Buying a Used WRX: Common Problems
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- čas přidán 24. 09. 2017
- Today I will be making a howto guide on how to buy a WRX. With many problems soon after my purchase, I thought some people would appreciate some tips and stuff to look for when purchasing one.
#1 how to look for head gasket failure
#2 looking for oil leak in valve cover
#3 bad struts
#4 belt squeaks (serpentine, AC, Timing belt)
#5 Balanced idle and drive.
Rob: 2004 Subaru WRX
Colin: 2009 Subaru WRX - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Keep in mind these are just some general tips of what to look for when buying a WRX! I am in no means an expert, just thought there wasn't enough videos like this on youtube, and wanted to help people! If you didn't know I personally did a full JDM swap to my WRX, and I made this video to help avoid that. Have a great day : )
Rob Cameron - Car Vlogs how long should I keep that in mind for?
Hey there. Not to be rude, but just wanted to let you know, at 2:19 you said milkshake on the back of the oil cap was indication of blown headgasket, and that is not completely true. Yes, it can be possible to show signs, but where I am in Oregon, 95% of all the cars I see at work (we do 50+ cars a day) Have that on the cap.
It's mostly caused by not letting your car come up to full temp, i.e. short trips/commute, starting and driving right away so it stays cold. When that happens, condensation builds in the crankcase as the engine cools down, and forms as a very small amount of water. Letting the engine get up to temp fully allows this water to evaporate out.
Rob Cameron - Car Vlogs about how much would it cost to fix these problems
or maybe its just from the water they add to your fuel hehe ;) in your US big engines you could have enough condensation water to get this effect but usually in 4-6cyl 2-3l engines that little amount of water vaporizes during process... in EU whenever I see the white plague, there is a problem with the engine... also the subaru EJ20 engine is known for its head gasket problems - not as much as the EJ25, but it happens
Rob Cameron - Car Vlogs really appreciate it video bro
#1 Common Problem: The person that owned it before you
I got a brand new one and it was terrible. I sold it and the guy KEPT it for a year before the motor blew up.
Marcus Cassius did u go to a Subaru specialist
2005 wrx, no mods, 1 owner. I lucked out
That's for any car Subarus just need extra care
i mean, who buys a Subaru and doesnt offroad it weekly
after owning about 25 blobeye WRX (and some STIs and a T25 and a spec C) I can tell you this: 1. check if there is any oil in the engine by using the dipstick - if it shows nothing or below minimum, forget the car and go home... 2. get a OBD2 scanner to connect to the service port of the car (below the steering wheel) and check for any saved errors... 3. have someone with you who recognizes the sound of a damaged connecting rod bearing... (you have to make a test drive first in order to get the oil warm - then just rev and listen to the music - before drive someones car, have a look at the brakes and test them at low speed)... 4. make some slow turns forward and backwards with the car, to check if the center differential has any problems - starts bucking the whole car, first a bit then more and more after some time (gearbox change is needed then) that doesnt show when driving on the road in the beginning thats why you have to do slow turns ;)... 5. if engine and gearbox are ok you have a good car already, and now you can check engine gaskets and radiator for leaks... 6. go on a bumpy road to check the suspension, usually the strut bearings get fucked up first, you will hear it... 7. check the electric, lights - all of them... 8. check if AC is working... If all that was OK you found a nice impreza ;) known problems: *OEM radiator sometimes just leaks even when replaced not so long ago (upgraded aluminum radiator helps your boxer to stay cool), *AC compressor doesnt work - the owner often says the system just needs to be refilled but usually the compressor is dead, *license plate lights dont work - bad construction and rotting away, often needs to be replaced complete, *inside of the headlights have a crack - dosent look good, isnt a problem...*if the exhaust was changed or modified check if there still is a cat converter, if not the 2nd lambda probe must be deleted in the ecu or cheated with a adapter, otherwise you get a engine check light (usually when driving for some time constantly in 5th gear and about 50-60mph - error says system to lean) if exhaust is stock and the error comes anyway, your 2nd lambda probe is bad - replace it... Dont know about US blobeye but the US bugeye had the same weak brakes as the NA impreza - get a EU WRX brake system, its not as good as STI but still better then the NA impreza brakes ;) When using your impreza remember this car was not build for highway pulls, it has WRC genes and loves curvy mountain roads, always get it warm before you floor it and cool it down before turn it off, check your oil every 2nd tank stop... and never leave it in your garage during winter time - go and drift that bitch in the snow
79johnJ great information man, I'm looking to buy a 07 Hawkeye wrx but it's about 4 hours away so I hope I'm not disappointed when I arrived and was just looking for things to look out for
I enjoyed reading your comment more than listening to this guy talk . thanks
Im planning to buy a WRX (either a blobeye or hawkeye), it will be the first car I buy myself :) (current car is a '99 Jetta 5-speed, dad gave it to me 3 yrs ago when I got my license). Thank you so much for the advice, I screenshotted this comment to save it
79johnJ very useful information. I wish I had seen this before buying my 06 WRX (week ago) car didn’t have much oil in it so I’m not sure if that means it will break soon
Thank you so much, i will keep my honda civic 🤔
“Obviously the pros outweigh the cons.”
*Hands at same height*
This made Me laugh so hard bro. 2 years later And im rollin
I bought my STi from a 70 year old man =D, he had like 10 cars.
U selling it
@@samialhussain6988 yes
Damn what a cool old man
Still have it?
Mormon church parking lots are the best place to shoot car videos.
You’re definitely not wrong
There's just so many in and around utah.
#1. a shaking steering wheel at idle is not due to engine balancing. It means you have a bad rack and pinion. The steering shaft is not connected to the engine, and does not share any mounts. #2 The whine you hear was from the transmission gears, not the turbo. Turbos do not whine, they 'whistle.' #3 Swaying back and forth is not due to struts, it is due to bad bushings on your 'sway' bar, or anti-roll bar, or bad sway bar endlinks. If you push down on any corner of the car and it rebounds quickly, then yes your struts OR springs could be the problem.
i then he means in a standstill.
Owned a 2007 Impreza WRX for 5 years. I never want to drive anything else. Amazing car.
Damn what's the mileage now??
Looking at 06 worth it? Will keep for ever!
2003 WRX here. Bought it new in Oct of 03 and it keeps going.
Yes... it's worth it man. Just make sure it's what you really want be patient with the purchase don't jump anything... I found one on Craigslist and it's never left me stranded... and if you plan to mod it keep it just under 400 hp in engine mods my first issue came up yesterday was a misfire on cylinder 3... But that's the only problem I've had with mine. About 130k origional miles.
Thank you guys. Comes down to back seat space. Is there more in a 2012 WRX wagon than a 2006? I know the 02 is pretty tight. Have 09 Mazda 3 sedan and fits dog barely.
18 years later I my stock gc8 wrx still going strong!!! Gidday from Aussie brah🤙
I had so many issues when I bought my 05 WRX. Previous owner neglected it, so I basically had to nurse my car back to health. Due to the demographic of the owners of these cars, I'd be very picky if I were to consider buying another one used, unless it's a project car. I refuse to let anyone drive it after spending so much time and money to get it back to normal.
Yeah…subie owners are the worst…
@@AutoSearPin 😉 We love to tweak
@@Hunter-th1hm you mean rice.
Very informative dude! Can't wait until I can afford a WRX.
Thanks my dude!
Will be the regret of your life.
Here's a couple statements from people woth more experience than me.
So speaking from about a decade of experience working on Subaru's or basically since the WRX came to America in 2002, I'll give you my opinion. First, in order to qualify this opinion, I bought my 2003 wagon off the lot end of 2002 brand new. I've replaced motors, head work, pistons, rebuilt trannies, all form of suspension and brake work, rotated kits, flipped manifolds with FMIC's, swapped a few transfer cases, installed a couple of dog box gears, rear end swap, 5x114 hub swaps, etc. My car currently has an 04 STI motor in and that's about it and I'll tell you exactly why right now.
Subaru's are not, never were, never built to be and certainly shouldn't be race cars in stock form. The street version isn't anything like the race version as opposed to the evo 8/9 which was almost the same race chassis minus a few parts needed to qualify it for homologation rules. They are economy cars that they very slightly beefed up, and I mean slightly, and threw a turbo on. Example. The 5 speed transmission in the 2003 WRX is the same box out of a 1987 Subaru Loyale. A 127hp Subaru Loyale. Same tranny for the 227hp 2003 WRX. They eventually widened the gears 1mm halfway through 2002 which can be noted by the change from "AA" to "BA" on the tranny code, due to a clear mistake on their part. Now that example has F-All to do with the motor, so let's look at that.
The motor itself is fine for the stock hp level generated. You can flash the map and get some decent power out of it, throw some widgets at it, make a bit more, but these things are not race cars. The piston ring lands are way to close together for boost. The most common failure I've seen has been ring land failure at boost levels around 24psi. The rods are ehh, they are ok. The crank is forged. The aluminum block on the EJ205 has virtually no support on the minor and major thrust angle. The EJ257 STI block does but both are considered inferior to the Japanese EJ207 or the EJ22T blocks which are closed deck. The issue is that if Subaru can cut a corner they usually do. They build their parts with borrow parts. They seem to have a philosophy that if it didn't break a lot, don't fix it. This stems from the people they market to and it isn't me and you. They make cars for grandma. They make cars for the lovely lesbian couple in Leadville, CO. They make car for people who are going to fuck up and throw 89 octane in the WRX they got upsold on at the dealer and so the cars, more accurately, the ECU's, are programmed to allow for this lowest common denominator behind the wheel. What this means is they are woefully underpowered compared to their potential right off the factory line. This is opposed to most Hondas which will run at 85% IDC rock stock. Subaru's run rich as shit, especially at the top end going down to nearly 9-1 AFR on the factory map and even lower for the low octane map. So the cars are built for idiots because they have to be. Idiots buy cars, car manufacturers know this, and tune them accordingly. Subaru tunes their so anyone can drive it and take margin care of it.
The problem is that they didn't make the WRX with enough nuts to handle much more than stock power. It can of course, and you hear about people running 400hp stock block Subaru's, but by comparison, the number of blown up cars making less than 400 is much higher. We hear about the success however, not the failure in what I call, the Ever Positive Subaru Fan Boy Best car in the World Syndrome. Mind you, I own one of these cars. But there is no real qualitative look at these cars because the fan base is more rabid than a Starbucks full of Hipsters on the day of a new iPhone release. They specifically go into internet polls and force Subaru to the top regardless of any real understanding of quality. Look back a few years at SUV of the year for the major magazines. See anything funny there? Like the Forrester seems to win, while you rarely see one? Yeah. That's them. I am not saying they are not nice off the factory line. I'm saying, these ain't race cars. None of em. The closest they got was the STI which has, other than cosmetics, has gone virtually unchanged for years now.
I've never had a head gasket issue. The spark plugs are an absolute cock to replace compared to an inline 4. The tranny comes off nice but you really have to lift the front end to slide it out. In almost every scenario, it's easier to remove the entire motor and tranny, rather than do work on the car. I've only just got to where I'm comfortable doing a timing belt job with the motor in and have it down to about 1.5 hours. Simple things can be a bitch like changing the water pump requires the timing belt to come off, so that can become an all day job quickly. The battery is in a horrible place. The top mount intercooler is an absolutely shite idea. It just heat soaks at idle regardless of the "Turbo Shield".
In short, the pistons are absolute shite. The rest of it is ok. The STI motor is better to a degree, pre-EJ255(06 up). After that, it is widely agreed there is little difference between the 2.5L motors. The 6 Speed is vastly superior to the 5 speed. Everything in Japan is better than the best we get.
The proper car to get is an unmolested 06-07 WRX or STI of any year since they are all about the same except in style. I resent the lack of an STI sedan these days. For some unknown reason, the 06-07 WRX came with Subaru 4/2 brakes and an odd gear ratio which went away with the 08'. It still has the EJ255 motor but uses the TD04 turbo which I believe is no longer used on the WRX. Still the 06-07 is the best performance dollar. IF you about looks, gotta go with the Bugeye. It's the last WRX that had the classic rally look that Subaru was known for.
www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/162154-post-04-subarus-are-junkbuyers-beware/
Reply
Common problem number 1: 16-24 year old kids bangin' WRX's off the rev limiter, and beatin the living piss out of them for XX,XXX miles.
Amen, these cars dont get any respect
I am in the process of buying a 2005 Impreza and look forward to seeing more of your videos!
Did you buy it ?
I was your 280 subscriber you deserve more you have really good content and videos
Thanks dude!
Was thinking about getting a 05’ wrx Impreza. This video is really useful to know what to look out for.
Just discovered your channel from Rspec Ryan’s subbed now 👌🏼
Thanks for the support dude!
I'm still driving a 2004 that I bought new and still daily. It's been a good car. I'm on my forth battery. And in the last years replaced rad/hoses, timing belt/water pump, motor/trans/pitch mounts, front passenger CV, and shifter linkage. But honestly it's been a great car.
Ole Roy they have slightly higher maintenance then say a Honda, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons
Ole Roy you replaced the motor? How many miles were on it and why?
@@Dragunov302 no he said mounts not the motor he was exposing wich ones and the location of said mount otherwise I’m sure he would not be saying that it’s been a good car lol
The pistons don't fire at one another that would be an opposing cylinder engine not a boxer!
yes you are definitely correct haha! how i explained it was just wack, but thats what i meant!
I bought mine new and I've owned it for 13 years now. Tons of mods and zero issues. I did all my mods myself the correct way with quality parts. Either I am lucky or ppl out there are doing things the wrong way.
that just means you know how to check your oil level. subaru's eat so much oil and people arent used to it. so the oil gets low so often and KABOOM
crashed my 2002 wrx 2 months ago and looks exactly like robs one. so sad it looks so beautiful. love the red colour
Alright what do you do if it shakes? I know what a misfire is like on an I4 but what’s it like in a boxer?
Looking into buying an '05 2.5RS, it overheats after about 10-15 minutes. Owner is a friend of the friend who pointed me too it and has offered me parts etc from his other RS, any thoughts? He's asking really cheap and is open and honest with the probable water pump failure and/or coolant leak
2013 bought a '04 wrx with 168k miles with 4 previous owners. today it's at 210k just doing normal maintenance.
I've done intake, turbo inlet, tgv's, ported headers, cross pipe, up pipe, full exhaust, ots tune. Just monitor it regularly, check oil every fill up. buying a used wrx is possible if you look around.
If you want to check the timing belt, you can simply remove part of the cover on the driver's side, nothing major has to come out. You can check the belt wear and some of the pulleys.
Yes, ej205's don't have the headgasket problem as often, but these cars are getting old. If I were to get another, which i very well might, i'd give it a drive and assuming i wanted to go forward, i'd just get a compression and leak down test. it's like a 50-100 dollar investment but it can save you later.
Last thing to mention: before this car i hadn't worked on anything before. I taught myself with the exhaust and worked my way up to the timing belt and everything in between. there are resources for just about every job for this car. you can bang out about any job provided you have tools, time, and space.
Still have it?
@@Ballsack44 yup! Still going strong
@@CaptainHoldenian nice man
I know this video is old but at what mileage did your belt fail and was it ever replaced before?
If ur gonna buy a used subaru make sure the head gasket and timing belt has been done recently
U mean gaskets
I ended up with a 2017 ecoboost premium. I gotta say I'm very surprised with the performance. So much fun
I'm looking to buy an 2008-2009 impreza 1.5i 107hp awd (i know, low budget)
I'm living in a mountain zone so we have a lot of hills here, and my old vw polo 1.4 just lost transmission.
Is subaru a viable option for me?
White foamy stuff under your oil cap is just condensation. Usually appears on vehicles that operate in varying temps. Winter, summer, fall areas.
What a boot non sti or wrx 2009.. Just got one.. Could I still put a turbo in it and bring it up to the sti or wrx? What mods and parts should I replace first?
I got a 2004 blue suburu sedan automatic transmission but it only goes to 140 and it had turbo guage on the steering wheel on the the left but I can't seem to find the right car on the internet please help?
thanks man, this is going to be my first car
Hey I need some help guys. The clutch on my blobeye is a pull clutch and the release bearing keeps popping off. I have removed the gearbox multiple times and then put it all back together. My clutch then has no pressure and goes all the way to the floor and doesnt come back up. I bleed it and then it begins to gain enough pressure but then as soon as it comes back up, after a few more pumps it then goes straight back to the floor with a mechanical clunk sound then doesn't come back up. I really need help
Just few minor corrections, EJ205 didnt have as big of a head gasket issues as EJ255, Rocker cover gasket leaks are common on all cars, not only Subarus, yes its annoying especially on subaru, since you have 2 of them and along with the two gaskets you need to get 8bolt seals for each side. That can set you back around 100euro, but it isnt a difficult job to do. It isnt however sign of any major issue. Other than that great video, have my upvote and subscribe:) Rock on!
thanks for the feed back : ) yeah I was just frustrated because I didn't change them when I had the new engine out. And I just put the engine back in a week before this. Parts for me were about $30 canadian though, and took an hour!
Ringland issues are I'd say about equal on both, and mostly caused by drivers. I have seen 205s going 300+ miles with no issues, and then another ones gone just after 1st owner. Its how you drive them. Same can be said about head gasket issues, but because 255 is technically same head with bigger bore - meaning them walls are smaller. Under high boost, the gaskets have tendencies to go. Since the surface area on 205s is smaller, its not that big of an issue on them, but running high boost can result in that as well on stock heads
Zheiko Nileth I agree good comment
Don't forget the spark plug well gaskets for that valve cover too. Ringlands tend to happen more due to people lugging the engine. Just make sure the car is in the correct gear and don't floor it in a high gear.
this video is bang on
that whine is actually the transmission - not the turbo. All our 5 speeds sound like that. STi's don't have gear whine. But I enjoy the whine lol
gravity45b yeah I know haha! I was also talking about the boost though, hard to hear
Why does it whine? Mine does it in first and second gear when I let off the gas and start coasting always wondered if it’s normally or start riding the clutch earlier on?
Andrew Walker it's because the 5 speeds are really old and were originally made to withstand 100hp cars in the 80/90s for Subaru but to make it work for the WRX and 2000s Subarus they had to beef up 1st and 2nd; so those two gears are a bit like straight cut gears as a result
Thank you man 🤙🏽
I'm looking to buy a used 2002 EJ205 WRX right now in Germany. 150.000 km, 280HP, original LHD and two owners. KW suspension, STI seats and a big touchscreen radio with Bluetooth and all. Seems to be very good in terms of engine, maintenance and other stuff. But it has two rust spots (bubbles). One at the front bumper to body gap and one at the back. Estimated asking price is 11.000€.
Any tipps?
Biggest issue to look for is a slipping clutch.. people underestimate trying to launch an awd car... lots of slip
Damn, I got a 07 Hawkeye with 130,000 miles. Had a repaired head gasket and replaced turbo and it’s been running smooth
This is why I bought a Forester XT, same fun as WRX, more utility and owned by a generally calmer crowd
Sam Cyanide XT's are fantastic, but they do have the 2.5 which is known for head gasket problems
+Zack Hogan That's only for the non turbos. Turbo Subarus have much rarer head gasket problems due to them being MLS gaskets from the factory, whereas with the naturally aspirated ej25s it's nearly inevitable (could happen at 100k or 170k, or more) because of the composite materials used to make the gasket. I had an N/A Forester with the SOHC (EJ251 I believe) that needed it done at 140k and a Legacy GT with an EJ25D DOCH that needed it done at 170k.
I've noticed that actually, we get alot of 251's at the shop with head gasket problems around the 120 to 150k range
We've actually got one sitting on a pallet right now that needs gaskets lol. If mine ever decide to go I'm getting the cosworth gaskets. I've got a bugeye wagon with 225k and I haven't had any problems so far. Valve cover gaskets are the only thing I've had to do on the motor.
+Zack Hogan yeah, it certainly isn't impossible just in my experience I see it less on turbos. I always replace with fel-pro MLS gaskets and have run motors for 100k+ on them with no problems. If subaru installed good MLS gaskets from the factor the N/A motors would be bulletproof, because once I do the gaskets and timing belt they run forever. The last EJ25s (see: Forester 2013 N/A) had timing chains but not sure about the head gaskets. FA/FB20 seems pretty good so far besides the oil burn but if it runs forever I don't have a problem with adding a quart or so every couple thousand miles
Same situation happened to me with my 2006! Swapped with 2.0L JDM too!
Is it normal for the car to shake when on my steering and dash road don’t move at all just feel vibration in the seats
Probably not
thanks for the tips
No problem!
Hey, Rob Cameron thank you so much for this video, I am currently looking into buying a 2002 WRX with low miles but it seems that the valve cover is the only issue with the vehicle. Would you recommend buying the car and fixing the valve cover gasket or forget about it ?
The Valve cover baskets are a bit tricky because there’s 1 on each side, and it’ll take a while. But if thats the only issue then for sure!
@@robdog9265 Awesome thanks alot !
What should be mentioned for those inquiring these turbo vehicles is ask owner or dealer to do a COMPRESSION TEST ! ! It is quite costly as it may run $100-$200 depending on the shop but it will save you headaches along the road.
I recently got an STI 05 model -122K miles
- Oil was fine
- Coolant was normal and showed no issues
- No hesitation from the engine and ran smoothly.
- Drove 150 miles home and ran flawlessly
- 18 MPG City and 25 highway
7 days days after buying the car, it started to run rough only at cold starts. Took it to a mechanic to diagnose the issue and it resulted in low compression on all 4 cylinders ( 108-100-100-100) though they stated it was the exhaust valve causing the issue. I bought a car that had a run down engine. Sigh..
I’m looking at an 04 wrx this weekend. Hoping it works out but I don’t know jack about cars lol. I’m having to get a new car cause a deer hit my truck and totaled it (radiator shiz) but I’m getting most of what I payed for it back from insurance so I’ve been looking at WRX’s cause my friend recommended that
what would the maximum about of miles you would pay for? The one im looking at is 160k (I know I know) but it has a new head gasket, water pump, timing belt, valve cover gasket and some more stuff. no dents or scuffs. It's an 06. They're asking for 6k, is it worth it?
Way too much. I'm looking at a 2005 same miles for 2k!
I work in a garage and the creamy stuff on the oil cap is fairly normal and caused by moisture. Its only really concerning if you change the oil and there is a lot in the oil. Also belt noises are very common in subies from my experience.
condensation can cause that. but there is no reason for belt noises. I once heard a belt noise, and a day later my timing belt snapped lolol
@@robdog9265 also Belt noise can last for years just because yours went the next day doesn’t mean everyone will and that’s the common practice is actually usually the opposite
Are you from Wisconsin? I happen to be and I just notice the way you say about lol. Great video btw.
good video, thank you
I got a 04 wrx wagon for 6250 at 93K, drove only 500 miles and had to replace the steering pump(I just replaced the steering oil right after the purchase), I got told it was so dangerous if I go a little later and can spend couple hundreds more...I think probably add that to one thing...but I think it's common for many old cars that steering pump and rack is leaking.. Also is there any new problems in the near future, my struts and brakes are new. no slipping clutch, and seem there's no leaks at the bottom yet. One thing I'm worrying is I keep getting those fuel/oil smell every time I turn off the car and walk out. Any ideas of a potential problem?
Turbo timer get one
When I got mine, I saw smoke coming from the scoop. I opened up the hood and idk if it's any lines near the turbo, the exhaust, or what. But something down in the turbo area is leaking. So I'm kinda sad.
check valve cover gasket down the passenger side! the wat the exhaust made is it was sitting below the head and is toasting the valve cover faster than the other one. when it leaks oil drips down the hot exhaust causing it to smoke.
Its the same as NFS Underground right????
Hi i have a 2008 impreza when it starts theirs no movement but when i rev the car in park you can see the car rock side to side is this a problem?
No that’s the power o your engine letting you know how powerful it’s is.
im so glad my motor sounds like yours... i was worried
Made the same mistake and had to pay 2k in repairs. Could have been avoided if I would have just had it checked out. Put a ej255 in mine, awesome vid.
Awesome man! jealous, blobeye too?
Does it fully stock WRX and a fully stock WRXSTI make the same exhaust sound like rumble and like the actual sound or do the two cars sound right different stock
Same exact sound ones had 2.5 and other has 2.0 both ej both boxer engines atleast the older cool ones are anyway I don’t consider the new fa engines real Subaru’s I mean they are I no that but I think they sound like shit just my opinion of course
I’m
Looking at a 2002 WRX with 197k miles. He’s asking 3,500$ but I’m sure I can get it for cheaper and negotiate. Should I stay away because of the miles? It’s a mostly stock car, has a short ram intake and an Invidia n1 Street Catback exhaust
That seems a bit cheap, and a bit sketchy. If you aren’t afraid of some things happening that you can fix (head gasket) I would say yes, but if you don’t want to deal with that stuff wait it out and find a better deal
I wanted to get an WRX when I'm 18 but I'm scared of needing to fix everything on the engine when I get it since I don't really have the money for it. So if you don't have too much money, is a used WRX a good idea?
NO!!!
Well wish I watched This video before I bought my 05 Subaru wrx. I bought it for a trade (2003 Subaru Outback with 199k miles) and 3k on top. The wrx is pulling 327hp and runs on e85. The car has 197k but engine was rebuilt at 139k the car runs strong but it’s going to need a turbo soon. I also think it needs motor mounts and because every time I start it it shakes a lot. It also has a dirty IAC valve which causes the car rpm to bounce while idle. There is no check engine light but my Cobb access port is reading a cylinder misfire in 1 and 2 but it doesn’t feel or sound like it misfires nor the obd2 picked up a misfire. However the obd2 picked up a evap system error or gas cap? The transmission is a 5 speed manual and runs great. But when I shift into first I had to push in the shifter kinda hard. Idk if it is the short shifter. Also it has a stage 3 clutch and the clutch is hard is it supposed to be like that? The car also has a full sti interior but the carpet isn’t blue. Did I get a good deal or no? I need help please what do I do.
Dude rob talks hockey has a WRX too?! My man!!!
If you did this with with most cars your channel would explode
thank you for just jumping into the video!
Thanks for this video man! Getting a 07 wrx hatchback with 89k miles in 1 hour!
Has the car been good to you this past year?
@@olegandrushchenko1082 I actually did not end up purchasing the car as the owner definitely tried to hide issues with it lol. I ended up getting a 96 Tacoma for fun and it has actually been so much of a beast that it's my daily lol. Best of luck with your car search!
@@managerofkisses6103 thank you and that’s awesome man
@@managerofkisses6103 oh damn I also have a 96 Tacoma. Regular cab 5 speed
Struts are tough to figure out unless you lift the car off the ground on the lift and shake the rear wheels at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions followed by the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. If it clunks and moves some, time for new struts. Just pushing on the bumper as stated here could be struts - or just the rear shocks need replacing. I own a 2013 Subaru Legacy with 108,000 miles. It started clunking so I put it on a lift and did the standard test I list here and found no movement. I then had the rear shocks replaced (I lack the equipment to do it myself) and the clunking went away. So pushing on the bumper can tell you something is wrong, but it could be the struts or the shocks. Just a clarification.
I hope I can find a clean 05’ wrx sti when the time comes
I've never heard of headgasket problems being major issues with the ej205's, especially since the 04-05 ones are probably the best out of all the USDM turbo wrx engines. It's not an ej25d or ej251,3 that are common for headgasket issues
Not as common no. But still an issue. Many friends who respect their Blobeyes have new engines and multiple head gasket changes
I’ve only seen a handful of ej205’s with head gasket failure
Rob Cameron - Car Vlogs my s4 would wreck your subie
Bobby Quinn ya. I heard the same about the N/A engines.
@@jeffryperkins219 a hot wheels matchbox car being propelled by a soft breeze would wreck a subaru.
I had daily driven a '05 WRX for two years, it handled my beating like a tank, blew it up. Now I'm cruising in a boring LS400. I really miss my rally car, I think I'm gonna sell and buy myself an STI and responsibly give it another shot.
CZcams needs more videos like this! So fucked tired of the high production sponsored bullshit that comprises most car videos
Ok, I don’t know a lot about cars.. but when checking for this stuff does the car need to be turned on?
I’m also looking for a 2015 or newer.. do these same things apply? Or are there other methods or things i should be checking?
Hey man, Im about to buy a 03 WRX STi from a guy for 1,100 USD, it's so cheap because the Gearbox is Dead. If i were to replace it with another used one, How much would the parts cost approx, and if i fitted it myself over a weekend, how much would that add back onto the value of the car? Thanks man
Many JDM STis are also imported. Keep that I mind!
@@altairrules7419 this guy .... no such thing what an idiot ever heard of an import
Hey i really need help I’m looking to buy a WRX and i need to know about the difference with the 2004 wrx’s where 1 is an STI and the other isn’t what is the name for this car that isnt a sti?
You can use VIN look ups to determine the difference of both trims, that's a start. Another thing, they both have different EJ engines I think. There's a serval vids on YT and Subie owner pages that will help you out which will explain more.
No dis but did u read what u wrote I don’t understand it
So I’m currently looking to buy either a 2003 WRX or a 2002 Audi TT (not quattro) for about the same price, and I’m a college student who needs a car for commuting to work but also wants to have a shitton of fun driving, since I love driving. These cars are listed at a used car dealer. 1. Not a really respectful question, but how much did you pay for that, 2. Both cars at about $5500~$6500, which one might be better off considering maintenance, gas, etc? I know the WRX’s fuel economy isn’t that great, but it’s pretty similar to the TT’s. And I really want to know more about maintenance costs after understanding some possible problems. They are going to be my daily driver every other semester of college, which one should I choose?
I actually considered buying a TT as well. However, I stayed away because maintenance and parts, in general, are way more costly. They can be good cars, but you're going to have to pay for that clean title. If i were you I would get the WRX, but keep in mind that a lot of them were abused, so definitely get an inspection
Rob Cameron - Car Vlogs thanks for the help!!
Audi I am told will need special Audi proprietary tools to work on their autos
Great video and fabulous location Ian.
I moved away from full frame Canon and went fully Fuji cropped sensor. Never had any regrets. I find Fuji much more enjoyable to use. Don’t get me wrong the Canon system is cracking and the files are fabulous but it all got a bit boring and clinical. Now where’s the fun in that. Fuji for me from now on. It makes me want to go out take photographs. Cheers
I got a 97 impreza outback to use as a winter beater. I wanna take care of some things to make it more safe for driving. So, I have this canister on the right side of the engine bay, no top on it and nothing in it. Pretty sure it's my coolant overflow container.
Idk about 99% then again my wrx is auto, I haven't had to many issues with the car, I bought it from a old guy who wanted to get rid of it, it's pretty clean no rust and is the same red as the video car, in all its a great car that runs good
I want a 2006 wrx sooo bad but this is why I haven’t got one I’m scared to get a messed up one
Subcribed!
Hell yea buying a 02 wagon this weekend
Subaru coolant goes into the engine and looks low when it's full
Test drove a 05 wrx , first thing that happened white smoke coming out of the hood . 2 the 3 gear was grinding .3 going on reverse takes a long time since you almost need to let go off all the clutch lol
Steevnb * So how much did you pay for it?
How hard is it to change a timing belt on the ej205 I would like to know because I just acquired a 2005 WRX with 40,000 miles that has been sitting for 10 years and I want to replace the timing belt any info would be appreciated
Hi there, it is actually super simple, just buy the full kit, and make sure that everything is lined up correctly. It is as easy as replacing any other belt, but you need to make sure that the timing is on correctly.
It's not the worst, but it's certainly not the easiest. Proper tools go a long way, Invest in a cam lock....trust me
I was going to have my mechanic of choice do a timing belt on my 05 but turned the job down because he would had to buy some special tools to do it that he would not use again.
terrible mechanic lol
@@zackhogan9960 MacGyver over here stating the obvious ...” Hey make sure you drain all ure old oil out out of your engine first before you put new in 😂🤦♂️
It's a Subaru, so make sure that it has been taken care of, if not, then plan on spending a shit load of money to fix it.
the white creamy substance on the oil cap can also just mean there sondinsation. meaning the factory got water in the oil when the oil was made. I've seen it on brand new cars.
did u film this in the copperwood church parking lot?
Yep haha!
I just bought a 2010 WRX hatch limited with 161,000 mi. Bought it sight unseen. Had her take the vehicle to a mechanic. Did a compression test did everything, checked the timing chain and engine mounts. She was selling it for 9k Blue book was 11. The mechanic said if I didn't buy it he was going to. They're out there just don't find one that has been tuned by some young kid. Find one that was owned by a woman. You won't have any problems never buy a used car without checking the timing belt and engine mounts. 😎
I bought a used 06 WRX with 40k miles about 5 years ago. Didn't know much about the car at the time. Ended up having to put a clutch in it after a couple of months, typical. My gf at the time pushed my shifter into 3rd gear on "accident" without me having the clutch pressed in (she was in the passenger seat). Well needless to say that wrecked 3rd so tranny got rebuilt. Other than that everything has been great. My air pump did get stuck on and blew up but I just deleted that shit then had the codes tuned out, they are expensive and not needed so no harm so far (that was years ago). I've been modding the car myself throughout the years with a lot of joy every time I get new parts in. They are great cars, people talk shit and have had bad experiences so I get it but I do all my own work on my car so I only pay for parts which are usually upgrades so I'm not mad when parts break. As far as subie community, there are some idiots, especially the young guys, but there are also ALOT of really good people in the community with a lot of knowledge that have helped me a ton whenever I needed it. We have a big community here in Vegas. Good luck to anyone buying, these are some good tips. Other than the head gaskets, everything here can be replaced fairly easy. (btw just did valve/rocker cover gaskets at 96k)
bdrlgin All in all they're pretty reliable cars
Jdm swap in an american subaru... hope you did a full engine bay and transmission swap otherwise enjoy the oil leaks my friend trust me
Never had any issue my dude. the jdmej205 is identical to the USDM model, besides the intake/exhaust manifold, and some gears
Yeah till you destroy the syncros in that usdm transmission
and the wiring harnest, and the gear ratios, and syncros and compression, cylinders lol cmon
boxers punch away from eachoither becaus ethe crank shaft is in the middle i thouygfh?
those struts were a factory recall and got replaced with the 2004 sti struts (atleast thats what the letter in the mailbox said)... useful stuff: motor mounts!!!!!!!!!!, turbo gaskets, SUPSENSION. gl lol
I'm considering an 07 WRX with a Turbo-Back exhaust, some extra gauges, an Air Oil Separator, and a Stage 2 Tune. It has 196k on it and the seller wants 6500. Is it worth it?
stage 2 tune will get you around 300 base hp. Why not find a similar year STI. bigger brakes, better suspension and best of all, a transmission that isnt made of glass.
@@Dm-dw3tr ok I’ll tell u y A $6000 versus however much the Sti| is going to be is a drastically different number dipstick When you said base horsepower you said all I needed to know because there’s no such thing it’s called brake horsepower dumb ass I bet you don’t understand why it’s called that without looking it up either do u ... got I hate these keyboard warriors who try to act like they no everything when they oviosly don’t ... hey why not to spend an extra 10 $15,000 no big deal right and the trans are not made out of glass Metaphorically speaking you just can’t bang years in them it’s too much power transfer those five speeds weren’t meant to handle all that power transfer through the drive train so when you shift you need to be gentle and then get into it anyone who says otherwise does not know what you’re talking about now if you’re comparing the transmission to the Sti| yes obviously it’s weaker but that is why the Sti is 15 grand more for Brembo brakes and 6 feet which is basically all you’re getting different because the DCCD sucks there useless so like I said brakes and trans other than the stupid stuff like 2.5 engine and milder suspension. But those are things that u can upgrade way cheaper on a wrx
put down the monster energy bro lol.
nice video
thank you !!
Love how all the haters came to a Subaru video to comment 😂
Keep it up guys 👍🏼😂😂😂
Dolphin Catcher buncha people that don’t even own them and have never owned them! 🙄
Most people don't understand that performance cars require more maintenance. That and they bad mouth the subie because they can't afford one.
I’m looking at a 2006 WRX with 147,000 miles on it. For $6,000, is that worth it or way to high of miles?
about 4k too much. That is if you want to drive it. lol
I’m about to buy a Subaru WRX 2006 with 187k miles is that bad? Should I lower the price
Just got a 04 wrx Got for 2000 same mileage as you just test drive it mine sounds great but it does have mods to it 2 owner the guy that I got it from took good care of it and so will I just worried about the first owner just chech for anything off and see if you can afford maintenance
@@bassblowbackrecords8932 dam 2 grand that’s what’s up
@@mrgrump2534 yea pretty rare but it is an auto so that also is why it was that much hade to put new windshield front brakes and new headlights but still not that bad
@@bassblowbackrecords8932 as long as u don’t mind an automatic I always wondered how these cars performed in a auto since there is no shifting I would think it’s a faster car wouldn’t have as much turbo lag from letting off the gas to shift maybe I’m wrong but if it wasn’t for the nostalgia of a stick I would go auto shit maybe the trans won’t be a week point anymore and as far as Launching the car you could always put a stall converter or just power boost brake until boost builds then just go ... anyway I’m shure it will be a fun project either way cheers 🥂
I have an 03 WRX wagon bought in 2008 with under 40,000 miles and now has 220,000 all original never been rebuilt never blown head gasket
David Rogers how did it make it this long? What are your mods?
@@Dragunov302 just a cosworth drop in air filter & catback exhaust
@@davidrogers2902 Another words he took care of it
why is this video so blurry. was your camera dirty or something
front facing camera got scraped and I didnt realize. Bought an actual quality camera right after!
I’m planning on buying one during summer 2019, hope nobody starts chasing after them because mostly everyone in my area wants a mustang or some other over hyped muscle car.
In my community within 20km radius WRX/STi it's over-polluted, last Sunday I drove past 15 Subaru. Whatever happened to the friendly "Subaru hand wave"?! Also Lexus RS
thanks man
no problem!
Noticed a few things you might want to fix. Bolt missing on over flow and oil seal on oil cap.
Curtis thompson it's also not the oem radiator
If it's like my cap, the seal likes to stay stuck to the top of the filler pipe. In fact watch it again and you'll see that's where it is.