belt

2014 2.0l-t wrx/sti should have chain.

 

Yes, sadly it is a belt.

 

Womp womp womp. 105k maintenance for the loss

 

How big of a job is the timing belt on these motors? ('13 WRX) I've never owned anything with one before, but I know on some cars it's not all that big of a job and on others it's a pretty monstrous task.

It's a job I'm pretty sure I'll hand the car over to the dealer for, but I'm just wondering how much lube I should bring with me.....

 

How big of a job is the timing belt on these motors? I've never owned anything with one before, but I know on some cars it's not all that big of a job and on others it's a pretty monstrous task.

It's a job I'm pretty sure I'll hand the car over to the dealer for, but I'm just wondering how much lube I should bring with me.....

I would pay for a shop to perform this install, since the first thing an informed potential buyer will ask you is "proof of the timing belt maintenance" when you decide to sell your car. If performed by a dealer, the install is typically approx. $1000 (+/-$150), but most [non-dealer] shops quote 5 hours of shop time to perform the maintenance. If you purchase the Gates OEM replacement kit, you can sneak by spending about $750-800.

 

To get a better idea on what's involved there is a link in my sig.

 

its not too bad. a few hours of labor. but id recommend replacing everything since everything replace anyway. all your belts, water pump, exchange your coolant, and replace the idler pulleys

 

$1000 for a dealer to perform a timing belt change? Where are you getting quotes from? The job pays 3.5 hrs, tensioner is $150, belt 200 something?

 

Subaru prices....duuhhhh

 

I found one statement to the effect that Gates is an OEM on the pumps:
2011-2012 Subaru WRX Gates OEM Water Pump: JSC Speed

However I'm not worried about it either way; I'd use Gates on any of my vehicles in any context except for gaskets. I did not like the Gates gaskets. Although everything else (rollers, tensioner, belts, pump) is such that I could not distinguish it from the Subaru labeled analog, the gaskets did not do it for me. Just my view.

 

JSC is by me and I've spent a lot of money with them. They will say anything to sell product. They also list that their cost is a sale price when their sale price is generally everyone elses msrp. Their msrp is a fake number to make it seem like you're getting a great deal. lol

That being said it's hard to tell. It's been a while since I've seen a gates pump but when I did it wasn't the same kind of consistency of the stock pump. That being said I haven't seen a newer subie that needed a pump so for all I know they could be manufacturing them for subaru now.

 

I noticed the blade enclosure but not much else. I've spoken to Gates and sent questions and they were very helpful. Interesting.

 

And they said that they manufactured the subaru factory water pump? Or did they say they manufacture an OE replacement water pump?

 

That wasn't part of the discussion. We discussed the markings on the timing belt and the manner in which the exit ports on the water pump are fitted onto the body. If I'd thought of it I'd have asked though. Oh, well, I'm up for another in 90,000 miles so I can ask then.

 

Hmm, interesting. I'll see if I can get a look at one and take a look at the markings on it.

 

Ok good thinking.

 

Yeah I used a Gates kit. All the idlers were the same brand and model as the factory. The tensioner was made by the same Japanese outfit that made the OEM one. The water pump was 100% indistinguishable in every way from the OEM one. The OEM one has no markings on it, neither did the gates.

I concur gates gaskets are crap, I bought OEM.

 

I now recommend also inspecting the thermostat housing carefully and replacing that as well if there is pitting. Again just IMO and I am no mechanic -- on the contrary my tools are a waste, I can barely use them so everything I say needs a grain of salt.

 

I wish I would have replaced my housing.

 

Pitting? Trainrex helped me out, instructing me to Emory file mine until I could feel no imperfections, and to use a touch of Si, but eventually other pits developed, even though I kept the coolant schedule and diluted with distilled H2O only. New housing and all is well again.

 

Not a ton of pitting but corrosion. I sat there with emory for an hour to get it to my satisfaction. It was soo bad I had to start with a knife to whittle it off.

 

A new housing is $28 if memory serves plus a Subaru gasket. My bolts were fine.