Oh, no! Broken timing belt on 2002 Subaru Outback 2.5L, now what?
Asked by Dirty_Gringo Apr 12, 2018 at 08:50 AM about the 2002 Subaru Outback
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Okay, it happened. New owner (two weeks) of a 2002 Subaru Outback 2.5L. with 128k miles. Timing belt broke yesterday while driving at freeway speed. What's the most efficient way to determine if valves and/or pistons were damaged before beginning repairs?
8 Answers
If you stopped the moment that you noticed the problem, shut off the engine and had the vehicle towed, chances are that all you need to do is have the timing belt replaced. If you tried to force the engine, then it may be a totally different story.
Install a new belt. Once you install the belt you can do a compression test but that engine is not interference so you should be good.
Sorry, but, the information above is NOT CORRECT, it's an interference engine, 2002 is definitely one of these, and it's a VERY expensive repair, see this, http://www.scoobyenthusiast.com/subaru-faq/which-subaru-engines-are- interference-what-subaru-engines-are-non-interference/
http://www.scoobyenthusiast.com/subaru-faq/which-subaru-engines-are- interference-what-subaru-engines-are-non-interference/
Cost will be $2,500 to $3,000... probably exceeds the valve of the car.... sorry...It's a critical failure...you cannot wait on timing belts...it's either time or mileage.....my benchmark is about 9 years .. Unfortunately, my guess is someone sold you this car with the original belt...and never had it serviced... just my opinion...
Dirty_Gringo answered 6 years ago
Hi, Markw1952. I'm sorry to say, you are exactly right. Got the news from the garage yesterday. Scrap the car, or replace the engine. Wish I had known when I bought the car that a $52 timing + minimal labor would have been money VERY WELL spent. Sadly, the car was running like a top before this.
TheSubaruGuruBoston answered 6 years ago
FOR...shame! You let Mark get one right!
