BGrahamer21 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Im looking for some advice from someone with a little more mechanical experience than myself. I was on the highway on my way home last Sunday when I was forced to slow down for an accident. After passing the accident I tried to get up to speed and seemed to have had lost all power in my car with no forewarning, engine lights, etc. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road and had my car towed to the nearest available mechanic (subaru dealership). After $160 diagnostic they determined that my turbo was shot and the engine had given too VVT codes showing oil starvation despite routine oil changes and required services on my car. I have since read about all sorts of problems with the turbos on this generation of legacy associate with the banjo bolt/filter etc. Bottom line is I love my car, but they are asking for 2300 to replace and install the new turbo with the catch being that they say the there is high probability that even after fixing the turbo my engine might be completely shot from metal shavings that may or may not have entered into the engine when the turbo blew. If that did happen they quoted me at 12000 to fix the turbo and engine. Anyway, I have a friend who has a turbo off a 2008 WRX (14411AA710) and he seems to think I can use it as a direct replacement. Does anyone know whether or not thats a possibility? or does anyone have a replacement turbo that I could buy! or suggestions of which turbos to replace mine with? Open to suggestions! I don't want to write off my baby just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus_Colorado Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I replaced a turbo recently, actually just replaced the CHRA and it is holding up fine. but the previous one wasn't too bad. All my screens were clean and the engine is running nice. Should be compatible with the following: 08+ Impreza WRX 05-06 Legacy GT/Limited 09+ Forester 2.5XT 05-06 Outback XT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Depending on how the turbo went, it might have already contaminated the oil, which means you can expect that you'll need a new shortblock soon, anyway. $2300 is stupid for a turbo replacement. Look under your hood, you'll see how easy it is to replace. Granted, they're also charging you full price for a new VF40 (~$1100), plus labor. Your friend's 08WRX has a VF52, which is also a very fine choice, but you'll need a tune to run that turbo on your car. It's not plug-n-play. 12k is also really high to replace engine and turbo. I did a rebuild to Stage2 for $7500, and that was with quite a few nice parts added in along the way. The dealership's quote there is to basically get you back to stock, and, quite honestly, for 12k, you could buy another LGT. First things first, remove your car from the dealership's possession, post haste. Curse their name and forget they exist. They will do you no good. Second, hop into the regional forums and find out where folks take their cars in your area. Find a good independent shop that specializes in Subarus. Not just Japanese/Import cars, Subarus Only. Third: Read my Engine Rebuild Shopping List and Rebuild thread to find out what's in store for you. Fourth: Call your bank/CU and secure a decent LOC. #YNANSB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piggylover1985 Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 If you are going to replace the turbo, drop the oil pan and clean it up really good. Drain and fill the oil a few times wouldn't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BostonLGT Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 If you are really concerned about metal in the oil, and you have not done an oil change since the loss of power incident, send a sample of oil to blackstone labs or another vendor that will examine your oil. They can determine if there are shards of metal in your oil or not. Unfortunately, this recently happened to me too. I have the 07MY with a VF46, but the turbo still died. I am looking at around $9k (very rough estimate) to do it right at a local Subie shop. Things you need to learn quickly if you're planning on keeping this car: 1. NEVER go to the dealer for service 2. Find a local Subie Specialist on this forum 3. Either check banjo screens at every OC or have the screens removed completely 4. Check oil level at every fill up, these cars use up oil due to their H4 design And in your case, don't replace the engine OR the turbo. Do BOTH or you are just wasting your money. Also, check with Max Capacity about fuel system requirements for the VF52. I believe you may need at least an upgraded fuel pump, but don't quote me on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 OP hasn't returned yet. . . Wonder if he read our replies, found out how much it's gonna cost and has slit his wrists or /'d himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BostonLGT Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 OP hasn't returned yet. . . Wonder if he read our replies, found out how much it's gonna cost and has slit his wrists or /'d himself. Easy Tris, don't scare them off just yet. When you broke the SB news to me it took me a while to lower my blood pressure and come back for more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gex Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 08 wrx turbo is the td-04. They didn't get the vf52 till 09... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Easy Tris, don't scare them off just yet. When you broke the SB news to me it took me a while to lower my blood pressure and come back for more. When I got the news, I took it better than I thought I would, but, once I started adding things up and looking at another $7k, I started freaking out a bit, especially since I was looking at the end of one job and no prospect for another on the horizon. I drove on a blown HG for a little more than a year. Stopping to let it cool down, or refill the turbo coolant tank from the nearly overflowing reservoir as I went. But then I got creative, started shopping around. . . Things started to seem more manageable. I put a plan together, had a few hurdles to overcome, and in the end, I made it happen and though it's not as awesome as I imagined, my life is better for having triumphed over this adversity. I firmly believe that doing one's own work and taking control of task and turning the key for the first time is a very big accomplishment that bolsters a man's self-worth and sense of self-reliance and is worth more than just the end result of a running car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 There's also the thought about letting the experts do what they do best. OP, if you came back here, find a good local shop as said above. Let us know what you can do yourself. Some things are easy, others more difficult, but we have the know how here, just ask. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGrahamer21 Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hey Gents, Thanks for everybody's input so far. Definitely a big pill to swallow since I am fresh out of college and looking for work as well. I'm honestly hoping to get away with just swapping the turbo and flushing the engine and oil lines/screens out multiple times cause I certainly don't have the cash flow to fix the engine itself at the moment. As much as it pains me to say my car has been sitting at a friends family farm south of town here for almost a week now while I figure out what to do. If I can get her up and running I might consider selling it and getting into a newer model of subie. As you all know, she's worth jack squat at present. Possibly an eighth or tenth of her value before the turbo kicked the bucket. Anyways, I might consider trying to do some of the work myself. But FML haha. Also......as far as the 08 turbo on my buddies WRX. There doesn't seem to be a unanimous opinion one way or another on whether it will work. I'll attach pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 A TDO4 will work great -- no tune needed! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumblespec Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 Once you do swap that TDO4 in Make sure to remove those darn banjo filters. From the stuff I've seen in the forums, the banjo bolts with the filters still on is like running in a minefield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybird2013 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I'm rooting for you bud! Hope that turbo didn't spit metal through your engine, and you dodged the dreaded ynansb. I'm about two weeks out from my rebuild that's coming up. I'm looking at $6600, which does not include the turbo or the protune after break in. I have one of JmP's custom built VF40's plus a good number of other parts I'm contributing to the build. 8k easily!!! In your shoes, I would get that oil analysis from blackstone and go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmP6889928 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Banjo filters=One of Subaru's MOST stupid mistakes...and there are one HELL OF A LOT to choose from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGrahamer21 Posted March 19, 2015 Author Share Posted March 19, 2015 Boys!! I must be the luckiest S.O.B alive!! Had the turbo swapped out over the weekend. Not a trace of metal in the oil pan or intercooler. The turbines on the blown turbo were still intact completely. The shaft that connected them however was snapped so they were no longer turning at all once it went. Flushed the oil about 4 times for safe measure and will probably go ahead with another flush in 1000 km but looks like for now she's back in business and on the road. Thanks to all of you for the good advice and support!! With everything in it cost me about 1000 to fix! Much better than the 12K quoted by the lovely dealership! One more question for you guys. What would an 05 LGT be worth with about 190Km on it if I was looking to sell and move into a newer model!? It's body is basically mint and now that the turbos golden again the engine is completely sound and well maintained otherwise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttnio Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 190K on a second turbo ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex0856 Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 He said 190km, or 118k miles. I personally don't see a need to sell it if it truly is running well. But we all know how that goes... Is it a sedan or wagon? Limited trim? Auto or manual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGrahamer21 Posted March 19, 2015 Author Share Posted March 19, 2015 Sedan. Manual transmission. Not limited trim unfortunately. And I might still keep it ...I haven't decided yet. A lot of money into it recently though. New rubber, brakes and rotors, timing belt, wheel bearings, fuel injectors, turbo etc.... And yea, 118k miles for all of you guys south of the border. I know a lot of it is just routine maintenance but its one of those do I sell her now that everything's running smoothly and get into something a little newer with warranty or keep driving it until it's worth absolutely nothing and the next bombshell goes off!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGrahamer21 Posted March 19, 2015 Author Share Posted March 19, 2015 I'll post pictures when I'm back home to give you all a better idea. Working up North for the next 10 days or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex0856 Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 How many miles have you put on it? The problem is, you're right in that gray-area blown engine territory, assuming the previous owner took care of it the "normal way". Here's what I would do if I were you: Get a compression and leakdown test to get a good idea of engine health. If the numbers come back strong, you could easily see lots of life left in the car. Then I'd proceed to do all the mods required for maximum reliability. These include: Running the right oil and filter in your car Replacing the up pipe with a catless up pipe Getting a Stage 1 tune, since the factory tune runs lean and this is a huge contributor to why these engines go bad Remove banjo filters Price wise, you're looking at a couple hundred bucks here plus labor. I'm quoting prices in USD. As for selling, I dunno...like 6-7k? Again, USD. That'd be my estimation. The new turbo helps but not that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
typrice Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 OP so far so good? Whats the update? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayInVA Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 OP so far so good? Whats the update? He ded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BostonLGT Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 OP so far so good? Whats the update? Notice Post #20... He's out of range for a few more days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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