Delux's Subaru Forester project

[delux]

Some may be familiar with my Project Forester of which I am doing up. I've been adding updates to the original 'Who wants a Forester' thread started by @jollyfkr2

As its more of a build thread than a for sale thread I have decided to start this thread so its easier (for me!) to find. When I finish it and decide to sell it I'll prolly have to move it all back over but thats just tough, lol!

Heres how it all started....

Jollys friend inherited the car. Its 'new' owner couldnt keep the car as she stays in Londons dreaded ULEZ zone. The Forester faced a stark future. It genuinely appeared to good to scrap. Despite short MOT it had been well maintained and drove better than it looked. It was placed on here, possibly the cheapest petrol Subaru at the time!

This is where I step in. I didnt want it! I like Subaru but even in great condition, the Forester isnt a looker! It hasnt won rallies like its Impreza and Legacy relatives. Its more practical than desirable. I already have a Subaru that sits about doing nothing, why do I want to take on its fat ugly sister too?

On top of this, the dishwasher resigned that week, it was 400 miles away in a town called London or something, Mrs Deluxs big birthday was looming and finances were still recovering after annual big holiday/plundering by taxman. So in true Autoshite fashion I jumped in and commited myself to take it on!

Literally waiting to take off to Scotland. Suspension suggesting paving slabs in the rear! These early Foresters have fancy self levelling rear shock absorbers best described as dogshite. Pic credit @jollyfkr2

The roadtrip began! Before I go on, Mrs Delux has many talents. Documenting a roadtrip with a camera sadly isnt one of them!

What resembles a glorified but unfinished bus station at stupid o'clock to be treated like sheep going into the dip we took our seats on the easyjet flight to Gatwick. After getting the wrong train to London centre, we arrived at the right station were we were welcomed by Les from BL Transverse Mini specialists. Everything sorted we headed for that place familiar to every Subaru driver, the petrol station! Think its somewhere in Croydon.

 

Headed for M25...

...stopped at Cobham services. Previous experience told me not to drive on the M25 needing a pee as at any moment everything will grind to a halt for a couple of hours!

Lets see what this machine will do! U.K.'s first pay as you go racetrack, the M6 toll!

Factory option satnav was very basic but appeared accurate!

Whilst I was being mugged £18 for 2 jars of Chilli jam at Tebay services white van man's mate got out for a butchers at the sumptuous interior. 

KFC in Livingston (Scotland)

Made it back to Delux global headquarters. Car drove back faultlessly. Drove way better than it looked. Had convinced me it was worth fixing! Took it to work the next day to start the to do list.

More to follow...

[delux]

Again, considering the cost it wasnt too bad! Appraisal took place (with several mechanics who had assembled, laughing at 1st later turning to congratulations! 😄)

Might be the rocker covers leaking, might be cam seals. Bit of pink round the thermostat/water pump too. The list started!

Rear turrets dont look great but fared well to poky screwdriver test.  

drivers rear arch didnt fare so well!

No play in suspension bushes but they look like something out of a Titanic documentary!

Not bad underneath!

May benefit from reversing sensors!

Front lamp had developed its own biosphere

Not sure of the effectiveness of aerodynamic modifications!

So, not that bad! Could all be done in a weekend if you were keen enough. So with that it was dumped in the pending tray (my other lock up) for a few months!

More to follow...

[delux]

First step of the build is to get it into the big garage. Battery was charged up and...it didnt start! Down at my lock up in sideways sleet I didnt have the usual diagnostic facilities. I did notice the fuel pump wasnt pumping. After turning the immobiliser off and on still nothing. I shuffled under and gave the fuel tank an almighty kick and viola! Started!

Fuel pump is pretty easily accessible on these older Subarus so theres no excuse for not checking it properly. If I was at work I'd check for voltage, earth and see how many amps the pump was drawing but this is my own car so like a dick I charged out and...

...bought a new and uprated fuel pump. Then discovered the car still had the fault!

Relay was fine. Dont have the correct wiring diagram so had to figure it out from the Impreza one (which has different colour wires!) 

Which revealled...

that little fucker! 

So now it starts! 

Mrs. Delux has just returned with some sizzling Fajitas (not a euphemism!) More later...

[delux]

So now it starts and drives time to do a bit!

Postie in the huff!

Service done! (by dealer trained Subaru technician, lol!)

Getting my moneysworth out of new dishwasher!

About to be dismantled!

Not too upset about broken thermostat bolt as waterpump and thermostat replaced. Not keen on pink antifreeze though!

New cam and crank seals, thermostat, waterpump, timing belt, idlers and tensioner. 

Rocker covers given coat of paint and new gaskets. Engine surprisingly clean inside. All going well until...

On older Subaru service sheets (before my time there) it states to change the PCV valve at certain mileages. They are only a couple of quid and if they are blocked they might have contributed to the oil leaks. Hmmm, I'll change that then! Its on the back of the inlet, bit fidly to get in. I'll just take that wee pipe of and...SNAP!

This little breather attaches to the main intake pipe. Not particularly expensive but to change it you need to...

...take the massive inlet manifold off! 

Ever start a 5 minute job that turns into a couple of hours and uses half your 'spare gaskets' pile?!

Pretty sure that sad face is developing a smirk!

Weldathon on its way...

 

 

[delux]

I've used a bit of Autoshite magic here. These repairs were done at different times with the car in different states of 'in bits' but I have posted them all together so we can get all the jokes about my welding over and done with in one go! LOL!

Great start!

Looking like something from a potholers youtube channel may I introduce the OSR inner wheel arch!

The 2 white squares are where the sill trim clips in! 

The turret its self seemed solid but there were a few patches needed. 

 

Before anyone comments on my welding, I can still fit the wheel on, the car doesnt have a steering pull and the patches took the weight of the paint, so I am improving! Its solid but a bit agricultural!

Next on the list, outer arch...

Repair panel not the worst I've seen!

I can snotter patches in place well enough to survive the MOT assesment tool all day long but welding bits people can see frightens me! I am happy to admit, my familiar overconfidence does not extend to body repairs or paint. You cant tell in these pics that follow but I was shitting myself throughout!

 

Well, its not gonna fall off!

The only thing to overtake my fear was boredom. I had too fine a grade of wet n dry so instead of taking a few hours it took a full shift! No wonder you bodyshop guys are all raving lunatics!

Well, I've bought it now....

Looks patchy here but I'd literally sprayed it then took the pic.

In my head I'm usually my biggest critic but even I smiled when I saw it. Its far from perfect but it genuinely looked better than before! Will I be having a go at the Impreza now its starting to bubble? Not a chance! Experts can do that!

Just need to clean it and sort out some better bumpers and thats the body done! Can unclench now.

More soon...

[delux]

Next area to break my heart and savings was the rear suspension. 

Not the best angle to view the car from but wasnt too bad. 

Brakes servicable, shock absorber less impressive. 

This bolt! Its the bolt that goes thru the lower arms and hub assembly. The centre bit is exposed to the elephants so either snaps or swells up and siezes on removal. I have genuinely seen experienced, hardened mechanics brought close to tears removing these but both sides came out without any drama....

...which allowed me to remove the rear subframe. I took it to work were we have bigger grinders, gas bottles, vices, pullers and presses for dismantling...

...which turned out to be a waste of time as it all unbolted without hassle. Only bolt I had to cut was for the ABS sensor!

...which usually would have pleased me but I'd expected the worst and bought a pile of new bolts!

A fight then broke out between some old suspension bushes and an old, overweight but good looking mechanic! Despite this the mechanic won!

Bit of wire brushing and I could get on with applying the paint runs to the suspension. 

Better!

Pedders raised rear shock absorbers. 

With 50mm spacers (from Ukraine!)

Put your arms in the air!

According to the excellent offroadsubarus.com forum, if you raise the suspension over 3" you start to get alignment and driveshaft issues. It got me thinking, at 2" the alignment would be a bit marginal. The solution is to lower the rear suspension. I could have bought a kit to do this but at the time stuff from the U.S. rocketted in price (cheers Trump!) It was supposed to be a budget rebuild instead so I took a few measurements and showed the pics of the kit to wee Scott.

Wee Scott trains people how to machine stuff for oil rigs and stuff. So, for 6 bottles of Kopperberg (Wild berry) I had the correct spacers in titanium! (U.S. ones are steel) 

Crossbar had to be lowered a similar amount

Nice subframe reinforcement from Japan. Was gonna slap some sparkly black paint over it like the rest of the suspension but looked so nice I fitted it as it was!

Then realised why it was listed for the Impreza and not the forester! Cock!

Wee Scotty to the rescue again. People at my local Tesco can be heard whispering about that Swedish alcoholic every time I go there now! 🤪

Just like every other 26 year old Subaru underneath, lol!

Brake fairy had visited too!

A guy on scoobynet.com had a decent set of flexis which became mine for pennies too!

Looking back at my original design concept...

...I realised there was something missing. Big tyres!

Using the sizing chart on offroadsubarus.com I knew I could fit 215/65R16 tyres. Wife might find out how much BF Goodrich cost so bought these Insa Turbo Dakars as they were highly recommended on a Jimny forum.

Couldnt fit them to the existing 'concrete' finish wheels. Back to the paintshop...

Yeah!

Ok, thats enough for today! Thanks for looking. 

More tomorrow!

[tooSavvy]

@delux.. Yes, I knew just what you meant...

SMA took me through it, some while ago 😵

Ha Ha.... You done well 🛠️👍

🚙💨

[delux]

Next area of the money pit to have money flung into it was the front end. Again, some Autoshite magic has been used because the guy in charge of the parts ordered the right front shock absorbers but for the wrong model of Forester! Special ones had to be made and shipped over from Australia. Everyone at pedders.co.uk was very understanding and once they had stopped laughing sorted it all out! Meant a bit of a delay but its all together now. 

Front end suspension is a bit easier to work with. Its relatively simple McPherson struts with wishbones. Doesnt require any subframe spacing etc.

Not bad overall but pic doesnt show sticking caliper slides or knocking noise over bumps.

Ebay hub puller worked great on the passenger side then shat its self on the drivers side. After 15 tonnes in the press at work, the OSF driveshaft and I agreed it should stay in the hub! 

Bushes removed

New track rods, track rod ends and paint, nice!

While to OSF driveshaft refused to give up its hub, the inner boot was torn. Luckily it only meant removing the inner CV. New one fitted. 

Wouldnt usually lose sleep over rusty brake backplates but replacements were cheap and available. 

Ball joints replaced, backplate fitted, bit of a paint, ABS bolt someone snapped (me!) replaced!

New front wishbone rear bushes!

Brakes replaced, freed off and all back together. Spacers are so tyres dont hit shock absorbers!

Not sure the zero spoke alloys were the best choice!

Front shock absorbers and lift spacer ready to go.

Looking a bit more businesslike now!

Car got new brake pipes throughout. Old ones were not too bad, few had been replaced already but I wanted shiney new ones. Heres a pic of a clip I broke!

This was the point I began wondering if this was such a good idea!

Still to do the alignment and sort out the anti roll bar links. Leaving it until last to give everything a chance to settle in. 

Despite the custom suspension parts, spacers etc. there was one clearance I overlooked! The 12mm clearance between the garage door and the top of the car! 😄

Suspension lift doesnt look too dramatic until you compare it to a 'normal' car!

More soon! 

[Metal Guru]

18 hours ago, delux said:

Again, considering the cost it wasnt too bad! Appraisal took place (with several mechanics who had assembled, laughing at 1st later turning to congratulations! 😄)

Might be the rocker covers leaking, might be cam seals. Bit of pink round the thermostat/water pump too. The list started!

Rear turrets dont look great but fared well to poky screwdriver test.  

drivers rear arch didnt fare so well!

No play in suspension bushes but they look like something out of a Titanic documentary!

Not bad underneath!

May benefit from reversing sensors!

Front lamp had developed its own biosphere

Not sure of the effectiveness of aerodynamic modifications!

So, not that bad! Could all be done in a weekend if you were keen enough. So with that it was dumped in the pending tray (my other lock up) for a few months!

More to follow...

Rust wise I’d say about the same as my 54 Impreza, so pretty good for 5+ years older.

[delux]

3 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Rust wise I’d say about the same as my 54 Impreza, so pretty good for 5+ years older.

Yeah, when I worked at Subaru I saw loads of newer cars in worse condition! There was a recall where we had to change brake pipes on Legacys up to 15 years old. Some of them wouldnt have made it round the banger racing track! I've genuinely had to do more welding on 10 year old XV models than this one.

[delux]

Next victim of my tinkering about was the automatic transmission. Its not a lineartronic (CVT), its the 4EAT that was more or less unchanged from 1992 to 2009. There was nothing wrong with this cars one, its just one of those gearboxes that goes on forever. As the rest of the car corrodes and crumbles the transmission carrys on as before. When I was at Subaru, customers who had run auto Subarus for 20+ years hated the Lineatronic so I'm pretty relieved!

Go faster guys not interested in them as its a slushbox. Nothing on the car is old enough to interest the classic car crowd. As a consequence there isnt much online about these transmissions. Dealer training centres around Lineartronic boxes and how they work. 

All this made me even more determined to have a sniff about it!

Cos I knew removal was imminent I stuck a couple of strong magnets on the transmission sump a few weeks before just to catch as much shite as possible.

Pretty clean considering 100,000 miles. Oil removed was brown but ran clear. All ok then!

Dirt on pick up/filter not obvious until put somewhere clean!

Magnets offset to increase their surface area. Just to prove to my mentor that I was actually listening that day!

Back together. Spin on oil filter doesnt have a replacement interval but Subaru insist you change it if you work on the transmission. 

Refilled with decent quality Dextron ATF II left over from some 2nd grade budget car assembly company!

Whiteline make an insert for manual gearbox models and later autos. They dont make an insert for this transmission so I bought a manual one, modified it then stamped it home with my workboot, job done! lol!

Manual models run 50:50 drive split so are fine offroad but cos mine is an auto, if I chuck it at the scenery it chucks 90% drive to the front wheels making a big silver understeer machine. I'm gonna have to rig up some sort of device to stop this happening. I've not done it yet as I'll have to experiment on loose surface to make sure its gonna work (if it can be done at all!) 

Otherwise, transmission is sorted and prolly good for another 100,000 miles! Which it may have covered before I find its forever home! 😄

More to follow...

[delux]

Not really mentioned much about the electrics cos pretty much everything works in that area. Bit shit really as thats where my wages (and finances for all this!) are earned!

Headlamp bulbs uprated. Got these in the Impreza and they are pretty good!

Left new, right old!

Cos there is a bit more road noise from the tyres the solution was to update the sad looking original tape player...

...with a slightly more modern seedy player.

Which in turn was joined by a Turbotimer/Voltmeter.

'Check engine' light had started crying out for attention. Code stored for 'Knock sensor'.  After ensuring I hadnt left it unplugged messing about with the inlet manifold I tried checking te terminals. Couldnt see them very well so removed the sensor. Glad I did as the sensor had split. Thinking back, any time I've changed one in the past they had the same issue.

NOS one sourced from scoobynet.com forum!

Back in its hole, code cleared!

While the wipers were thoroughly tested on the trip from London the passenger arm had a measurable amount of free movement

All better with good 2nd hand linkage

Towbar wiring may contain attitudes and hardware considered acceptable at the time! Not sure it works but appears to have been fitted in a hurry!

Nice 13 pin with armour plated wiring on the way!

Also managed to find a NOS front lamp. Not a big job but one of those little things that makes car look far better!

[delux]

All that pretty much brings us up to date. 

Car is pretty much back together...

Rear sofa back in place!

Brakes bled

Cooling system thoroughly flushed of pink stuff/sludge/corrosion/fossils and bled with correct stuff

Zorst resealled 

Favourite tool so far! Despite working as long as I have in the motor trade I'm still shite at filling cars with oil and not making a mess. Subarus are tricky to refill at the best of times but this funnel makes it so much easier! Just dont swing it about like a chimp when you unscrew it, lol!

And thats it for 2025!

Stay tuned for anti roll bar link bodgery and turmoil, MOT nerves, Towbar wiring and trying to find and attach decent bumpers!

Seriously, thanks for looking and thanks for all the 'likes'. Complements mean far more when they are from guys you respect!

[delux]

So, plan was...

Get Forester thru an MOT, take the Colt off the road for its yearly rebuild then finish the Forester enough to put it up for sale. 

Didnt quite work out like that! 😄

Firstly, Colt was beginning to moan about the play in the front ball joint. The Colt is usually used and abused but I've been in the 'trade' long enough to know not to ignore such things. More of that Here or Here!

Then the Forester decided it would like some attention too. Started it after my holiday to bring it up to my global headquarters only for the battery light to be glowing red. Not flickering, not faintly glowing when the revs were low, a good decisive solid red glow! Had my voltmeter on hand and a quick check revealled....

12.3 volts when off, 11.7 volts running! Alternator was alternating but no electricity was pouring out it. 

Took it apart to discover corrosion had eaten the internals. 

Plenty rust where the rectifier and regulator are soldered together and the end of the rectifier where the main terminal is. 

Brushes looked ok though! This is a Mitsubishi electric alternator. On them you can change the brushes on their own by popping off the cover at the bottom and unsoldering them. Brushes on their own are only a couple of quid. Thing is a new rectifier bridge and regulator (with new brushes in it) are pretty cheap anyway (if you know what you are after and dont mind waiting for them to arrive from Germany!) so I replaced both...

If you are having a go yourself, you need to pin the brushes out the way when you reassemble the alternator or you will smash them to buggery! This is done by holding the brushes in and sticking a pin in this hole...

...which should hold the brushes out the way like this...

Then stick it back together, make sure it spins smoothly by hand with no clicky noises . Or do what I done, stick it back together try and refit it then realise the 2 sections were 180 degrees out and have to take it apart again! 😄

Garnish with a new drive belt!

Voltages pouring out it now!

Even the alternator tester was impressed!

What cant speak cant lie! Battery 'State of health' a bit low. I'll recheck it when the car is back on the road and replace the battery as necessary. (In other words, get the fanciest, most expensive brand name battery, stick it in the Impreza and put its old battery in the Forester, lol!)

 

[bezzabsa]

never really had these on my Radar, but must admit they're a good looking car!

[delux]

I'll do a proper update at the weekend as some work was done but took the Forester for its MOT today...

 

(Aircon regas is part of the MOT, isnt it? Shhh! 😄)

 

...and...

IT PASSED!

Before anyone says its cos I'm in the trade/my mate done it/no-one wanted to tell me it failed, as soon as it appeared on the MOT ramp, all 4 MOT testers appeared and began poking about in a way regular viewers of Crufts would recognise! Its been checked, double checked and triple checked. Headlamp aim needed a tweek as its a bit taller than its last MOT and it needed a bit of 'discipline' before the emissions test but otherwise a clean sheet!

I feel like a proud Dad seeing their kid win a race at sports day! Just need to make it look a bit less battleworn then find its new forever home. 

[delux]

Yeah, so. Plan was to get the Forester MOT'd at the start of February so I could take the Colt off the road to get it ready for its MOT in March. But because the Colts ball joints were getting noisy and the Foresters alternator threw a tantrum everything was running behind schedule! On top of that I had to work in High Wycombe (wherever the fuck that is!) for a week. Not exactly round the corner from my global headquarters!

Ok, Forester suspensions had a bit of time to settle down so it was time to make everything point the right way! Bring on the laser show...

I was a bit worried as raising or lowering the suspension drastically chucks everything out. Lowering the rear subframe and fitting camber bolts on the rear helped and everything lined up! Its all very well jacking the car up like a grown up Tonka toy but if the modifications have spoiled the way it drives its all been a waste. (As per Topgear episode with the Suzuki, Landcruiser and Rangey!)

But it all liked up to spec (apart from ride height, 😄) I'll recheck it when the Colts done. 

Another thing that goes to shit when you lift your car is the anti roll bar links. Anti roll bar links for Subarus are available but only for lowered suspension. Bit of searching/using memory came up with these...

Mk4 VW Golf adjustable ones! Front ones, screwed all the way in are the perfect length. Rear ones were a bit of a 'fuck about' as they needed to be fully extended then bent 45 degrees. I thought I'd taken a pic of them but obviously not.

Number plate lights needed a bit of love too. Blown bulb and corroded plug in the boot. All sorted new!

'So, it all went smoothly?' Er, not exactly!

MOT went great. Bit of an 'Italian tune up' before the emissions test and a tweak of the headlamp aim and it sailed thru. Brian, the MOT tester thought it was great. He's had Subarus in the past and thought it was crazy and great! Him and all the other testers had a good old poke and prod about it so if it had missed anything the group chat would have been overflowing with memes but it was fine. 

Trouble came on the drive home. Usual 'Elbows out ' push thru Edinburgh but as I left town and opened it up a bit, a horrific noise like an air raid siren with spokey dokeys fitted started! Slowed down and the noise stopped. Timing belt? Fanbelt? Head filled with worst case scenarios, each one worse and more expensive than the last! To say I shit myself is an understatement! What was it?!

 

Someone hadnt fitted the clips to the front of the wheelarch liner so over a certain speed the big comedy tyre would rub against it. Just cant get the staff!

In other news, I thought I better smarten up the interior a bit...

 

We all like 'Real' Christmas trees but after having to pick and hoover the remains of one out the Forester I'll be happy with a plastic one this year!

Cigar lighter (which no-one ever used, even when people smoked!) was replaced with a modern USB thingy.

Who ever notices the top seal trim thing on their car? Me neither! The Foresters one looked like a dog had been at it.

but for some unknown reason Import car parts was selling genuine ones heavily discounted. Thats the only reason I bothered to look!

Transformed! Its prolly one of those things people only notice if it is damaged but otherwise they are oblivious. 

Thats it! Next week its my daily driver as the Colts MOT is up soon. 

For sale soon.....

....to make way for the next 'Project'!

[jim89]

Needs proper pics so we can behold the full majesty! 😋

[delux]

32 minutes ago, jim89 said:

Needs proper pics so we can behold the full majesty! 😋

Sorry, you just have to put up with some mechanic and his Samsung! 😄

Once the Colt is done I'll smarten the Forester up a bit then get some decent pics. Was hoping for snow but I dont think we are getting any this year. Ironically, Mrs Delux is back in the Canaries this week and apparently there was snow in Tenerife and Gran Canaria last week! 

[Sheefag]

16 years on here and for the very first time, I'm following a thread.
@delux, fantastic effort mate.

[jim89]

35 minutes ago, delux said:

Sorry, you just have to put up with some mechanic and his Samsung! 😄

 

That'll be fine just get a bit further away from it, ideally out in the yard, oh & in daylight 👍🏻😀

[delux]

 

I've since washed the tyre soap off the front tyres, lol!

[jim89]

7 hours ago, delux said:

 

I've since washed the tyre soap off the front tyres, lol!

Looks ace 👍🏻🎉

[delux]

Just back from Tesco in it! (Rock and roll lifestyle of the modern mechanic!)

Drives great, was a bit worried it would feel top heavy or tyres would be a bit slidey but its fine. 

Pootles along in traffic quietly, soaking up speedbumps and potholes without fuss. No warnings on dash, no clunks, creaks and temp never above half way. All observed from the comfy armchair seats!

When you get a clean run, nail it and it quickly reminds you its an EJ20 and thunders off! Sounds good but not over the top. Biggest danger with any Japanese turbo of this era is your speed creeps up on you. 

Only time you realise its 'jacked up' is when you are close to a 'normal' car or when you realise you are going faster than you thought!

Only real 'complaint' is tyre howl. They are quieter now they have bedded in but you still hear them. Its more 'De Haviland Comet' than air raid siren. Not as quiet as BF Goodrich but a good 80dB quieter than General Grabbers. 

[jim89]

When you get to selling (if you've not started 😉) what ballpark would you be in with it?

Asking for a fiend...

[delux]

3 minutes ago, jim89 said:

When you get to selling (if you've not started 😉) what ballpark would you be in with it?

Asking for a fiend...

As much as I can get!

Its the usual, I've massively overspent time and money on it. When I started it you could buy a rough MOT'd one for about £2000 and there was a spotless, low mileage one for £4500 on Pistonheads. I've prolly topped that just on parts. If I charged labour and for the parts I'd had made it would be cheaper to buy a new one! 😄

If anyone has any feedback on what I can get for it let me know. I genuinely have no idea and wont be offended. Feel free to PM me if you dont want to embarrass me! 😆

Still need to sort out the bumpers & tailgate. Still need to get a new towbar plug bracket (its been upgraded to 13 pin but its tied up in the boot!) Have came up with an idea on how to sort the problem of it switching to 90% drive to the front if its on loose surfaces (only the Autos do it!) which I need to actually make. Will prolly find a few other niggles to mess about with over the next week driving it too. Not comfy selling it until thats done.  

Before its sold, in true 'Wheeler dealers' fashion it will be fully machine polished with sparkly new number plates etc. 

Proceeds will no doubt be funnelled into a new money pit project that will appear on here (although, Ingersoll rand have a new version of my battery gun out!) so swaps may be considered (remembering I am a Japanese car guy) so theres no point offering some dodgy Alfa or Beemer. 

[delux]

Friday 13th?!

I'm not very supersticious but that could be about to change!

Foresters been helping out as the daily driver as the Colts off the road for MOT time. Its been great fun! Drives fast, handles surprisingly well, generates looks of disbelief/disgust/delight....

 

 

 

...until Friday 13th. 

Set off at stupid o'clock. Stopped at local petrol station (as Subaru drivers do!) Proceeded along B9157 at pace. 'Bout half way along car started losing power. No warnings, no noises, temp gauge half way. Knocked it into neutral, not really revving up. Limped on then turned down into Aberdour with a view to returning home. By the time I got to the village, Forester was smoking. Shaking like a shitting dog and barely running. Bollocks! Rolled into a space and jumped onto train to work. 

Oh, doesnt end there! Phoned my local 'mate with a recovery truck'. As usual he was working 25 hours a day and didnt have time. Instead, called the number he gave me for a guy called Pete. He was busy too but agreed to pick it up about 7pm. He turned up,  lined his truck up then locked the keys in the car!

Saturday morning, broke into my own car, got the keys, personally handed them to Pete. Car dropped off Saturday evening. 

So, whats wrong with it? I dunno! When it shat its self my focus shifted to getting the Colt road legal again. See its thread HERE! for update. Give me 5 minutes though, cant do 2 updates at once!

Hanging its head in shame...

Top end looks ok...

This may be a clue...

...bit oily under there! Could be Subaru's 'Active anti corrosion' system?!

So what next?

Worst case scenario, its gonna need an engine. Didnt overheat, starts but that oil should be inside the engine, not all over the underside. Wasnt any warning and I wasnt driving foot to the floor when it happened. Apart from the oil, nothing looks out of place, cant see crank journals thru a hole in the block or anything, lol!

I'll have a look next week. I have history of catastrophising over my own cars (last year I had priced up a head gasket kit for the impreza only to find No.1 spark plug lead had fallen out! 😄) but I get a bad feeling over this. 

If it needs an engine, will you fix it? Of course. The car wasnt worth the repairs it needed for its MOT. My modifications prolly doubled that. I overspent time and money on it time and time again. Replacing or rebuilding the engine is just another job needing done. Just discovered the money pit is a bit deeper than I first thought! Would prefer not to have to do it at all but its an old car so thats what I get. 

So, good news is, when it does go up for sale it will now have a nice, reliable, fully functioning engine. 

Bad news, all you autoshiters will have to read about it!

 

 

[JMotor]

That's not ideal.

But at least it didn't scatter the part numbers all over the road.

Fingers crossed for you it's something simple that causing the bother. 

[delux]

49 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Fingers crossed for you it's something simple that causing the bother. 

Yeah. It will certainly be something simple that has to fix it! 😄

Could work out better in the long run, if it needs an engine I might try and get a complete car which would help my spares pile for both Subarus. 

[vaughant]

Hope its an easy fix. Couldn't be a boost hose off somewhere could it? If there's a bit of blow by in it, the oil could come out from there? Would explain the loss of power as well? I'm sure you'd have heard a catastrophe if it happened plus you've really looked after this one so I'm sure it will be fine 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Edited March 16 by vaughant
So it makes sense 😃