Engine Stalled, Rough Idle And Knocking Noise On Startup

[Tokay444]

Maybe try starting it some more in the meantime.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

Maybe try starting it some more in the meantime.

I believe he was trying to start it again to see if the sound was still there after he removed the belt, as several of us suggested.

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I believe he was trying to start it again to see if the sound was still there after he removed the belt, as several of us suggested.

And that's why you need to be very selective about which forum you come to for automotive diagnostics advice, and even more selective about which advice you take.

[TommyW]

Mine with rods knocking and bearings shot

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by solidsnake11

So your advice is take it to a garage and let them start it?
Then if they are a good garage they will cut the belt and start it again?

Then again they may just replace the engine without even diagnosing it or fix a minor problem and charge for an engine replacement. People in the forums do not have any financial motive.

There are plenty of diagnostic techniques that don't involve starting a blown engine.

[Gloonge]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

There are plenty of diagnostic techniques that don't involve starting a blown engine.

Yea. They could have cut the oil filter with some shears. If you got glitter you got a problem

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

There are plenty of diagnostic techniques that don't involve starting a blown engine.

What would you suggest?

[Slade]

Hey so I had the car at the dealership for most of the week. It is certainly a bad engine. Subaru of America sent me the following message:

Dear Mr. Robin :

I have thoroughly discussed with the retailer. At this time, given the situation and the fact that we have no maintenance records, we would not be in a position to assist out of goodwill from a manufacturer's prospective.
To give you some context, I can only help by providing assistance towards a new engine (upward to $10000). The retailer may be able to find a new engine for $6000 or so but that comes with other questions that can increase that cost, ultimately. Even with the best POTENTIAL help I can provide, you are basically back to square one financially.

Whereas I cannot provide assistance towards the repair, I would be happy to provide an incentive towards a new car of $500.
--------

At this point I am not sure what to do. I can cut my losses, sell the car as is and just get into something else. Or I can see what an independent shop would charge me for a new engine and installation. The service advisor says I can get a used engine thats for $8000 and that we wouldn't even trust the integrity of the engine. It needs a short block, it needs heads etc etc.

I think I'll cut my losses and just get out of this thing. They couldn't even tell me what the exact problem was. Just a lot of we think, we think, we think. What do you guys say? Open to advice. Thanks.

[NoHaveMSG]

If you own it free and clear and can be without it sell it private party. Some DIY'er will engine swap it or replace the engine. You will probably get a lot more then 500 bucks that way. @Opie

[Gloonge]

Originally Posted by Slade

Hey so I had the car at the dealership for most of the week. It is certainly a bad engine. Subaru of America sent me the following message:



Dear Mr. Robin :



I have thoroughly discussed with the retailer. At this time, given the situation and the fact that we have no maintenance records, we would not be in a position to assist out of goodwill from a manufacturer's prospective.

To give you some context, I can only help by providing assistance towards a new engine (upward to $10000). The retailer may be able to find a new engine for $6000 or so but that comes with other questions that can increase that cost, ultimately. Even with the best POTENTIAL help I can provide, you are basically back to square one financially.



Whereas I cannot provide assistance towards the repair, I would be happy to provide an incentive towards a new car of $500.

--------



At this point I am not sure what to do. I can cut my losses, sell the car as is and just get into something else. Or I can see what an independent shop would charge me for a new engine and installation. The service advisor says I can get a used engine thats for $8000 and that we wouldn't even trust the integrity of the engine. It needs a short block, it needs heads etc etc.



I think I'll cut my losses and just get out of this thing. They couldn't even tell me what the exact problem was. Just a lot of we think, we think, we think. What do you guys say? Open to advice. Thanks.

The guy below has good advice, you can likely get a few thousand if the rest of the car is in good shape from a private sale.

But you can also find a low mileage engine for 3k and have it installed for another $1000 I'm sure.

[Slade]

Thanks for the responses, maybe its immature but I feel like selling it just because I am not happy with how Subaru treated me and do not want anything to do with them. Wah wah wah wah I know, Im a baby.

Theres a known Subaru performance shop a little bit under an hour from me, I called them, they told me they can rebuild mine for about 5k to rebuilt it though they would need to take it apart first to see everything that is needed which would cost about 2k alone, they can get me a used motor for about 4k and labor would be 2k. They actually have one in the shop that they are currently working on, that customer is at 6k so far.

This sucks, this was my first car, I bought it and made the payments without any financial support from my parents. I just paid it off not too long ago and now I have nothing to show for it. But it is what it is. I have a friend who just lost her uncle to Covid-19, so when I look at it like that, I don't have it all that bad. Thank you all for the advice and all who helped me when I first started this thread.

[Opie]

Buy a used engine from a reputable re-seller with a warranty. Buy some beer, invite your friends and swap the motor, problem solved.

Or I'll give you 1k for it as is...AT and I'd have to get it shipped to FL...

[Decep]

What have you paid so far? You paid for a diagnostic and they haven't told you what's wrong with it?

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by solidsnake11

Doesn't matter, the fa20 is so labor intensive its cheaper to buy used vs rebuild.

Sad but true. You can *easily* swao an engine in this car in about 4-5 hours start to finish, it takes @Opie and I about 5 hours and that's having to pull the replacement engine out of the wrecked donor car as well. I think we swapped my red cars engine in about 2 hours.