my subaru forester just laid down on me...

[caseydog]

A good bit of what could be wrong depends on the mileage. Cam belts are good for about 100,000 miles the cam belt idlers and tensioners need to be looked at and or changed. I have also heard of water pump failures.

my Subaru has 86k miles, and it's not the timing belt. It will still turn over and crank, just very rough idle and will not move under it's own power...

Yeah, if it started again, it's not the timing belt.

Might be a faulty Kuneutson valve.

http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_pa ... ducts_id=9


CD

[steve smoot]

Well CD, you might have known...I was going to order one of those "Passenger Noise Reducers" and they were all sold out...dang it...that would have at least reduced my stress level...

[M B Hamilton]

The boxer 2.5 doesn't even get it's best gas mileage until you get past 50K. 86k is just broken in. Head gasket problems were limited to the 4 valve/cylinder engines, don't think they were put into the Foresters.

Hang in there, time will tell.

[Larry C]

Well CD, you might have known...I was going to order one of those "Passenger Noise Reducers" and they were all sold out...dang it...that would have at least reduced my stress level...

You said you just filled it with gas yesterday. You may have a plugged fuel filter from crap in the gas. I have had that situation more than once.
BTW I am looking at a new Forester myself. It will be interesting to see what your problem is.

Oh...... The 2011 forester 2.5 engine will have a timing chain instead of the timing belt. I understand Honda has already gone to timing chains.

Larry C.

[Shadow Catcher]

We have owned Subaru's since 1977 and I am on #13. My son is driving #11 with 300,000+ miles. I don't even buy them till they have 70,000 miles. I will be interested in what the problem is.

[sdakotadoug]

I'm on my 3rd. 245K on first one 246K on second one and only 146 on current one. My experience is timing belts and when they have lots of miles electrical problems. Next car will be another Forester. Doug

[Alleged User]

Yes, do tell what the issue is. My Forester is a 2007 and just turned 50K. Not a whisper of trouble so far, and I absolutely love my car. Curious to see what's troubling yours.

[asianflava]

I'll bet that it's the muffler bearings.

[Mightydog]

I'll bet that it's the muffler bearings.

Hey, I just paid $500 to get mine replaced!

Steve--what's the good word?

[steve smoot]

Well guys, there is no good word yet...taking you car to the garage is kinda' like going to the emergency room...

I went by the shop this morning and the owner says "it sounds like it has jumped time" ??? so what does that mean? you gotta' take an xray...

If it did jump time and the belt did not actually break, that would be good. It will still cost a bundle to replace all that stuff like the timing belt, water pump, etc. but, it will not cost as much as if it had broken while running.

stay tuned for the next episode of...As The (smoot's) World Turns...

[caseydog]

Maybe a tensioner is going out, allowing the belt to jump. If so, you may as well do the whole timing belt service, since it will be due for one in another 19K, anyway.

Isn't it great to have all of us to diagnose your car problems from 1,000 miles away.

I'm still leaning toward the Kuneutson valve.

CD

[Cliffmeister2000]

Against popular wisdom, I always buy the 100,000 warranty. My truck has 63k on it, no problems whatsoever. My wife's car, however, has had two episodes, each of which paid for the warranty.

[Shadow Catcher]

The timing belt etc may be covered by warranty as it is part of the emissions system, (used to be any way), depending on what is found I would be A) checking the warranty information and B) talking with Subaru of America, and remember they do not want to pay for it so you have to know what your rights are, and hold their feet to the fire!
The belt is supposed to last 115,000 miles.

[steve smoot]

I appreciate the ideas about the warranty fellows, but I bought this car second hand three years ago and there is no warranty...it would be nice if Subaru would like to pay for it, but I'm not going to hold my breath...

here is a little more of the story about this Subaru...we had a 1999 Subaru forester type-L that we bought new. It had 98,000 on her and no problems at all.

My son-in-law needed a car and ask to buy it, so I said sure why not. I already had the 2001 Forester type-S with 60,000 miles. So far, we have put 28,000 miles on it and only spent $144 in maintenance.

Still, I think the '99 is/was a better car. To top it off, the son-in-law only drove it six months and traded it for a Toyota truck. If I had know he was going to pull that he would not have gotten my Subaru.

[Miriam C.]

Well guys, there is no good word yet...taking you car to the garage is kinda' like going to the emergency room...

I went by the shop this morning and the owner says "it sounds like it has jumped time" ??? so what does that mean? you gotta' take an xray...

If it did jump time and the belt did not actually break, that would be good. It will still cost a bundle to replace all that stuff like the timing belt, water pump, etc. but, it will not cost as much as if it had broken while running.

stay tuned for the next episode of...As The (smoot's) World Turns...

Um shouldn't the computer have told the mech. if it was a timing issue. I mean .........

My truck stalled again even after I got it tuned. Just stalled out and the check engine light came on but it started back up. Gonna put it on a code reader.

Good luck but if this guy can't do better, consider telling him bye and find a dealer. Not sure I would pay someone who couldn't find my issue any faster than that....