07 WRX Teardown

[bstuke]

Started tearing down the WRX today.

Got a lot accomplished, but found that the timing cover was partially missing onthe drivers side. Not sure what to make of it, but I hope it is nothing major.
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[Mechie3]

You should be fine. New cover is around $25 from the dealer. My cover was much more cracked from the radiator fan hitting it. Id check the belt for damage and probably just replace it anyways.

[bstuke]

Notice all the over spray. I am convinced this car was originally blue..

Thanks for the feedback my fine Indiana friend..

[metalmaker12]

The vin will tell you the original color, all you need is a body shop to look it up and get you the color, or some web site does it

[Mechie3]

Blue would be code 02c.

[bstuke]

HA! 02C! I knew it. And when I took the windshield trim off there was some white paint on the rubber where the mask was off.

Blue would be code 02c.

[Erik W. Treves]

Pull the rest of the timing cover off and check the timing marks to see if the engine is still in time. if it is i would say you're fine. mine was a light hit and i am completely surprised how fragile the timing gears are.

[bstuke]

Pull the rest of the timing cover off and check the timing marks to see if the engine is still in time. if it is i would say you're fine. mine was a light hit and i am completely surprised how fragile the timing gears are.Thanks Erik, it does run fine, so I think I am good there. I am going to replace all that, and there looks like there is a Gates performance kit with a blue belt that has everything, and I suspect I should replace the water pump while I am at it.

I was not planning on pulling the heads at this point unless I absolutely have to. I am happy for feedback on that as well.

Is there a kit? Or do I need to order stuff separately?
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[Erik W. Treves]

You can buy a complete timing kit with pump for $300..which is what i did. after you verify the timing just do a compression check and go from there. most likely all fine.

[Erik W. Treves]

Check the rear main seal as well...mine was leaking

[Mechie3]

Easiest way to pull the rear main is to put a wood screw in the middle and pull with vice grips. When replaceing, it goes flush to slightly recessed with the block. Do not push it in all the way or all your oil comes out the back. Not a fun time. :(

[bstuke]

If it is not leaking, leave it alone?

[Mechie3]

Pretty much. I'm not sure how often they wear out or go bad. I usually hear of them leaking on older (late 90's) cars and not the mid to late 2000's cars. At the same time, I don't think it's an expensive seal and easier to do now than later. Funny thing, if you buy a complete gasket rebuild kit, you get 3 of these. I've given a few away I had so many at one point.

[Erik W. Treves]

If it is not leaking, leave it alone?

yeah..I would leave it alone if not leaking.

[bstuke]

Thanks, as Erik knows the weather was great FOR ONE DAY! I will get back to it next week.. Headed to Tampa for the weekend with my baby.

[bstuke]

Got a little more work done. Radiator removed, AC stuff removed. Underbelly pan was in good shape, guess I can sell that. I have been going around the engine and unhooking what I can to prepare to pull the engine. I will need some advice on what to break down underneath to get the engine and tranny out, but I still see that a few weeks away and I might just have a BBQ and invite Joe Camire and TimC over to help out.
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But I came across this. Lot's of oil around the filter housing. I wonder if it got hit in the accident and damaged something. Any thoughts from the EJ255 experts? What a tiny oil filter!
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[Mechie3]

Things to unhook (general list):
Driveshaft
Shift mechanism
Rear 02 sensor (it clips onto the trans mount)
Trans mounts (or trans subframe)
Transmission dogbone (under intercooler)
Trans harness
remove AC
remove PS
Engine Harness
Brake booster hose
Slave cylinder (or clutch line)

Not sure if that filter got hit or not. It looks like old oil to me. The oil cooler could have leaked, or they might have not put their filter on right (double gasket, old one got stuck on).

[Samiam1017]

I found a real good step by step breakdown on nasioc. First time pulling engine and trans out or a suby. It walked me right tru it in like 3 hours

[Erik W. Treves]

hey man,
Oil arouond there, and I am no expert on subi's, The oil dipstick goes right by there in the back and has 2 o-rings that seal up tube..might make sure those are still there. Could be a spill...maybe... When you take the timing cover off take a look. Look at the cam seal in the head, make sure it isn't "leaking" down inside the timing cover and then finding a home on the area around the filter. Also the oil pan doesn't have a gasket, it is just glued on to the block.
If you still don't see anything there is a plug under the timing cover that is used to access the wrist pins...I would think if you see oil between the timing cover and block, I would check this area out for sure... good luck.

[Mechie3]

I think the oil dipstick is on the other side of the pan (driver side), filter is on passenger side. A local (to me) guy had the o-ring in his cooler wear out (his was an 02 though) and look like that.

[rjh2pd]

The dipstick is on the driver side while the filter is on the passenger side. I would pull the timing cover off and see if the oil leak is coming from a cam seal or something up there. Looks like too much of a leak to me. my filter always has a bit of oil on it but no where near that much with 170K. making progress good work

[Erik W. Treves]

ah... true... I was looking at my engine flipped upside down....see..."I am no expert on subi's"...lol... anyway still look like a lot of oil..look at the valve cover...my 1st donor leaked really bad there.

[bstuke]

The oil cooler could have leakedOil cooler? Have not seen one of those. Is that what plugs into the bottom cap of the radiator?

[bstuke]

Making progress good workThanks!

[bstuke]

"I am no expert on subi's"Rumor is you are pretty good with a fling wing though.. :)

[Rasmus]

Oil cooler? Have not seen one of those. Is that what plugs into the bottom cap of the radiator?

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8246/320888466263ed7cfdb0.jpg
Subaru OEM oil cooler. It's an oil to water cooler. The water is from the radiator/piston water jacket cooling system.

[bstuke]

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8246/320888466263ed7cfdb0.jpg
Subaru OEM oil cooler. It's an oil to water cooler. The water is from the radiator/piston water jacket cooling system.That explains a lot. Nothing goes into the radiator... Can't wait to get to the bottom of that!

[bstuke]

Erik and all

How did you secure the engine to get the crank bolt loose? Grasshopper does not know the secret..

[Erik W. Treves]

I held the flywheel in place.

[Mechie3]

I usually stick a prybar or the handle of an adjustable wrench in between the flywheel and engine case. The prybar is tapered so as the flywheel turns, it gets jammed in. Same with the wrench handle. Mine have holes in the back that get caught in teh flywheel teeth to hold it.

[bstuke]

Gotcha. I will be waiting until I get the engine out and separated from the tranny!

[Mechie3]

If it's still in the car, put the car in 5th gear, parking brake on. Sometimes you'll need someone to hit the brakes too.

[bstuke]

If it's still in the car, put the car in 5th gear, parking brake on. Sometimes you'll need someone to hit the brakes too.

I'm such a dummy, I should have thought of that..

[Mechie3]

If it makes you feel better, I didn't think of it. Someone else told me that 6 years ago. :D

[bstuke]

Dear friends,

Happy DST eve!

Humor me, riddle me this:
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HTH do you disconnect these????

Thanks in advance, have a pleasant Sunday..
I will be at our points 1 event, driving a 2000 C5 for the first time, and will be the tire warmer for it next week at the first Pro Solo event, Dixie Nationals. Let me know if you are going to be there so I can meet you, shake your hand, and offer you a beer..

[Mechie3]

IIRC, you pinch the plastic part together and pull to the left, the metal piece on the hose goes to the right. I haven't had stock bits like that for a while, so could be slightly off.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

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Dear friends,

Happy DST eve!

Humor me, riddle me this:
15977
HTH do you disconnect these????

Thanks in advance, have a pleasant Sunday..
I will be at our points 1 event, driving a 2000 C5 for the first time, and will be the tire warmer for it next week at the first Pro Solo event, Dixie Nationals. Let me know if you are going to be there so I can meet you, shake your hand, and offer you a beer..

I had the same question yesterday

[bstuke]

Ah, so something thin like an old part of a SS clamp slid up in there?

[bstuke]

PS. I don't have any of those "No Fire" signs. Is that a requirement?

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Here are some fuel and AC line tools from Oreilly's

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/LIS0/39400.oap

Yes the "No Fire" signs are required. A fire mightt start if you don't have the sign.

[Jeff Kleiner]

...Let me know if you are going to be there so I can meet you, shake your hand, and offer you a beer..

Well, I wasn't planning to be there but if you're offering beer ;)

Thanks for all of the teardown info Bob(s), Erik and everyone. I've sure got a lot to learn about these Subies...

Jeff