Failure After J02 Recall - Discussion Threads

[c.klingner]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Was this brought up before and I just missed it?




humfrz

I think it was brought up in my first post. I can’t tell, I’ve posted this to several groups trying to get answers.🤷*♂️

[Scottish86]

Just got my 13 BRZ back from the recall early this week. Got about 40 miles on it so far and only weird thing i am experiencing is the oil pressure light is faintly flashing sometimes. If there is a lot of light shining on the cluster you wouldnt be able to see it. Checked oil and level is perfect. Cleaned off the contacts on the pressure sender and keeping my fingers crossed that nothing is actually wrong.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by c.klingner

I have asked if I could take it to another dealership and SOA said that the second dealership would not be responsible for the repairs even if it was found the other dealership messed something up and I would have to take the original dealership to court after I paid for it. I was trying to give the dealership the benefit of the doubt and allowing them to fix there mistake but they have seemed to want to push off blame from the moment I brought the car back. I feel even with my limited knowledge I could have torn the engine apart and put it back together twice in the time they have been trouble shooting. Since the 18th of february, all they have told me that has been done so far is a readjustment of the valve lash, and they replaced my exhaust manifold as it was bad due to an earlier issue I had with a stuck injector, and they tested the injectors given the earlier issue. It is also majorly important to note that as soon as the noise developed I pulled over and checked the oil and it wasn’t even on the dipstick. I added 1 and 2/3 a qt of oil to bring it in between the holes.

Hello c.klingner,

I'm just trying to get a timeline established in my old mind.

Now, how many miles did you put on your car since the last time the dealership messed with it and you noticed the tapping noise?

And as soon as you noticed the noise, you checked the oil and discovered it was 1 and 2/3 quart low?

Just trying to help sort this out.


humfrz

[maslin]

Originally Posted by Scottish86

Just got my 13 BRZ back from the recall early this week. Got about 40 miles on it so far and only weird thing i am experiencing is the oil pressure light is faintly flashing sometimes. If there is a lot of light shining on the cluster you wouldnt be able to see it. Checked oil and level is perfect. Cleaned off the contacts on the pressure sender and keeping my fingers crossed that nothing is actually wrong.

I’d be taking it back ASAP. I ignored a intermittent oil light once 15 years ago. Then I replaced an engine. Lesson learned.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Scottish86

Just got my 13 BRZ back from the recall early this week. Got about 40 miles on it so far and only weird thing i am experiencing is the oil pressure light is faintly flashing sometimes. If there is a lot of light shining on the cluster you wouldnt be able to see it. Checked oil and level is perfect. Cleaned off the contacts on the pressure sender and keeping my fingers crossed that nothing is actually wrong.

Like you said it is a pressure light not a volume one. Bet you have clogged passages or tubes. Get it back soon.

[alan.chalkley]

My son's old corolla had an intermittent oil light faintly flashing and it was fixed by removing the sump, cleaning the oil pickup filter, flushing the oil and replacing the oil and filter.
The previous owner didn't do regular oil changes and caused oil sludge.

[RZNT4R]

It's been said.

It needs to be said again:

DO NOT IGNORE THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT

Under normal conditions it's foolish, after a procedure that is known to be problematic for the oiling system, it's INSANE to ignore it.

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Yikes! That is crazy lucky though now that you mention it I have heard of a couple people breaking timing belts at an idle and not damaging anything. Don't know if they were interference motors or not.

I had an experience 15 years ago on the MX track where I shifted down in the air over a jump preparing for the next corner. I didn't think it went so I stomped down on the shifter again to make sure I got the gear. Turns out it did shift both times and I floated the valves hard when landing. It didn't give any indication that it touched until half a lap later when it dropped the valve

I've also seen a scion tc float and drop rockers, TWICE. All it took was squeezing the rockers and shims back in.

[RZNT4R]

nm

[Scottish86]

Originally Posted by RZNT4R

It's been said.

It needs to be said again:

DO NOT IGNORE THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT

Under normal conditions it's foolish, after a procedure that is known to be problematic for the oiling system, it's INSANE to ignore it.

I stopped back into the dealership ( Wasnt driving the BRZ) and the technician said my car has a decent amount of corrosion on bolts and connectors (Minnesota Road Salts) and says the sensor connector probably needs cleaning. If there was an obstruction wouldnt the light come on solid??

[RZNT4R]

It's the opposite, if the connector is corroded it will NEVER come on, as it's just a switch to a ground path for a one wire circuit.

A restriction on the suction side of the pump, a pickup screen full of sealant, as has been photographed previously, will make the pressure drop. A restriction after the pump would result in high pressure at the switch but oil starvation further down the hydraulic circuit.

I'm very worried about this "technician". I also live on salty roads, perhaps some of the saltiest roads, and corroded oil pressure switch terminals aren't a thing, I'm not saying it's impossible, but it would be foolish to disregard the oil light considering the engine has just been through a problematic procedure. It's even more foolish to disregard the oil light when this engine has the pressure switch in one of the easiest to reach locations ever, making it an easy diagnostic. Remove switch, install oil pressure gauge, confirm oil pressure. OK: replace switch. NG: There's an OOPSIE in that engine. It takes literally less than 10 minutes to check on the FA20, and can mean the difference between the life and death of the engine.

And just to be clear, considering the nature of the intervention the engine has just been through and what can result from a lack of oil pressure, that car should be going back to the dealer on a flat bed, at least that's what I would do.

[James H]

It’s infuriating to read about the incompetence of some of these Subaru/Toyota mechanics. Are they part of a secret society pushing to replace ICE cars with electric? Maybe they are paid by Elon Musk to destroy our cars.
In all seriousness I think you need to drop the oil pan and check the oil pickup tube filter. Good chance it’s blocked.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Scottish86

I stopped back into the dealership ( Wasnt driving the BRZ) and the technician said my car has a decent amount of corrosion on bolts and connectors (Minnesota Road Salts) and says the sensor connector probably needs cleaning. If there was an obstruction wouldnt the light come on solid??

I've seen it on other pressure switches. At low engine speed, the oil pressure was adequate. As pressure dropped, the light would dimly illuminate before the switch flipped hard over. Ever have to shake a flashlight?

[Scottish86]

I had my dealer install a new clutch at the same time so I havnt been above 4K RPM yet. Perhaps I will just take off the oil pan and check the pickup myself. I am trying to give these techs the benefit of the doubt since they are doing these recalls all day long and I would hope they arent messing up every engine they touch. It would be easy to weed out the crappy technicians.

[RZNT4R]

Originally Posted by Scottish86

I had my dealer install a new clutch at the same time so I havnt been above 4K RPM yet. Perhaps I will just take off the oil pan and check the pickup myself. I am trying to give these techs the benefit of the doubt since they are doing these recalls all day long and I would hope they arent messing up every engine they touch. It would be easy to weed out the crappy technicians.

It's LITERALLY easier to check the oil pressure than to drop the sump. Some auto parts stores loan/rent tools, the switch is right there below the oil filter. Unscrew it, attach gauge.

With the engine at operating temp, 7.3 PSI at idle and 73 PSI at 6000 revs are your lower limits.