and service person #1 tells me that the car is ready to be picked up, I inquire about what the issue is and he says he’ll need to check with the other service person, service person #2 gets on the phone and says something about an alternator belt tensioner and cites that it might not be covered under the powertrain warranty but she’ll need to check on that and/or if there’s a recall for it (nothing has been done on the vehicle yet ) . She says that the car can be picked up and driven without issue, she also says that this apparently isn’t something that would be caused from the short block replacement they did. She also says she’ll call me Friday (the next day ) with more info on whether this is covered under the powertrain warranty (she thinks it isn’t though ) or if there’s a recall. I pick up the car and drive it home.

Friday passes and service person #2 emails me the paperwork for the shortblock replacement (she was behind when we picked it up and had said she’d be emailing the paperwork) but no phone call. I email her explaining our concerns and that we understand they’re swamped but would appreciate an answer early next week.

Saturday, I notice the car hesitates a bit when trying to start but I think I might be being a little extra sensitive to everything given what’s happened.

Sunday, we go to leave to get groceries and the Subaru won’t start, I tried turning it over several times (chug chug chug, nothing ) , waiting different intervals of time after each try, just in case. I’m able to finally coax it to life after adding a bit of throttle when tried to turn it over but the RPMs steadily start climbing (I wasn’t on throttle ) , I turn it off once it hits 2000 RPM . We park it.

Tomorrow, we’re going in to the dealer to hand them the keys and get them to fix w/e is happening and quite frankly don’t think we should be paying for any of it, but we’ll see where get with that.

DISCUSSION (30)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 18:16

What a nightmare. Document everything (sounds like you have been).

TheRealBicycleBuck > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 19:28

That sucks. Subaru did a short block on my WRX after they overfilled it with oil. They didn’t put the inner-fender in properly, so that popped off and we ran over it. Of course, they didn’t accept the blame.

DipodomysDeserti > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 19:28

I’ve never done a short block replacement on a Subie, but you do have to remove pretty much everything in order to swap the block, so the belt tensioner would have been messed with. However, I couldn’t imagine a belt tensioner causing the engine to shake the vehicle. It usually just causes the belt to slip.

Also, PCV’s are just one way air valves. They either work or they don’t. It’s on the top of the engine on a Forester, so having the engine out doesn’t make much of a difference for replacement. And the retail price for a PCV and spark plug set for a Forester is around $70. Sounds like your service dept is a bit sketchy. Good luck.

Captain of the Enterprise > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 20:42

I like Subaru vehicles but this kinda stuff scares me away every time I’m shopping.

mincz > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 21:49

I’ve heard people have oil consumption problems with the new Impreza/Crosstrek engine. Subaru just can't get their shit together

Stacey C > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 22:24

I had trouble idling after a recent visit to the dealer for a new head gasket ( !) . I guess if the battery is disconnected , the Forester can “forget” how to idle. It is a simple fix but it almost left me dead in the middle of the street one snowy morning.

ThatGuy1134 > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 22:42

If they are replacing the engine, why would you have to pay for new spark plugs and a PCV valve? I cannot believe that a new or rebuilt engine would not come with new plugs.

shop-teacher > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 22:43

That's infuriating!

Long Live the Longdoor > Captain of the Enterprise
12/16/2018 at 22:50

Ya, I’m not going to lie, given the last month of dealing with these issues and the dealership, I’d serious consider never buying a Subaru again. Great product for the first 4 years, until this happened; we’ll see if they can make it right or if we cut our loses and move to something else.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Long Live the Longdoor
12/16/2018 at 22:55

I had the short block done on our outback about 2 years ago an haven’t had a single issue since, other than 30k later it’s starting to burn oil again. Our dealer also did this service over 2 days, they do a lot of short bl ocks so they are pretty good at it.

EastLABoy > shop-teacher
12/17/2018 at 03:41

This exact same thing happened to our 2014 Forester last year. They replaced the short block twice and after the second time they somehow forgot to properly fill the gear oil on the transfer case.... causing the vehicle wheels to lock while my wife was driving it the following day we picked up the dealer. It caused the vehicle to almost flip and my wife was in an accident. We opened a claim with Subaru of America, who within 48 hrs determined it was a lemon and reimbursed us the purchase price. We still hired an attorney and are going after the dealer. We also have a 2012 Subaru Impreza and at 80,000 miles it needed to get the transmission solenoid replaced. The 100,000 class action warranty covered it. At 90,000 miles w e’re now thinking of selling the car since once it hits 100k miles the transmission warranty ends and we don't want to risk it. I just leased a 2019 Nissan Leaf and got $12,500 from federal and state rebates and pay no gas or oil services, ever!! After purchasing 4 Subarus my family has moved on from them. I advise you do the same.

EastLABoy > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 03:44

This exact same thing happened to our 2014 Forester last year. They replaced the short block twice and after the second time they somehow forgot to properly fill the gear oil on the transfer case.... causing the vehicle wheels to lock while my wife was driving it the following day we picked up the dealer. It caused the vehicle to almost flip and my wife was in an accident. We opened a claim with Subaru of America, who within 48 hrs determined it was a lemon and reimbursed us the purchase price. We still hired an attorney and are going after the dealer. We also have a 2012 Subaru Impreza and at 80,000 miles it needed to get the transmission solenoid replaced. The 100,000 class action warranty covered it. At 90,000 miles we’re now thinking of selling the car since once it hits 100k miles the transmission warranty ends and we don’t want to risk it. I just leased a 2019 Nissan Leaf and got $12,500 from federal and state rebates and pay no gas or oil services, ever!! After purchasing 4 Subarus my family has moved on from them. I advise you do the same.

Captain of the Enterprise > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 05:13

Yeah part of the problem for me is I don’t see myself ever being able to afford a new car so I’d be buying a used one probably out of warranty. Which is why I’ve owned a 2005 Toyota Corolla and a 2011 Toyota Camry. Both used and both pretty solid.

Bob > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 05:38

Could be as simple as a throttle body cle aning and relearn based on your description. This is common on drive by wire Subarus when the battery is disconnected or codes are cleared. Leads to a low almost stalling idle and occasionally hard starts. Secondary info:. Unless you were really chugging oil, I honestly recommend performing regular maintenance and living with it. An engine built in a flat rate shop environment is not preferable to a slight oil user that was built in the factory. Not to mention a large number end up burning oil after the short block install.

StrangeRover > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 07:12

Sounds like they connected something in correctly. That sounds like symptoms of a vacuum leak or unmetered air being drawn into the engine. It probably will set a “check engine light” fault if it continues. They had to disturb an awful lot of bits to do that job. You didn’t say what year it was, but if the timing belt/chain was installed “off a tooth, ” that would cause running problems. Either way, it's on them. Get a hold of Subaru corporate and demand a resolution...even if it requires visiting a different Subaru store.

Andrew Golding > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 08:17

Those issues sound like engine timing. I would pay an independent shop for a diagnosis because it sounds like your dealership won't take responsibility. Hopefully they didn't just ruin the new pistons and the old cylinder heads.

shop-teacher > EastLABoy
12/17/2018 at 09:18

I’m guessing you meant to reply to the original poster, so I’m pulling you out of the grey so they can see it.

Stopcryingyoubaby > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 10:39

Things break after they’ve been touched, it happens sometimes. Anyone on here who’s built an engine knows this well. Sounds like you’re using this post to cry instead of just calling Subaru of Canada and getting it squared away. It’s all clearly things that should b e repaired under the same warranty claim that did the engine. Bring it to a different dealer if you have to. I expected an actual issue with Subaru when I opened this post :rollseyes:

Ryan Carman > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 11:08

Yo, you have a shit dealer, unfortunately it sounds like you need to ride it out with them...

Aside from the replacement short block itself, and I agree it shouldn’t have needed replacing at that age. Every other issue is dealer related and NOT really within Subaru’s control.

Ryan Carman > TheRealBicycleBuck
12/17/2018 at 11:10

Subaru didn’t do the short block, your local dealership did.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Ryan Carman
12/17/2018 at 11:12

S emantics. Subaru paid for the work when the dealership screwed up, yet they (both subaru and the dealer) will not pay for the inner fender.

Neelm3 > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 12:55

I am a SA at an Acura dealer, we have also have something like this going on on some cars, pistons and rings r eplacement. Depending on your dealership service dept. They should do right by you, we always try to. As frustrating as it can be, if you flip out on the advisor they will be less inclined to go the extra mile to help you out. We are people too after all.. hope it gets resolved quickly for you. The tech may have no connected something properly.. who knows.. good luck.

Neelm3 > Neelm3
12/17/2018 at 12:57

Also switch oil while you're at it after the repair. 0w20 is probably the cause of the issue.. that's my own personal opinion.

10001010 > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 13:34

My WRX used to exhibit these same symptoms any time the battery was disconnected, which it definitely would have been to swap out the short block. The ECU needs to relearn how to idle the engine and for whatever reason the dealerships don’t do this, ever, even after taking it back to them twice and hinting at what they need to do. The good news it’s really easy to do yourself in your driveway. This post walks you through it:

https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f113/how-idle-re-learn-after-battery-disconnect-154161/

KaMaCo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/17/2018 at 13:54

Agree with above comment in regards to documenting. My o wn exp erience ended with my new Subaru being labeled a Lemon@ 4500 mikes due to engin e issues , but not after a mound of paperwork. Sorry for your fru stration.

dogisbadob > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 14:55

Blown head gaskets. It’s what makes a Subaru a Subaru :p

Japanese Leyland? Fix it again, Yoshi!

All that plus a thirsty AWD you can’ t turn off

B/Xmrrmvr > Long Live the Longdoor
12/17/2018 at 16:55

I forget, are you the guy who got the Forrester after getting a lemon Hyundai?

Long Live the Longdoor > Captain of the Enterprise
12/17/2018 at 18:10

Ya, I don’t think I’d roll the dice on a used Subaru. A used Toyota, yup.

Long Live the Longdoor > B/Xmrrmvr
12/17/2018 at 18:13

Nope, had a lemon Chevy Cruze that we traded in for the Forester.

Captain of the Enterprise > Long Live the Longdoor
12/18/2018 at 08:56

Toyota, the makers of the finest used vehicles