Please help this young lady

[LarryIII]

Hi all,

I recently received an e-mail from a young lady named Tracey.
He mom is having problems with their SVX. I am posting her e-mail here hoping you all can help her. Please read and offer any assistance that you can.

Thanks.

Larry III
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Larry:

My mom owns a 1992 SVX and really loves it! She's always taken such good care of it (e.g., washes it every week, has the oil changed regularly, etc.). Unfortunately, we have recently began to realize some problems with the car. First, the car has been making a loud rubbing type sound when the steering wheel is turned. When she told me about this, I checked the power steering fluid and found that the level was okay.
Since we couldn't figure out what was causing the sound, we decided to take it in to a Subaru specialist located here in Golden, CO. So you know, the power steering was not the only problem we were having. The car also started to leak oil and the brakes also began to make a loud screeching noise. We debriefed the mechanic on our concerns and he decided to run a diagnostic. Upon completion, the mechanic told us that SVX's are nice looking cars, but they have a few problems. He told us that we would need a new transmission. This shocked me, as the car only
has 47k miles. The mechanic also told us that the power steering column needed to be replaced and that the oil pump was bad. He told us that SVX's typically have these problems because of the way they were built (e.g., weighing in at 3,600 pounds, etc.). So, with all of this disappointing information, my mom decided to sell the car. We are still in the process of selling it.

The reason why I wrote you all of that was to ask you the following question: Considering your experience and knowledge of these cars, would you think that once these mechanical problems are fixed that the car would continue to give us problems? My mom really doesn't' want to sell the car, but thinks that it will cost her a significant amount of money
if she keeps it. What are your thoughts?

Please let me know. Thanks for your time.

Tracey

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by LarryIII
Hi all,

I recently received an e-mail from a young lady named Tracey.
He mom is having problems with their SVX. I am posting her e-mail here hoping you all can help her. Please read and offer any assistance that you can.

Thanks.

Larry III
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Larry:

My mom owns a 1992 SVX and really loves it! She's always taken such good care of it (e.g., washes it every week, has the oil changed regularly, etc.). Unfortunately, we have recently began to realize some problems with the car. First, the car has been making a loud rubbing type sound when the steering wheel is turned. When she told me about this, I checked the power steering fluid and found that the level was okay.
Since we couldn't figure out what was causing the sound, we decided to take it in to a Subaru specialist located here in Golden, CO. So you know, the power steering was not the only problem we were having. The car also started to leak oil and the brakes also began to make a loud screeching noise. We debriefed the mechanic on our concerns and he decided to run a diagnostic. Upon completion, the mechanic told us that SVX's are nice looking cars, but they have a few problems. He told us that we would need a new transmission. This shocked me, as the car only
has 47k miles. The mechanic also told us that the power steering column needed to be replaced and that the oil pump was bad. He told us that SVX's typically have these problems because of the way they were built (e.g., weighing in at 3,600 pounds, etc.). So, with all of this disappointing information, my mom decided to sell the car. We are still in the process of selling it.

The reason why I wrote you all of that was to ask you the following question: Considering your experience and knowledge of these cars, would you think that once these mechanical problems are fixed that the car would continue to give us problems? My mom really doesn't' want to sell the car, but thinks that it will cost her a significant amount of money
if she keeps it. What are your thoughts?

Please let me know. Thanks for your time.

Tracey

I would like to know what she means by 'loud rubbing type sound.' Is it any time the wheel is turned, moving or at speed? Is it really just the tranny binding during low-speed turns? Is it belt squeal?

If it's not the tranny binding, why does the mechanic say that she needs a new one? Tracey doesn't mention any transmission issues.

I don't know anything about the oil pump, but I do know that Subarus seep oil. They just do. My mom had her Legacy's oil changed at a gas station (I slapped her wrists for that). They overfilled it and oil started leaking profusely from everywhere. So she took it back to complain and they wrote her an estimate to replace every seal in the engine. Jerks.

In my opinion, the SVX is an extremely reliable car. With 128,000 on mine, it has never needed anything major. I would seek a second opinion, if possible. If not, I'd say she should submit to questioning by the mechanics on this site. They could help determine whether or not her local mechanic knows what he's talking about.

[mohrds]

Larry,

Tell Tracey that after 212,000 miles, my SVX is the cheapest car I've ever owned.

Since I purchased it in 1994 for $14,000 with 64K on it I have put in $11,297.90 (I love Quicken reports) and the milage is now 212,150 so that's about 148,000 miles for 25,297.90 which includes fuel, registration fees, and service.

That's $0.17 per mile for total ownership of the car.

I think that will stand up to any toyota or other *reliable* car out there.

Also tell her that she needs a 2nd opinion on the work. I've never known a steering column to go bad and I can't imagine how replacing the tranny would solve any of the symptoms she described.

Hopefully someone near Golden, CO reads this and can put them in touch with a different shop.

Doug

Ryan or Chris,

Maybe you guys could meet this person somewhere and check out her car since she is in Golden.

Just a thought.

Ciao
Wayne

[Beav]

My best suggestion would be to take it to Burt Subaru an Broadway. Even though I had bought mine brand new in '92 from Emich (in Golden/Lakewood) I still went to Burt for better service.

As a pro mechanic for over 31 years I can't imagine anyone replacing an entire steering column unless it was destroyed by a wannabe car thief. My guess is the shop was referring to the rack and pinion, they can leak and a lot of shops usually just replace them with factory rebuilt units.

Typically they'll leak oil from the cam seals, crank seal and the cam covers. Oil pump leak more than likely would just be an 'o' ring. The entire pump list for around $150 + 3.4 hours labor. Generally oil pumps will outlast the car (your mileage may vary.) I can understand some oil leaks. Even though the car has only 47k the years take their toll also.

If she stills wants to sell, send me info about the car - I may be interested.

Beav