I have a 1998 Subaru Forester S with 150,000 miles on it. The engine just died this weekend (blown head gasket apparently). According to the mechanic who looked at it (someone I don't know as this happened while I was away for the weekend), the engine has a lot of aluminum in it and so gets damaged easily if it overheats, which it did.
With this many miles on it, I'd probably just let the car go, rather than spend probably about $2K to replace the engine BUT I just put a bunch of money into it two months ago for a new fuel tank, sensors and lines, new rear struts and new pistons for the rear hatch. Plus four brand-new tires. So if I decide just to junk the car, that money is pretty much down the toilet.
Any opinions on whether or not it's worth replacing the engine? The body's in good shape and I had the clutch replaced a couple of years ago.
2006-09-05 02:04:53 · 7 answers · asked by kamoore1963 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
At $2000 , I think it might be worth it considering what it would cost to replace the car.
2006-09-05 02:14:28 · answer #1 · answered by tman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do a web search for "used Japanese engines"
I don't know where you live but in my city there is a company that imports used engines from Japan. They have some sort of a smog law that generates these engines with about 40,000 miles on them. I replaced one in a Subaru a few years ago for less than a $1,000 and that includes the coffee I drank while doing the work. If you can find an outfit like I'm describing in your town and can do the work yourself, it might pay to replace the engine. After all, the new tires alone will be a significant loss.
Also, if you decide to replace the car with a used one, you may be able to swap the tires to the replacement vehicle.
2006-09-05 09:26:14 · answer #2 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With everything replaced that you said, for the $2000 you would have a car near new. The other thing with yours is that you have owned it awhile I know the car, if you buy another and if it is used you may just be buying someone's headache. There is a place in Redding, CA that sells engines from Japan. What I was told is that the Japs take their pollution seriously, and that they require owners to replace engines after 40,000 miles. This place in redding buys some and then sells them in the US. CA also takes polution seriously so the engines should be good enough to meet their standards. I have bought from this salvage yard in Redding, when I lived in Oregon and they even delivered that far away. I do not remember the name of the company but I look up Redding and Salvage, I came up with this web site: findusedparts.com It says they sell used foreign parts. What I had bought was fenders for a Chevy PU, they were new fenders but made in Japan.
2006-09-05 09:19:43 · answer #3 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right now, with a bad motor, your car has very little value. In running condition, it would have a wholesale value of about $2000 (based on real dealer auction results). You have already spent some money on repairs. You can not buy a replacement car for less than the cost of repair. If you replace the engine, you most likely can get several more years of service out of it. I would fix the car!!
2006-09-05 10:23:17 · answer #4 · answered by fire4511 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Visit the newer generation forum at http://www.ultimatesubaru.net
and ask in there.
You can get a rebuild from http://www.ccrengines.com/
and Emily, from that company, frequents the site.
Some people are going with the 2.2 install instead of the 2.5 due to the head gasket issue and the 2.2 not being an interference engine...
2006-09-05 09:14:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
think about a replacement from a paper you can smell of them to see if they smell burned or not. salvage yard
2006-09-05 09:20:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
cheap junkyard engine
2006-09-05 09:17:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋