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So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 3:36 pm
by Spoonie
Been a while since I have been on the forums, had a baby girl a couple of years ago and have been really busy.

Car Detail: 2008 Subaru Liberty GT Tuned by STi

Well, over the last couple of days I noticed an irregular noise coming from my air intake (had an aftermarket Hyperflow installed). The Si Drive light and cruise control lights started flashing then the engine light came on static.

I took it in to a trusted mechanic who I have service my car to check it out and he cleared the code saying it was possibly a ghost code and performed a regular routine service. Anyhow, after driving from the mechanic, I noted the intake sputtered then the Turbo stopped completely. Poor car was driving like a Hyundai Getz :(

Anyhow I took it back to him and he apologised for not noticing this, but had assumed that was the regular sound of my intake. He checked the car over and said it is definitely the Turbo either gone or faulty somehow. And suggested I use my Warranty. By the way, I have no qualms with this mechanic, fully trustworthy guy and place.

Anyhoo, just now I dropped the car off @ Denlo Subaru in Parramatta. Let me just say, the service there at the front desk was horrendous. There was no 'warm' welcome / greeting. Basically made me feel from the start I had done something wrong. FYI I dont drive the car hard AT ALL. it mainly sits in 'intelligent' mode...I have a baby, like I said :)

So the lady next to him remarks "make sure you check the service schedule". Fair enough, standard procedure. But I find this and the way she said it very rude and quite disrespectful to say it in the way she did...IN FRONT of the customer.

Now, I had missed a service. Well 2 services were missed BUT 1 was combined and the other the mechanic didnt stamp the book. I have to look for the receipt when I get home. The guy points it out and says subaru may decline to repair since it has not been serviced regularly.

Basically what I am here for other than to express dissatisfaction with this place, is to ask if anyone has had a similar experience or warranty experience they can provide me with some pointers?

What steams me is that when I bought this car I noticed white, hardened, plastic like residue under the bonnet. I questioned the sales rep at the time and he just said "oh that is cleaning foam that has dried up" and when I picked it up he had the under bonnet protector replaced and the engine cover cleaned. In doing so, the limited edition badge for the STi tuned had gone missing. I had written to Subaru head office some time back about this and they said it couldnt be replaced but gave me a letter confirming the limited edition # of the vehicle.

Back to the point...any hints/tips how I would go about ensuring that this mechanic fault (alleged) is repaired under warranty? Or will this place basically charge me a diagnosis fee and then say Subaru have rejected my claim.. :?

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 3:51 pm
by Boostaddict
Mate firstly.... Shit luck hey.!!

You have fitted a hyperflow intake pipe with pod filter yes??

If so.

You have voided your warrenty. Subaru WILL not do shit!!! They will blame the intake and it has fugged up the air fuel ratio ( which it has done btw )

If you have had it tuned to correct the above..... You HAVE voided your warrenty. You cant change the paper filter in the factory air box to a non standard item.!! They are fecking hopeless.

Dont expect ANYTHING from subaru. They run from anything they can or supposedly can not run from too.

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:02 pm
by Spoonie
Nuuuuu stahp!

You are doing it wrong! you are supposed to make be feel better!!

Hahaha, unsure about the pod filter thingie. All I know is I had the Hyperflow installed. If the pod came as part of the standard pack, then yes.

I was hoping they wouldnt notice it was a non standard intake lol as it looks very professional (not chromed but black and matches the engine bay interior)

Oh gawd, I think I should have just got the mechanic to do a new turbo in it. He said it could cost from 600-3 grand depending on what was wrong :(

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:19 pm
by kiahatsiu
Good day.
Congrats on the little girl. See what happens, if they fix it, good, if not, so be it. Jump on ebay, buy a kinugawa td05-18g to fit the liberty, have your mate install it and enjoy years of reliable motoring.
To give you an idea of what you are up against with a turbo change, I can get mine on and off in about 2 hours. Don't, of course, quote me on that. Or indeed challenge me to prove it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kinugawa-Turbo-SUBARU-MY08-GH8-2008-TD05H-18G-330P-/380608425446

Edit: chin up mate, you will be out of this for 2k or less if your mate (mechanic) is a good guy. PS, will need a slight change to your tune. Someone else here will advise on that. Think of it as an opportunity to get a little more power!

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:28 pm
by Spoonie
Thanks Kiahatsiu, guess I can do more than wait to see what Subaru have to say.

I did have that little devil on my shoulder rubbing his hands together and whispering in my ear "neeeeed....moooorrree...poooweerrrrr" as the mechanic was telling my my turbo may need replacing.

The guys I go to deal a lot with Rally cars and they apparently have someone who works magic with turbo repairs/rebuilds etc on the rally circuit...so will see what their price is.

more....power...

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:33 pm
by kiahatsiu
Get busy living or get busy dying man, go get that thing from Subaru and get it to that shop. Don't go over the top with turbos, as you open up a whole new world of money wasting. Simple turbo upgrade with a retune with a few more psi and you will be mint. Do go crazy or you will end up needing to spend on injectors and a fuel pump, and that will escalate costs rapidly.

Ian.

Edit: don't forget to scour the for sale threads here and on rex net. If you decided to go a bit further you might find fuel pumps and injectors on the cheap. You will want 'top feeds' injectors if it comes to that.

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:21 pm
by PoidaGT
Can sell you my OEM Turbo (VF46) for $400.

Upgraded to a bigger turbo 6 months ago and have the standard Turbo stored in a box at home.

My mechanic inspected it on removal and he said it was still in good condition.

Was keeping it for a potential part out when I go to sell it in the future.

PM me if you're interested.

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:18 am
by Spoonie
Thanks Poida, will keep this in mind.

Subaru came back and said it was definitely a failed turbo. Now my issue is I am missing a service stamp in my book from 17/8/10 - 20/4/12 but I definitely know I had it serviced in that timeframe and the mechanic forgot to stamp the book. There is no way I go that long without a service. Heck I have the oil changed once every 5-7k kms!!

Fingers crossed it gets approved, calling them now :angry2:

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:27 am
by Manaz
Spoonie wrote:Thanks Poida, will keep this in mind.

Subaru came back and said it was definitely a failed turbo. Now my issue is I am missing a service stamp in my book from 17/8/10 - 20/4/12 but I definitely know I had it serviced in that timeframe and the mechanic forgot to stamp the book. There is no way I go that long without a service. Heck I have the oil changed once every 5-7k kms!!

Fingers crossed it gets approved, calling them now :angry2:


Unless you paid cash, you should have a payment history you can call on to substantiate the fact that you serviced it...

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:33 am
by Spoonie
Payment history as in bank transaction history? Good idea, will have to get the wife to check through our history. We have since moved institution so will have to go through hard copies.

Oh no...this means she will see all the other ludicrous sh*t i have been spending on.

....man's gotta eat

Thanks for the tip hopefully we have the hard copy somewhere at home.

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:19 am
by kiahatsiu
Don't worry too much about the transaction history, strip clubs usually just use a generic holdings company name.

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:24 am
by Spoonie
kiahatsiu wrote:..strip clubs usually just use a generic holdings company name.


WINNING!

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:32 am
by Robbks
kiahatsiu wrote:Don't worry too much about the transaction history, strip clubs usually just use a generic holdings company name.

"Melbourne Entertainment" hehehe!

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:58 am
by Rome_BRZ
kiahatsiu wrote:Don't worry too much about the transaction history, strip clubs usually just use a generic holdings company name.


Yeh. That's how I know which of my clients go to brothels/strip joints, it is always similar amounts usually between $100-300 with some name ending in "...Holdings Pty Ltd" :wink:

Re: So my Turbo just died..

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:18 pm
by bigBADbenny
you should be able to download all of your statements online :)
as PDF's
then find out the trading name of the dealership (or buy eg a key ring from them)
then search the folder of pdfs using that search term