psa for brz/frs guys: injector seal/tune problems

[brainhulk]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdeO4rBwuQ4

My friend tells me one of the track junkies blew up 2 stock engines already

 

[satyajitmenon]

Not sure about the scale of the issue - but watching that video, the biggest thing that strikes me is how cramped that engine bay is, and how convoluted all the routing and fitment is.

There's no friggin way I'd want to buy that car to mod anything under the hood. I'd kill myself from frustration.

 

[NutBucket]

Eh, looks no different than a standard Subaru engine bay. Plus the one in the video has a blower. That doesn't help either

 

[Jimzz]

So does subaru have this problem as well or did toyota's version run a custom software setup?

 

[Vdubchaos]

When you race and modify your car, you can no longer measure "reliability".

Way too many risks/stresses involved for this to be an indicator of cars normal usage/reliability.

 

[Jimzz]

^

If this happened only on those that race or do heavy mods then I doubt toyota would create a TSB for it. They would just say you broke it outside of normal street use and thats it.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

^

If this happened only on those that race or do heavy mods then I doubt toyota would create a TSB for it. They would just say you broke it outside of normal street use and thats it.

He's just making excuses, if it happened to a German make he would say that's what you get for buying it.

But since its a Toyota it has to be the result of someone beating on it.

 

[brainhulk]

So does subaru have this problem as well or did toyota's version run a custom software setup?

The guy I know of who lost two engines has a brz. Yeah he tracks the car, but he mentioned that people just doing autocross seized their engines

 

[XavierMace]

^

If this happened only on those that race or do heavy mods then I doubt toyota would create a TSB for it. They would just say you broke it outside of normal street use and thats it.

It does specify in the TSB that the issues occured under track use. However since they market the car (or at least the dealer I bought mine did) as a track ready car....

 

[NutBucket]

That's ridiculous though. There's no reason for this type of failure.

 

[thomsbrain]

Unfortunately Subaru has a long history of sweeping engine problems under the carpet (leaking fuel lines, etc). Hopefully this is a real fix and not a band-aid.

 

[NutBucket]

However the DI system is all on Toyota.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Uh, wow, that thing is overly convoluted in its design

 

[NutBucket]

Eh, aside from the DI system its not terribly different than every other NA Subaru engine.

 

[XavierMace]

I'm at 2300 miles on my BRZ now, had it into the dealer twice for P0011 and P000A engine codes (cam sensors). Today they said once the code comes back, it's going to get reflashed. There's a pretty lengthy list of people on the ft86 forums with cam sensor issues. Several people with blown engines, one engine fire. One guy is on his 3rd ECU. Some people have had their cars in the shop for over a month already.

I still love the car, it's a blast to drive. But if you're looking at one, I might recommend waiting until they get the ECU straightened out. There's 250+ people on the below list, most under 5,000mi on the car.

See: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15577

 

[ballmode]

First year model, hopefully they will get the kinks out.

 

[michal1980]

how do you blow such a 'low' power NA engine so often.

 

[Fenixgoon]

how do you blow such a 'low' power NA engine so often.

power production says nothing about the stresses in and around the engine.

 

[exar333]

power production says nothing about the stresses in and around the engine.

I wonder if all these engine issues at N/A power levels will make folks worried about the upcoming 2.0T version of this engine to be release for the WRX/STi in a year or two. Hopefully they beef-up the internals and fix some of these issues...

 

[jlee]

Knock is generally indicative of a poor/improper tune - they may have to sacrifice a little power, but pulling a degree or two of timing to avoid destroying injector seals might be worth it.

 

[Kaido]

Some more issues discussed here:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-subaru-brz-premium-long-term-test-review

 

[Meghan54]

First year model, hopefully they will get the kinks out.

Can't believe the lack of outrage about the issues the BRZ is having.

Seriously, if Ford/GM had a new vehicle that was having as many serious issues as the BRZ is, there'd be a lynch mob.

Guess it's alright if a Japanese/Korean car has them, tho.....expected and forgiven, eh?

 

[nerp]

Can't believe the lack of outrage about the issues the BRZ is having.

Seriously, if Ford/GM had a new vehicle that was having as many serious issues as the BRZ is, there'd be a lynch mob.

Guess it's alright if a Japanese/Korean car has them, tho.....expected and forgiven, eh?

Yes, that's how it goes. Chrysler is building great cars right now, great quality and fit and finish. But say the word Dodge on here and you hear a lot of stories about the bad times in the 90s. It takes a good 5-10 years to shake off a bad reputation. But if you're Toyota, Honda or Subaru, it apparently takes a bit more for a reputation to waver.

 

[Jimzz]

Can't believe the lack of outrage about the issues the BRZ is having.

Seriously, if Ford/GM had a new vehicle that was having as many serious issues as the BRZ is, there'd be a lynch mob.

Guess it's alright if a Japanese/Korean car has them, tho.....expected and forgiven, eh?

Yea thats been the case for a long time.

Toyota just had a big recall and it was a small side bar at CNN and car sites. Yet GM had a recall and it was the headline and the GM cars are junk at car sites etc...

I don't trust any first year car from ANY maker. Let alone they will all throw you under the bus even when its a known design problem on their end.

 

[exar333]

Yes, that's how it goes. Chrysler is building great cars right now, great quality and fit and finish. But say the word Dodge on here and you hear a lot of stories about the bad times in the 90s. It takes a good 5-10 years to shake off a bad reputation. But if you're Toyota, Honda or Subaru, it apparently takes a bit more for a reputation to waver.

The bad rep at Dodge was earned over a LONG time. I am not saying it is fair, but a reputation is something that is difficult to build, and much easier to tarnish. Either way, a good or bad reputation takes a long time to build and (sometimes) equally long to erase. I am not a Toyota fan, but they did make great cars for decades. They still do, but definitetly hit their share of issues recently. Dodge made crap cars for decades, so it will not be overnight for folks to get excited over owning a dodge. I think that's why they re-branded their trucks as "Ram" TBH.