The Subaru SVX World Network   SVX Network Forums
Live Chat!
SVX or Subaru Links
Old Lockers
Photo Post
How-To Documents
Message Archive
SVX Shop Search
IRC users:

Go Back   The Subaru SVX World Network > SVX Main Forums > Technical Q & A

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-02-2004, 08:08 PM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
Help!: Good mechanic in San Jose?

I'm visiting in San Jose, CA, and my SVX is making a knocking noise from the front of the engine while idling. I called my mechanic, and he thinks it could be that the oil pump is going since the noise seems to stop or lessen when I give it gas. Does anyone know of a reliable mechanic in this area?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-03-2004, 11:09 AM
nordique14's Avatar
nordique14 nordique14 is offline
Who watches the watchmen?
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Posts: 642
Hi Brian,

Do not take your car to Stevens Creek Subaru (in Santa Clara). Their prices are high and they do not do good work. If you think you can make it 30 miles to Santa Cruz, head down to Subaru Santa Cruz. 831-420-1500 Mark, Bruce and Ben will treat you well.

Matt
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-03-2004, 01:14 PM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
Thanks, Matt, but I've already had to take action. My car completely broke down last night. There was a ping, and the engine shut off. Luckily I was close enough to coast to friend's driveway. I had it towed to an independent garage called Towsend's Automotive. It's on Coleman, near the airport. I'm there now, waiting for the diagnosis.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-03-2004, 01:37 PM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
I just got the (partial diagnosis). It's really bad. The crank shaft is broken. There may be broken rods and other damage. It will be Monday before they can take a more in depth look, and the job probably won't be finished until the end of the week. So I'm stranded in San Jose till then. I don't even want to think about the cost.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-03-2004, 01:38 PM
Earthworm's Avatar
Earthworm Earthworm is offline
Meow!
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 11,957
Send a message via ICQ to Earthworm Send a message via AIM to Earthworm Send a message via MSN to Earthworm Send a message via Yahoo to Earthworm Send a message via Skype™ to Earthworm
That's the first I've ever heard of a crankshaft breaking on an SVX.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-03-2004, 01:43 PM
shelfy's Avatar
shelfy shelfy is offline
I have a problem. :(
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 8,485
Send a message via AIM to shelfy Send a message via Yahoo to shelfy
Registered SVX
bad deal, brian.
__________________
Kenneth

1997 Subaru SVX LSi "Svetlana" #185 of 640 - 09/1996 - Polo Green Pearl - 34k miles

1992 Subaru SVX LS-L "Everett" #8738 - 01/1992 - Ebony Pearl - 139k miles - 5MT shifty - Sold 07/31/2011

1992 Subaru SVX LS-L "Sven" #1599 - 05/1991 - Claret - 168k miles - Traded 05/11/2005


2023 Subaru Crosstrek Limited CVT - Crystal White Pearl - 2.8k miles
2021 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited CVT - Horizon Blue Pearl - 17k miles
2023 Volkswagen Jetta S 6MT - Pure White - 2.6k miles
2020 Hyundai Ioniq Limited EV - Ceramic White - 30k miles
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-03-2004, 01:46 PM
Earthworm's Avatar
Earthworm Earthworm is offline
Meow!
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 11,957
Send a message via ICQ to Earthworm Send a message via AIM to Earthworm Send a message via MSN to Earthworm Send a message via Yahoo to Earthworm Send a message via Skype™ to Earthworm
I'd be a bit skeptical and get a second opinion.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-03-2004, 02:09 PM
dcarrb dcarrb is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: none
Posts: 3,430
Quote:
Originally posted by Earthworm
I'd be a bit skeptical and get a second opinion.
And I'll second that skepticism. "Ping" and the engine stops strikes me as too meek for a major failure of internal engine parts. I'd think you'd get one hell of a shudder and death rattle if the crank or rods went.

(Surely they ruled-out a broken timing belt...)

dcb
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-04-2004, 03:24 PM
gl1674 gl1674 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 313
Quote:
(Surely they ruled-out a broken timing belt...)
Absolutely - not enough money in timing belt changing business, whole engine replacement is much more lucrative.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-04-2004, 03:51 PM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
You guys may be right, but I'm in a real bind here. I already had AAA tow it to that garage. They generally only tow once per break down. Of course paying for a tow may be worth it. Townsend Automotive said the repair could cost as much as $2500 or maybe even more! (And I've just quit my job!) It may not even be done by Friday. Actually, since Monday's a holiday, they won't get around to starting it till Tuesday. Just for pulling the oil pan, checking the crankshaft, and replacing the seal, they've estimated the price at about $400. (That's planned for Tuesday.) If they find that there are broken rods, they'll have to take the head off and pull the engine. They said it is a too time-consuming job to charge an hourly labor rate.

The friend who I was staying with has a friend whose father or uncle is a mechanic at a Subaru dealership. Maybe that's worth checking out. My friend is now out of the county for weeks, so I don't know where I'll be staying, maybe I can stay with one of his friends. Even my access to the Internet is limited. I've rented a car and driven to visit friends in southern California for Labor Day weekend since nothing is being done to my SVX. I really wish I had a better option than leaving it where it is or towing it all the way to Santa Cruz, where I really don't know anyone.

My last car's death was due to the fact that it had thrown a rod. That made a similarly patterned sound, but much, much louder. I was able to drive that Sunbird for a couple of days after it was diagnosed before it's engine went. That was a very loud clatter and was acompanied with a big puff of smoke out the exhaust.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-04-2004, 03:56 PM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
They did not even mention the timing belt. That occurred to me when it firt happened. I opened the hood, and did not see a broken belt haging there. Maybe the break could have been obscured from view. Since I was already thinking 'oil-pump', and it there wasn't much light, I didn't explore that as thoroughly as I could on my own.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-05-2004, 12:47 AM
gl1674 gl1674 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 313
Timing belt is hidden behind plastic belt covers, you can't see it until you take the covers off.

Stuck timing belt tensioner can make a lot of noise too. And it can make timing belt jump teeth and engine will quit...

Are there any error codes in the ECU by any chance?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 09-05-2004, 10:09 AM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
Sorry, but I don't know what the ECU is or how to read the error codes. The only error codes I know about are for the A/C. Is the ECU the car's internal computer? If so, then I'm assuming it's something I ca't read. I don't have access to the car now anyways. It's at the mechanic's, which is closed for the holiday weekend.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-05-2004, 10:49 AM
Uncamitzi's Avatar
Uncamitzi Uncamitzi is offline
Member #447
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 1,902
Send a message via MSN to Uncamitzi Send a message via Yahoo to Uncamitzi Send a message via Skype™ to Uncamitzi
Registered SVX
Quote:
Originally posted by Brian
Sorry, but I don't know what the ECU is or how to read the error codes. The only error codes I know about are for the A/C. Is the ECU the car's internal computer? If so, then I'm assuming it's something I ca't read. I don't have access to the car now anyways. It's at the mechanic's, which is closed for the holiday weekend.
Brian, do what you can on Tuesday to call Santa Cruz Subaru! They are fair and may have a solution to your tow question. Even if it is a major repair you can trust that dealership to do good work and what is required.
__________________
Mitch Hansen
"uncamitzi"
This is a Dark Ride
92 Teal SVX LS-L 128K tranny swap with 4.11's
Well.. my days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle .
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-06-2004, 11:55 AM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
That's 2 votes for Santa Cruz! I'll call, but in the meantime my costs are mounting. First there was paying $130 for the rental car, and I'll probably have to extend the rental, especially if I go to Santa Cruz. Then, my rental was towed from the visitor lot at my friend's condo in southern CA, and I had to pay $245 to bail it out!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 SVX World Network
(208)-906-1122