Rocker arm broke and broke my valve cover... - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

j0hnnykthx · 11-29-2019, 06:31 PM

Hey guys... Needs some opinions on what I should do.

Currently have a 2013 BRZ limited, roughly 73,200 miles on it.

My car is a daily driven car never abused, until this one time I had a little fun on a first gear run to second.

I do all my oil changes on time and had no other issues with the vehicle itself until now..

Took my car to a local family owned Subaru specialization shop and find out my rocker arm broke off and broke my valve cover. Though there may be further damages but requires me to remove the engine which cost roughly $1,700 to do. There were several posts about other FRS/BRZ rocker arms failing..

Any chance that this could be a simple fix by replacing the whole head or would this most likely require a whole new engine? What are your guys thoughts? Depending on the cost of parts of labor, I may just sale the car as a shell with a non running motor (If labor and parts are >$5,000).

the new guy · 11-29-2019, 08:05 PM

car-part.com for a replacement motor (~2k) and then spend that $1700 quote as labor getting the replacement put in.

N1rve · 11-29-2019, 09:44 PM

IMO, if the car means a lot to you, then replace the motor. Also consider the value of the car. In my area, a FA20 is $3000 average (according to car-parts.com). Plus 1700 in labor, that's 4700 dollars for an engine replacement.

Your car is probably only worth about 8.5-9K.

I had to replace my motor and decided to jump ship into a different car.

Impureclient · 11-29-2019, 10:37 PM

Can't afford $4.7k repair bill....better toss car and buy $70k BMW replacement.

Dave-ROR · 11-29-2019, 10:40 PM

Just replace it. Either with a 2013 motor for cheaper and then have the recall done or with a 2014 motor for a bit more.

Stomachbuzz · 11-30-2019, 12:07 AM

Never personally heard of rocker arms failing on this vehicle, but I'm still new to the platform, so who knows

I would be very inclined to investigate and/or argue heavily that it was due to a failed valve spring.

Otherwise,
I would probably slap a replacement head on and keep driving.
Not worth replacing the whole motor if it only has 72k. But these motors do seem quite cheap

j0hnnykthx · 12-01-2019, 03:00 AM

Thanks for the response guys.. Not planning on keeping car for too long, planning on getting an automatic I feel my stick shift days are over lol. Planning to have the technician remove the engine and pray that it doesn't require a new motor and can be a simple replacement on the head..

j0hnnykthx · 12-01-2019, 03:02 AM

Anyone know if this mechanical problem usually would require a new motor? Don't have much knowledge on engine work so all these terms are quite new to me, had a buddy tell me that its for sure a blown motor just hearing that its a rocker arm coming off

N1rve · 12-01-2019, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Impureclient

Can't afford $4.7k repair bill....better toss car and buy $70k BMW replacement.

80K*

DonAruna · 08-07-2020, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidsnake11

I would say it needs rocker arm, shim and valve cover for sure.
Then maybe a cam if scared on roller surface and valve spring if it broke.

do you know what is the issue for rocker falling down in 2013 model . after valve spring recall my engine rocker was fell down, now engine is damage .

11-29-2019, 06:31 PM	#1
j0hnnykthx Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: CA Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Rocker arm broke and broke my valve cover... Hey guys... Needs some opinions on what I should do. Currently have a 2013 BRZ limited, roughly 73,200 miles on it. My car is a daily driven car never abused, until this one time I had a little fun on a first gear run to second. I do all my oil changes on time and had no other issues with the vehicle itself until now.. Took my car to a local family owned Subaru specialization shop and find out my rocker arm broke off and broke my valve cover. Though there may be further damages but requires me to remove the engine which cost roughly $1,700 to do. There were several posts about other FRS/BRZ rocker arms failing.. Any chance that this could be a simple fix by replacing the whole head or would this most likely require a whole new engine? What are your guys thoughts? Depending on the cost of parts of labor, I may just sale the car as a shell with a non running motor (If labor and parts are >$5,000).

11-29-2019, 08:05 PM	#2
the new guy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2014 Asphalt FR-S/2018 Thunder GT Location: Fairfax Posts: 618 Thanks: 199 Thanked 254 Times in 178 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	car-part.com for a replacement motor (~2k) and then spend that $1700 quote as labor getting the replacement put in. __________________ 2014 FRS: Sold 2018 Thunder GT: RCE Superstreet 1 Coilovers, HKS HI-POWER SPEC L CATBACK, WedsSport TC105n 18x8

11-29-2019, 10:40 PM	#5
Dave-ROR Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Drives: Stuff Location: Florida Posts: 10,317 Thanks: 955 Thanked 5,965 Times in 2,689 Posts Mentioned: 262 Post(s) Tagged: 8 Thread(s)	Just replace it. Either with a 2013 motor for cheaper and then have the recall done or with a 2014 motor for a bit more. __________________ -Dave Track cars: 2013 Scion FRS, 1998 Acura Integra Type-R, 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback DD: 2005 Acura TSX Tow: 2022 F-450 Toys: 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1994 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Parts: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited, 2005 Acura TSX Projects: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited track car build FS: 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 LT CCSB 8.1/Allison with 99k miles

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11-29-2019, 09:44 PM	#3
N1rve Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2019 BMW ///M4 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,332 Thanks: 102 Thanked 1,167 Times in 714 Posts Mentioned: 28 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	IMO, if the car means a lot to you, then replace the motor. Also consider the value of the car. In my area, a FA20 is $3000 average (according to car-parts.com). Plus 1700 in labor, that's 4700 dollars for an engine replacement. Your car is probably only worth about 8.5-9K. I had to replace my motor and decided to jump ship into a different car.

11-29-2019, 10:37 PM	#4
Impureclient Banned Join Date: May 2015 Drives: 2015 FR-S Location: NPR, Florida Posts: 2,404 Thanks: 1,802 Thanked 2,903 Times in 1,282 Posts Mentioned: 25 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Can't afford $4.7k repair bill....better toss car and buy $70k BMW replacement.

11-30-2019, 12:07 AM	#6
Stomachbuzz Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Drives: 2013 FRS Location: Washington DC Posts: 177 Thanks: 93 Thanked 61 Times in 38 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Never personally heard of rocker arms failing on this vehicle, but I'm still new to the platform, so who knows I would be very inclined to investigate and/or argue heavily that it was due to a failed valve spring. Otherwise, I would probably slap a replacement head on and keep driving. Not worth replacing the whole motor if it only has 72k. But these motors do seem quite cheap

12-01-2019, 03:00 AM	#7
j0hnnykthx Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: CA Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks for the response guys.. Not planning on keeping car for too long, planning on getting an automatic I feel my stick shift days are over lol. Planning to have the technician remove the engine and pray that it doesn't require a new motor and can be a simple replacement on the head..

12-01-2019, 03:02 AM	#8
j0hnnykthx Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: CA Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Anyone know if this mechanical problem usually would require a new motor? Don't have much knowledge on engine work so all these terms are quite new to me, had a buddy tell me that its for sure a blown motor just hearing that its a rocker arm coming off

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