Reliable SVX mechanic in or near New Jersey. Need help.

ChristophCobb · #1 08-03-2015, 05:58 PM

My new SVX has come up with some problems that are beyond my area of expertise and I am in need of assistance. Can someone please refer me to a reliable mechanic that you know that knows these cars and is trustworthy. There has to be one on the east coast at least relatively near me. I'm willing to drive for the right service, I also have AAA who will tow 100 miles. I live in New Egypt NJ (central Jersey). Car is leaking oil pretty good. A.c. isn't working, battery draining, and the airbag light is on. I have inspection for this car coming up and I need to have that airbag thing fixed before my 14 day period ends where I can drive around Willie nillie without an inspection sticker. Someone please help me.

Sean486 · #2 08-03-2015, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristophCobb

My new SVX has come up with some problems that are beyond my area of expertise and I am in need of assistance. Can someone please refer me to a reliable mechanic that you know that knows these cars and is trustworthy. There has to be one on the east coast at least relatively near me. I'm willing to drive for the right service, I also have AAA who will tow 100 miles. I live in New Egypt NJ (central Jersey). Car is leaking oil pretty good. A.c. isn't working, battery draining, and the airbag light is on. I have inspection for this car coming up and I need to have that airbag thing fixed before my 14 day period ends where I can drive around Willie nillie without an inspection sticker. Someone please help me.

I recommend SVXfiles Subaru Performance and Repair. It is a pretty good drive for you but the work will be done right, and nobody knows these cars better than Tom.

http://www.svxfiles.com/

ChristophCobb · #3 08-03-2015, 08:24 PM

Sean, your absolutely right. I would most definitely take the car to these guys if I had the money an time to do it. The problem is, I don't. Between working part time, and school coming up in September, it will be very hard to maintain this car by means of taking it to west Virginia when a problem arises. No doubt, one day, if I have the funds and the time, I may make a trip out of it to go down, have the car serviced and have a chat, but for the time being, I just can't justify driving 4 hours down to west Virginia for to get it serviced. Very soon, it will be the only car I own, and I need it to be working everyday to get where I need to go.

Sean486 · #4 08-04-2015, 05:09 AM

Understood, if you have to travel that far he is good when you need a lot of repairs done at once or when there are the big jobs. For somebody local look around for the local shops that work on Subarus. They may call themselves Subaru specialists or they may just be the shop that has a bunch of Subarus parked in the lot. You might also want to join the NASIOC forum and see who they recommend.

A good shop should be able to handle the work you need done. There is a pretty good write up on valve cover gasket replacement you can give to the mechanic, it has a few tips on it that make it a little easier. I'm guess the airbag should be straight forward, but may need parts or sensors.

theflystyle · #5 08-04-2015, 05:28 AM

Just curious as to why you ended up with an SVX for your daily driver. I am not saying these cars are not reliable but if you have one that requires some work it may take some time and money to get it running and considered DD'able.

http://www.svxworldforums.com/forum4/6415.html

ChristophCobb · #6 08-04-2015, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theflystyle

Just curious as to why you ended up with an SVX for your daily driver. I am not saying these cars are not reliable but if you have one that requires some work it may take some time and money to get it running and considered DD'able.

http://www.svxworldforums.com/forum4/6415.html

Got my SVX for cheap. Guy didn't really know about The cars significance and had financed a new vehicle to build his credit. The little SVX was just sitting at his house and he put it up for sale. The car was originally owned by an old couple in FL as a weekend driver. Then, briefly, went to their niece in NY who trashed the car and put a nice dent and scrape on the side and blew the transmission. The guy I bought it from then acquired the car, rebuilt the transmission, had the radiator, alternator, battery replaced, but didn't drive it for long after he got his new vehicle. So the little SVX Sat, and waited for someone to save it. 76k miles on it. Was not taken care of, but for a 92 it had some pretty low miles. Only a couple days before I went to inspect this car, I didn't even know about The SVX. It was only due to my long and woeful hour searching through the bowels of Craig's list did I find an oddity I had to click on. A subaru SVX. I immediately apon reading about the car called the owner of the ad. SOLD. So I then typed "SVX" in the search bar. Found few worthy ones. SOLD. SOLD. I had then relized, wow, I just contacted every ad here and they're all sold out. Pity. A day went by searched SVX again because at that point, there would be no other car. I wanted one. Bad. Forget that MR2 or that prelude. I wanted that wacky subaru. A few times I had just over looked this one ad. Titled for an SVX, but no pictures, not a lot of info, and really low miles comparatively to what I had seen. I thought "forget that" I had written it off. So then I took to cars.com and autotrader.com to search for an SVX. None. At least none on the east coast. So then another day passed and I didn't know what to do. I badly wanted that car and wouldn't take anything else. So I revisited that shady ad. And asked if it was still available... YES! I was exited. Because even if it was a piece of junk I could at least go visit one and see it in person. So I went out to south Jersey, almost an hour drive, to meet the owner... At a mechanic shop. The car was at a shop being fixed. Figures. He didn't have the keys to start it, it was past due on inspection, and it had no plates. It was also grime a nd dirty and had a ton of paint chips on the bumpers and it looked like a snow plow had gauged the side of the car. Rough. I was disappointed but fascinated at the same time. So I left with no deposit. I wanted someone who had a little more experience with used cars to take a look at it. So a few days later I brought my dad, my girlfriend, and my girlfriends dad. The guy was a little surprised when we showed up. By this time it was back at his house. We started the car. Ran the AC which blows hot. And talked with the owner, and inspected the car. They said it looked alright. I asked "can I take it for a spin around the block?" He said "if your alright with risking a big ticket". I didn't hesitate for a second and jumped in closed the door. the magical auto seatbelts (which I've never experienced before) wrapped me up in the cars leather embrace, and I grabbed the shifter and backed out of the driveway. I went around one square block and it was pure bliss. I loved it. I had to have it. I left that day with a deposit on the car. Came back that Sunday super early before work and bought the car and took the title home. I registered and insured the car the next day and again drove to the owners house and put all the stuff on the car. He offered to tow it to my mechanic (due to a bad tranny mount) and off I went. The day was long and I was doing was researching this car, finding info. Signing up on the forums. I own an SVX! I kept saying in my head. The next day I picked it up and drove it home from Neptune to new Egypt. And I had a big stupid smile on my face the whole time as I hung my arm out of the double window that was all the way down because it was 90° F and I had a black leather interior with no AC. But I didn't car. Because I was driving an SVX. My own SVX. And the rest. Well the rest can be Learned from all of my frantic posts for help! So that's why I chose an SVX. Is it the most responsible thing? No. The smartest thing? No. The most affordable or reliable? No. But golly I wanted one and here I am, 19, and in love.

Sean486 · #7 08-04-2015, 08:24 AM

Valve Cover Replacement Write Up
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54811

In my own experience I have seen these two things have happened over and over:

For intermittent rough running or a cylinder miss it may be a bad ignition coil. It can be tested somewhat by unplugging the injector while running. If the idle doesn't dip or change you know that cylinder is not firing. You can replace with used but it may go bad again, it is a easy job.

For a bouncing idle or a stall for no reason it could be a bad MAF sensor. It can be resoldered easily and repaired or replaced. Sometimes people will use one from a Legacy in a pinch, but it best to use a SVX one. Also a easy job.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53957

Read up on how to read the stored Check Engine Light Codes. Very useful for diagnosis
http://svxworldforums.com/forum33/2336.html

ChristophCobb · #8 08-04-2015, 08:46 AM

Thank you! I'm currently in the process of removing the throttle body for a cleaning! I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm taking pictures of everything before I disconnect it. So I have something to reference so I don't do anything backwards or switch any cables up. Didn't even know what a throttle body was until yesterday. On boy... here we go

92 SVX · #9 08-04-2015, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristophCobb

Thank you! I'm currently in the process of removing the throttle body for a cleaning! I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm taking pictures of everything before I disconnect it. So I have something to reference so I don't do anything backwards or switch any cables up. Didn't even know what a throttle body was until yesterday. On boy... here we go

Are you on face book? there are svx pages that are very good for quick help.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/86594703272/

if your still running the stock transmission start saving up now, in a short time you will need to replace it, even though it was rebuilt, they are known for not lasting, if you like manual trans then swap it to a 5 or 6 speed, if you want auto get one with 4.44 gears out of outback I believe.

ChristophCobb · #10 08-04-2015, 11:22 AM

Yeah there's a possibility that I'm selling my XR350R for that manual swap. I love that bike, but I'm moving out of the woods soon and it will just sit. I don't have a truck to take it anywhere so it may need a new home soon. Throttle body took me forever to figure out but it's out now. Any suggestions? I have a carb/Tbody cleaner and I'm about to spray it down and wipe it with a plastic toothbrush. I also found sludge in the intake tube. The big black tube running from the air filter to the T body. What does that indicate? And should I clean it?

theflystyle · #11 08-04-2015, 04:09 PM

You sir have one of the most entertaining to read stories on how and why you ended up with the SVX. On that note, I want to say congrats and I hope you get a chance to get this car back into its former glory so that you can fully enjoy it!

You should also download the service manuals. They have been an invaluable source of information beyond this forum (dont have the link on hand)

92 SVX · #12 08-04-2015, 06:03 PM

yes do download those manuals, they can be found here on the forum, I don't have the link either.

That sludge, you found is the oil vaper being pulled through the PCV system and reburned, part of epa systems. You can clean it out but it will likely come back. you should also check your pcv to make sure its still working optimally.

wdb · #13 08-05-2015, 05:27 AM

Flat Four Specialties in Mertztown PA. They just did some work on my STi. Great folks, great shop, excellent work. SVX is not their specific specialty but they do work on them and they know Subies backwards, forwards, and inside out.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flat-...62718870493749

ChristophCobb · #14 08-05-2015, 07:23 AM

Okay, I might give them a shot with it. Thank you. I'm still undecided if I should attempt replacing the valve cover gaskets at home. It definitely needs to be replaced, I don't know what else would be leaking oil so profusely from the sides of the engine like that. I have to have the car inspected very soon and that airbag light is still there. May have to just take it to a subaru dealer nearby for that. Unfortunately.

Sean486 · #15 08-05-2015, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristophCobb

Okay, I might give them a shot with it. Thank you. I'm still undecided if I should attempt replacing the valve cover gaskets at home. It definitely needs to be replaced, I don't know what else would be leaking oil so profusely from the sides of the engine like that. I have to have the car inspected very soon and that airbag light is still there. May have to just take it to a subaru dealer nearby for that. Unfortunately.

Will the airbag light cause it to fail inspection in NJ?