Need a bit of work done

subasurf · Post by **subasurf** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:53 pm

Hey guys, noticed yesterday that I'm getting a few drops of coolant on my driveway coming out from what looks to be around the waterpump; so I'm guessing it's on the way out. It's a 2001 Forester EJ20 that's done over 180,000 KMs so I'm not shocked.

Anyhoo, looking to see if sometime in the future, someone here wants to give me a hand changing over the water pump and replacing the timing belt. I've never done a timing belt before and I really don't want to **** it up, nor do I want to pay a mechanic to do it for me

Just throwing this out there to see if anyone here is confident enough to give me a hand with it. Ofcourse I'm happy to throw a bit of cash/beer your way for the hand. I wouldn't expect it done for nothing

Cheers chaps.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:16 pm

Sounds like its weeping thru the water pump seals or water pump itself. Best buy brand new from Subaru, EJ20 pump is $104.36 plus gasket $5.13 something plus you'll need thermostat seal and its ideal to replace thermostat itself.

Its pretty easy job, but again if you haven't done or seen anyone doing timing belt then it can be hard, once you know the ropes then its not hard. To take your time it'll take you about 2 hours to do the job (checking ensure its all correct etc etc)

I recommend you to have a look at the books or PDFs. I would've helped but you're in Perth.
Cheers
AP

90brumby · Post by **90brumby** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:43 pm

yea agreed with above and if its gettin close to 200 000ks may pay to put a new timing belt in as well if u need a hand doin it i dont mind helpin ya out

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:24 pm

If its the same as doing a pump and belt on a 92 EJ22 then i can help too...

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:04 pm

Wondering how is he going & was it the problem?
Cheers
AP

subasurf · Post by **subasurf** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:10 pm

Thanks for the offers guys

Appreciate it big time. Unfortunetely the water pump is the least of my worries. I managed to compeltely fry my clutch a couple of days ago, trying to climb a sand dune at Yeagerup Beach. Thank christ I had my Land Rover with me also to tow the Subaru 400km home.

The clutch is completely shot. Absolutely no power reaching the gear box. Pretty pissed off, as I had the clutch replaced about 6 months ago. Ohwell, my fault. Now I've got to get that replaced before I consider doing anything else on the car. Going to cost abotu $1000. Pretty rediculous when the parts only cost about $350 and it's less than $100 to machine the flywheel.
Replacing clutches....another skill I must learn in order to save my money. I'm wondering if it's worth pulling the engine out, installing a new clutch, water pump and timing belt in one hit and dropping the engine back into the car. I just can't do any of it by myself.

Sadly, I've decided this is it for me. No more offroading in my Subaru. It'll just be my daily driver from now on.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:33 am

Dude how can u just quit offroading in your Subaru? If you burn out a 6month old clutch then u just gotta find out what your doing wrong and stop it. I'm sure somebody sitting passenger with you will be able to spot the problem straight away.

Maybe if you put on a BBQ and some beers some people will be able to help you out changing the clutch, it's not too hard and many hands make light work. I can't offer myself, no spare time unfortunately.

GOD · Post by **GOD** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:45 am

Take a deep breath. It is fixable.

Borrow/hire an engine hoist, undo a few nuts and bolts, whip the engine out and pull it apart as required. Timing belts are a bitch, so you can either put on a carton of piss to attract some helpers or take the engine to a mechanic for that bit.

The rest is easy - turn spanner anticlockwise, fit new clutch, turn spanner clockwise, drop it all back into the car and bob's your uncle.

No job is harder than you want it to be

Dane.

Forgot to ask - have you tried adjusting the clutch?

wrxer · Post by **wrxer** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:24 am

gotta change clutch on my wrx, come give me a hand and i show you how, you may only need a plate, and i reckon you will pay about $100 for him. i also have a engine out so you can see how to do timing belt.
id leave motor in, and pull box for clutch, and do water pump without lifting motor, even though i have engine crane.
you can do box with a trolley jack.

as god says, lefty loosey, righty tighty

subasurf · Post by **subasurf** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:32 am

AndrewT wrote:Dude how can u just quit offroading in your Subaru? If you burn out a 6month old clutch then u just gotta find out what your doing wrong and stop it. I'm sure somebody sitting passenger with you will be able to spot the problem straight away.

Hehe, I'm going to stop offroading in the suby because it's my daily driver which I use for work (IT contractor). I have a Series III Land Rover which is an unstopable weapon offroad...will just be using that from now on I think

As for what I'm doing wrong, I already know. I just ride the clutch to hard when trying to get through boggy shit. Not use to offroading in a vehicle that has no power or torque. Basically, this dune was VERY important to get up and I was flogging it hard to make it to the top. There was no way around, no other choice. It was constantly bogging down near the top and I was riding the clutch to stop the engine from conking out.

GOD wrote:Take a deep breath. It is fixable.

Borrow/hire an engine hoist, undo a few nuts and bolts, whip the engine out and pull it apart as required. Timing belts are a bitch, so you can either put on a carton of piss to attract some helpers or take the engine to a mechanic for that bit.

The rest is easy - turn spanner anticlockwise, fit new clutch, turn spanner clockwise, drop it all back into the car and bob's your uncle.

No job is harder than you want it to be

Dane.

Forgot to ask - have you tried adjusting the clutch?

Cheers mate. Haven't tried adjusting the clutch. I'll have a look at it today. Jut spoke to Melville Subaru and they told me $650 for the clutch kit, $90 to machine the flywheel and $500 for labor. Eeehm, no way.

wrxer wrote:gotta change clutch on my wrx, come give me a hand and i show you how,

No worries mate. When you planning on doing that?

wrxer · Post by **wrxer** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:46 pm

there is no adjustment to be made, i was suggesting that a company such as brake bonders in malaga can put new linings on your plate or will have an exchange clutch plate to suit. why put new pressure plate in if nothing wrong with old one and only need to machine flywheel if it is marked by the rivets. which is prob ok, and was done 6 months ago. pilot bearing and thrust bearing should be ok as new as well. id bet you only need a clutch plate.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:33 pm

It's still advisable to get the machining done, the surface can get messed up when a clutch has been badly overheated, can cause shuddering etc. It doesn't cost much. Also the thrust and spigot bearings are so cheap you may aswell renew them anyway - just makes sense while it's all taken apart.

subasurf · Post by **subasurf** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:43 pm

One of my Land Rover buddies looks like he can give me a hand replacing it next week. phew! For the cost savings, I'm considering buying a lightweight flywheel and wacking that on. We'll see.

Research pending.