Threw a rod

[JoeP]

Coming home from work the other day I threw a rod in my FR-S. Had it towed to the dealer. I went home and looked up FR-S and BRZ and thrown rods on Google and found that vehicles which had their valve springs replaced under a recent recall were having all sorts of engine failure problems. The vast majority of these problems were on the FR_S with a few on the BRZ. The general consensus was that the Toyota mechanics were not that familiar with Subaru engines and put them back together very sloppily, especially the timing belt cover sealant application, leading to the problems.

Since I use my car for work I am having the short block replaced without waiting for the sloppy workmanship issue to be resolved.

Bummer.

[LarryHoward]

:(
Coming home from work the other day I threw a rod in my FR-S. Had it towed to the dealer. I went home and looked up FR-S and BRZ and thrown rods on Google and found that vehicles which had their valve springs replaced under a recent recall were having all sorts of engine failure problems. The vast majority of these problems were on the FR_S with a few on the BRZ. The general consensus was that the Toyota mechanics were not that familiar with Subaru engines and put them back together very sloppily, especially the timing belt cover sealant application, leading to the problems.

Since I use my car for work I am having the short block replaced without waiting for the sloppy workmanship issue to be resolved.

Bummer.

Bummer. I had not heard of problems with the 2.5 engine. If I'm not mistaken, the Ascent has the turbo variant of that basic engine.

[Jamie]

The Ascent has a new 2.4l turbo. The FR-S has a FA20, not that any of these fine distinctions make a thrown rod any more fun. Sorry to hear that.

Thrown rod or rod knock?

I've also heard that the Toyota service techs don't do well with the Subaru engines. Having a split alu block makes many things different, especially when it comes to bearings clearances and rods - in addition to the timing belt cover - and the asymmetric rod design on the FA20 makes them more sensitive . You can't just pull the the block apart and put it back together - it might not even turn over!

[JoeP]

Thanks Jamie, good to know. Yeah, should have said bent a rod. I was close to home and could limp there.

[Audrey]

I had no idea these cars/engines had problems. I was looking at this platform before I bought the project car. I had a g/f who had a Kia Optima, nice little car but it had an engine recall for bad machining on the rod and main bearings. Thanksgiving day, we're driving into WV and the thing seizes up. I have such a hard time accepting 'poor machining' this day and age. They have the best computer controlled equipment available. What gives?