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Subaru Baja Engine Issues
Having an issue under the hood of your Baja? This is the place to discuss it and work out a solution.
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I have only had it to the dealer once so far, they stated that the noise that I hear is normal for an engine of this size. I adamantly disagree with this. The noise was not there in the month of December and into the first week of January. Today it is over 30 degrees outside, the snow is melting, yet the engine noise is very apparent. Still less than 3,000 miles. I don’t use this vehicle very much any more. It will be going back to the dealership again for the noise as soon as I have the time.
I can in all honesty say that this is the worst vehicle that I have ever owned. I originally thought that I would just trade it off, but my conscience got the better of me and I just thought about the poor bloke that would inherit my problems.
DaveM
I just can’t take the clacking noise. I drove the Baja today and my blood pressure just goes through the roof. I thought the Baja would be a fun car that would meet all of my needs. It is fun, I do have to admit that, and it does meet my needs, but I do not think that I will be keeping it because of that noise. I know it is not normal, no mechanic outside of the Subaru dealership believes the noise is a normal engine noise. My confidence is gone. All I wanted from Subaru is to fix the noise.
I have been looking for a replacement and I probably will be trading it off on a 2004 Chevy S-10 short box / Chevrolet S10-Crew Cab . This will meet my needs and the engine is quiet and there is no clacking.
DaveM
For Minnesota: 1 unsuccessful repair of a completely failed braking or steering system likely to cause death or substantial bodily injury, 4 attempts or 30 business days out of service for other defects.
For Wisconsin: 4 repair attempts - 30 days out of service.
I'd also recommend you fire your lawyer. If he's a lemon law specialist he should be more familiar with those laws. That's like a school teacher not knowing her ABCs.
Take a deep breath, call 800-SUBARU3, and make that appt. You'll get better results by working with them, instead of working with 800-WESUE4U.
-juice
I am quite familiar with the Lemon Law in both Minnesota and in Wisconsin, and don't really need you to lecture me on law. I needed clarification on which law would apply since I live in Minnesota and the car was purchased in Wisconsin and reciprocity between the two states.
Regardless the Subaru Baja I bought is junk. The engine noise drives me crazy, and is developing more problems as the days go by. I am sure that it will not be a problem meeting the criteria for either state.
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The original post contained names, email address's and phone numbers.
The modified version, removing this information is listed below.
11-29-03 I purchased 2003 Subaru Baja. Purchased with 12 miles.
My Baja currently has less than 3,000 miles
Today's date: 01-29-04
Three weeks ago I noticed a different noise coming from the engine, when the engine is cold. The noise is very loud and apparent when the engine is cold, in drive, and when you accelerate. A constant clacking noise that sounds like your lawn mowers engine. The noise subsides when the engine is warm, but can be still heard. Currently I have to let the Baja warm up for 15 minutes before the noise is reduced.
On 01-21-04,I called the dealership that I purchased the Baja from for an appointment to have this noise checked out. I gave the dealership the details of the problem and made an appointment for 7:30 a.m. on 01-22-04. Later in the afternoon on 01-22-04, the mechanic from the dealership called me at work and informed me that the noise that I was hearing was normal for this size engine, to which in turn I strongly disagreed with him. If the noise were normal for this size engine, I would have heard it before. I did not hear it on the two times I took the vehicle for a test drive, and did not hear it all through the Month of December. When questioned on why the noise just had started, I was told that it may be "environmental". I did not buy this, but could see that there was no use arguing with him on the phone. I picked up the vehicle after 1:30p.m. That afternoon.
Service Ticket: 77815
CUST REPORTS CLACKING NOISE WHEN COLD FROM ENGINE WHEN IN MOTION. NOISE INCREASES WITH SPEED. NOISE GOES AWAY AFTER 20 MIN
CAUSE: BYB85
NO PROBLEM FOUND
VERIFIED NOISE WHEN COLD NOISE WENT AWAY WHEN ENG WARMED UP THIS IS NORMAL PISTON NOISE ON A 2.5L ENGINE'S
Luckily for me I work for a company that is in the distribution business. We have our own mechanics that maintain a fleet of vehicles from cars, trucks, and vans to semi trucks. I requested that they listen to the noise, which they did. The consensus was the noise that we were all hearing was caused by the "lifters". This was their opinion only from hearing the noise, since they cannot work on the vehicle due to the warrantee.
I filed a complaint online at with Subaru the afternoon of 01-22-04 and received the following reply back:
Thank you for visiting the Subaru Web site and for your message. We are sorry to learn of the circumstances that prompted your message. Your frustration is understandable. We will contact XXXX Subaru about your concerns. Once our research is completed we will contact you.
Again, thank you for contacting Subaru of America, Inc. Should you have any questions regarding this reply please call us at 1-800-XXX-XXXX (1-800-XXX-XXXX). Refer to the case number 581029 when calling as this will help expedite your call.
Name XXXXXXXXXX
I called the 1-800 number and requested to speak with this representative on 01-26-04. He was unavailable. I left a message with the representative detailing the problem, and was told that my complaint would be recorded.
I called the 1-800 number and requested to speak with this representative on 01-27-04. He was unavailable. The representative that I spoke with on the phone this day was not really willing to help me and stated that my case was assigned to XXXXXXXX. I reiterated my problem with the vehicle and requested that this be noted in the case.
Which brings us to today, 01-29-04. Feeling that I was not getting any correct answers and that my problems were not being addressed I decided to make an appointment with another Subaru Dealership. I call the dealership this afternoon and attempted to make another appointment for my Baja. Once connected to the service department I started to describe my problem and was cut short by the service department lady. I was informed that a new notice / memo was just issued by Subaru regarding this noise, and that I could make an appointment if I really wanted to, but there was nothing that they could do to help me, and that Subaru is stating that this noise is a normal noise due to the re-design of the engine and as long as it goes away after 20 min, when the vehicle is warmed up there is no problem.
So now I drive a vehicle that sounds like a lawn mower until the engine is warm enough that the noise subsides. I have not heard back from Subaru.
Original posting above.
Since this post, I have test driven 4 other Baja's, none of them make the noise as described above. I have contacted a lemon law lawyer and am aware of what steps need to be taken for this law and the reciprocity between the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and do not believe that I wish to pursue this path. It is to time consuming.
My point is that dealership number one said that there is no problem. Dealership number two didn't even want to help me. And I have received no more correspondence with Subaru when contacted via the internet. When calling the 1-800 number provided I received no assistance or help. Yes, I probably could try to make another appointment with another dealer and drive over two hours one way to have them look at it, but I shouldn't have to do that. I am very honest person, so much so, that I will return a pen to a supermarket if I mistakenly forget to return it after writing a check. I want nothing from anyone that I have not purchased, or worked for. All I wanted from Subaru, was to have the noise corrected. I was not concerned that started so soon after purchasing the vehicle, and I wanted nothing else from anyone. Nothing is perfect, but everything can be corrected. But all I received is resistance at every turn.
So that brings us to today. I cannot live with the noise from the engine, it absolutely drives me crazy. When accelerating it sounds like playing cards clothed pinned to fork of a bicycle that clack from the spokes in the wheel. Even if the noise goes away after 15 to 20 min., who has that much time to wait for a vehicle to warm up several times a day. When I was a young boy I was told to choose my battles wisely. Even now if the noise was corrected, how could I be assured that I would not have to go through this in the future with any other issues or problems. I took tomorrow off from work and an planning on trying to trade the Baja off. I feel it would be easier to eat a few thousand dollars than to feel frustrated, it may just be time to simply move on and learn from this lesson.
Thanks.
Patti
Once again, I'm sorry about your frustration and the problem. We will do our best to try to help.
Patti
Am I disappointed .. YES. Has Subaru listened to my complaints YES .. have they done anything besides the standard " I feel your pain" routine .. NO. To add insult to injury , let me add that the dented the front quarter panel at the dealership while installing the new short block , failed to clean the car after the finished their repairs and left greasy hand prints on the door handles and post.
Its not as if I am surprised at the car being back at the dealership. It was the very concern i shared with Subaru in reporting the problem. Exactly how many times does a dealership have to replace a short block .. not many I'm guessing ( or at least hoping)... so what are the chances they are going to get everything exactly right ... slim ? Not really their fault . You wouldn't; ask a surgeon to replace a heart on his own without any practice or assistance , would you ?
Nightmare YES . So if any of you lovely representatives of Subaru are out there, I hope you read this . I hope you respond appropriately and give me a new car that has been properly assembled from the beginning .
Wait . One more insult. The car failed in the middle of my business day on the way back to my office from the closing on a $900K piece of property. Because another dealership was 17 miles closer in THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF MY HOME < OFFICE AND DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE< I HAD TO PAY $47 TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT THEIR DEFECTIVE BEAST.
I'll let you know if Subaru stand up to their reputation , but so far a BIG BIG BIG DISAPPOINTMENT
Yours is the very first major engine problem on the EJ257 engine at Edmunds, the first.
Your dealer was awful they deserve to hear it.
Call 800-SUBARU3 and be polite, see what they can do to remedy the situation.
Tip: do not shout. I used to work in a Help Desk and those people got nowhere fast. The polite ones get the best service.
-juice
I don;t think the dealer is awful .. i don;t even think that subaru or their products are awful .
I do think that this should have popped up on their radar screen by now as i have spoken to the Subaru customer servcie 3 times, My dealer 4 times, the regional subaru rep once .....I don't think that being calm is getting anywhere .
As an update . I just got the call this afternoon ... yup .. thats right ... not getting the car back today . I am told that the part did not arrive , but everything , inlcuding the dent repair should be done by next wednesday ... so i have to arrange for a ride to the dealership to pick up a loaner ... sigh ... I wish i would have saved a little longer and bought a mercedes or lexus where the servcie department actually picks you up and/or deliver the loaner vehicle.
:sick:
My Miata will knock if I mistakenly lug the engine. Sounds painful.
-mike
-mike
-Brian
-mike
-Brian
Verbal is not written, I'm fairly certain that the manual will specify non-synthetic. Just giving you a heads up.
-mike
Seat of the pants, it sounds to me like piston slap (which is a battle in and of itself to get warranty coverage, just ask Larry!), but who knows at this point.
I am the worst about divulging more information than necessary and I cannot even begin to relate how many times that honesty, that...... trait... has bit me in the rear. :sick:
They can tell you anything you want, but it's what's in the book that counts...
-mike
Anyone have any ideas before I head back up into high altitude?
Are there any Subaru groups or clubs in the mountain states that you could contact? My guess is this is a fairly common problem in the Rockies. My understanding is because the air is so thin up there, that the air/fuel ratio gets all screwed up at high altitudes.
Bob
-mike
Thanks for the replies. My Baja actually is a turbo. I had the dealer check the fuel filter and it was clean. I was thinking mass air flow sensor or o2 sensor but they claim that if any of that was off the ECM would have shown a code. The ECM had no stored codes. I had also considered bad fuel but I only use name brand 91 octane fuel. Very confusing.
Sean
As far as octane goes, the thin air actually makes it less important. That's why gas stations sell lower octane gas in the mountains.
I think you just got a bad batch of gas. I'm very surprised it didn't throw a code, though. If you see a fuel tanker at the gas station, get gas somewhere else. The process of filling up those old tanks kicks up all the debris that's normally at the bottom of the tank.
Must be quite a luxury to have pipe-fed fueling stations! If you ever come to Alaska, turn a blind eye to the tankers or you will run out of fuel long before you find a pipelined station.
i brought the lead sled to the dealer, and they replaced the head gasket and replaced the timing belt for the price of the part only, very nice....since they had to take the old one out anyway to perform this work....
now, the next morning, the car sounded like my college '62 beetle, a loud ticking noise which with increasing rpms, became less noticeable... quite obnoxious.....
my primary garage listened and thought perhaps the valves needed to be adjusted, so i then contacted the dealer, spoke to the service folks, and was told in no uncertain terms that the work performed could not have impacted the valves, and i then asked them why the engine now makes a most unpleasant and still persistent ticking noise, when it did not exist in any way prior to this major engine work..
what i got was nothing, no answer, they don't know why this is..... not quite a satisfactory reply.....
the car is going to the dealer next week, and the owner will personally take the car home, and drive so as to hear the problem (which is worse at cold start up)....(because the service dept steadfastly states that there is nothing really wrong with the car, this noise is not uncommon or abnormal, yeah right !!!!!!!)
i've read ad naueum about piston slap, valve adjustments, and wondering if this is a much more common problem than we all know....
i do have an extended comprehensive warranty from a 3rd party purchased from the dealer when initially bought, thank god for this, i hope to get my monies worth...
spending thousands of dollars for what is touted to be a quality product and now having to deal with this disquieting noise is unacceptable and insulting to all those who've purchased these subarus in good faith.
Does the car otherwise run smoothly? If so, it is likely that they at least set the timing properly. Keep after them - this sounds like a resolvable situation (in your favor!).
I have my maintenance done at 'Nice Car' Subaru shop in Fort Collins. Bob, the owner, is a Subaru fanatic and would probably discuss this with you.
Anyone heard of this? Did I damage the seal? Does this sound like something serious? At this point the leak is barely noticeable - but I tend to worry.
Thanks
So I would begin by replacing it. Make sure you wipe the surface clean and be sure the old gasket doesn't stick on (that set more than a few CR-Vs ablaze around 2002 or so).
Also, don't overtighten it else it might pinch the oil filter gasket. I'd even dab some clean, fresh oil on the gasket so it slides on smoothly.
If it's not there, I would tape a clean paper towel under the car overnight and use that to help trace exactly where the leak is. Use a plumb bob.
Best of luck.
I'd just check the oil level each time you stop for gas, that should be often enough.
I think there is an oil light if the level gets low, too (not sure about that).
the dealer replaced numbers 2 and 4 pistons, and by god,
what a miracle, the obnoxious piston slap was eliminated !!!
praise the heavens above the i had (and have) an extended
warranty......... 1800 bucks later.....
shame on subaru, the latest consumer reports car issue,
lists the same engine for 2003 as being extraordinarily problematic,
as it received an all black circle, noting that customer complaints
were overwhelming....
So piston slap wasn't all that common.