consumer affairs dont act fast enough.. go buy 5 litres of unleaded, get a couple rags and some empty glass coke bottles.. fuc* them!!, Its making me fume and its not even my car!!

Im worrying about my car, but (knock on wood) its not making any sounds and running rich as.. ???

I think I better get a move on buying a commo.. there are too many of these stories going around.

Subie Australia ? not sure how to get in touch with them...

I doubt ill be putting in an import motor, I don't really have the time or space, and I should have to either... really its their fault (subaru overall, not STI specifically), they shouldn't release a car to the market that really cant run on our fuel...

Id really like to find an alternative to pushing this through legal channels... but yea, ill speak to Subie Aust (when i find some details lol )

Anyone who has been near a B4 knows the pinging issues associated with the poor tune and crap fuel. Neither of these are things that mean much to your average driver and Subaru obviously knows the stuffed up right from the beginning. I feel for you mate. Those mechs should have known better but at the end of the day, the B4 is a flawed car and theres nothing the mechs could have done except retard the timing which of course is a temp fix. Speak to Subaru and threaten them, they'll act. They really cannot expect anyone who buys a B4 to go off and get a new ecu/remap. While you're at it, have a go at them for installing the bloody brants and not giving out the mastercodes!

Good luck.

Excuse my ignorance, But is this engine issue only relating to the later b4's. And only those 'tuned by sti'.

Sorry to hear about your trouble, If this isn't an isolated incident, then surely a heap of your guys would have more weight when it comes consumer affairs and subaru.

I can see how subaru would pass the buck, with "you shouldn't have driven it with the engine light on"

Good luck mate

Has anyone tried additives to their fuel, any improvement?

blotto wrote:

Excuse my ignorance, But is this engine issue only relating to the later b4's. And only those 'tuned by sti'.

If you live in a area where its not hot and you use good fuel then you will experience minimal pinging but Subaru cannot possibly expect average joe to understand pinging and in worse cases detonation. Its not the first time this has happened and from memory there were similar cases with warranty as well.

Actually coming to think of it, there was a guy on the yahoo forum who had the same problem i think. I'm sure something in his B4 blew up on him but not sure if it was under warranty or not. Mind you it was awhile ago so it prob was under warranty. Either way, you've been telling them all along so you have a strong case.

Frick !

i just had a read through the service forms for the last few services... they didnt note the pinging as such...

but there is note of upper engine cleaner and in the most recent service they made the note that they used that (in conjunction with an ecu rest) to resolve the pinging issue

as far as driving the car with the engine light on... technically im not, cause the light just flicks on for a second when it pings, then turns off as i back off the moment it does it

hey man..

yes it is a big pain in the a$$

didnt someone on here get subaru to fix their big end bearing for free even though the car was out of warrenty?

Bad News mate, Did you speak directly to Vin?

If you get no joy, contact Phil Lowe he is one of the best Subaru engine builders in Melbourne.

Best of luck with that! At least Subie Oz are going into bat for you...

try a different dealer... try subaru doncaster where you got the car from..

i found they are probably better than doclands.... well thats with me.... doclands treated me like i owned a horse and cart compared to the cars that go in there..


other people have found the oppositie.. and from service to service.. they differ slightly...

That's sad to hear, that really sh!ts me to see that..

I remember with my Chrysler Neon it had gearbox problems and they kept pushing back my servicing so i could bring it up, by the time i was slotted in and everything i was only 2 weeks out of warranty.. and they didn't even want to talk about it..

That really pisses me off..

Had a similar problem with my Honda Euro, Master Cylinder clutch ate the clutch and killed it, had to get it replaced - not under warranty.. Honda didn't wnat to hear about it.. 6 months later quietly.. they would repair the MC under warranty.. not sure about stuffed clutches, knew the odd lucky person who got it done under warranty.. that also pissed me off..

Hope it all turns out well for you, they're all the bloody same :