We Got Our Recall !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter maxek
- Start date
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- 2003 Subaru WRX Wagon, 2000 Miata
maxek said:
THANKS~! i checked mine, mine is clear! woo hoo (cabpatch)
yes, you should check anyways. i know somebody in toronto that had lost a screw into cylinder 4. the manifold was replaced and the screw taken out. he noticed it right away and immediately shut down the car. he didn't drive with the screw rattling around.
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- Protege5 2003
My car was built before the stated range (the build date is on the sticker
on the driver's side door frame.)
Have any of you with build dates outside of 3/3/2003 <-> 7/31/2003 seen a VICS screw problem?
Those dates are awfully precise. Did they drop the one torque wrench used for tightening the screws in March and not get around to recalibrating it until the end of July?
on the driver's side door frame.)
Have any of you with build dates outside of 3/3/2003 <-> 7/31/2003 seen a VICS screw problem?
Those dates are awfully precise. Did they drop the one torque wrench used for tightening the screws in March and not get around to recalibrating it until the end of July?
you don't remove the VICS. VICS = good (better air flow @ high revs for better top end), VTCS = bad. The 626 mani, however, will remove both lol.lasermp5 said:
It's the VICS that's losing screws, not the VTCS, so you could take it to get the screw problem fixed, and still take out the VTCS to get som better air flow
Anyway, I got my notice online. I'm not @ home right now (I'm w/ family for christmas), but I may call the dealership to make an appointment anyway.
I've already had my engine destroyed by this problem. Fortunately, they replaced it for free, and fixed the intake. That was many months ago, and I got the recall notice today.
What gets me is that the recall frames it as an emissions problem. The bad emissions are a result of an engine that's been wrecked. Sneaky laywers...by not directly mentioning the internal damage that the screws cause, then more people will settle for just having a piston or two replaced.
Just make sure that your dealership has a boroscope and can inspect the engine internals firsthand. The first place I went to didn't, and wasn't able to diagnose the engine, only able to fix the butterfly so I could hobble home to my regular dealership.
Kodus to Mazda for replacing my engine before the official recall, unlike Subaru who refused to acknowlege the wheel bearing failures on the 98 Impreza series that caused me to get rid of the car.
What gets me is that the recall frames it as an emissions problem. The bad emissions are a result of an engine that's been wrecked. Sneaky laywers...by not directly mentioning the internal damage that the screws cause, then more people will settle for just having a piston or two replaced.
Just make sure that your dealership has a boroscope and can inspect the engine internals firsthand. The first place I went to didn't, and wasn't able to diagnose the engine, only able to fix the butterfly so I could hobble home to my regular dealership.
Kodus to Mazda for replacing my engine before the official recall, unlike Subaru who refused to acknowlege the wheel bearing failures on the 98 Impreza series that caused me to get rid of the car.
PS...if you've already had screws go through your engine, do NOT let them get away with just fixing the intake...the engine needs a thorough inspection for internal damage. Sidewall damage and / or header damage will come back to haunt you! They replaced my engine outright, which was the proper thing to do in my case. Although don't count on them doing that very often, I saw what it cost them on the screen at the dealer - $5k+. They don't show the price for warranty repairs on your receipt. 
If you haven't had the symptoms yet, count yourself lucky. It's exactly as described...rough idle, check engine light, crunchy noises, until the engine spits out the screw eventually, or it is lodged in the exhaust. It's nasty stuff. The scary thing is, you don't really notice the symptons when you're not idling, except for the light. So if you see that light, get off the road as soon as you can.
They also gave me a free rental car for the duration of the repairs. This was in Lancaster, CA.
If you haven't had the symptoms yet, count yourself lucky. It's exactly as described...rough idle, check engine light, crunchy noises, until the engine spits out the screw eventually, or it is lodged in the exhaust. It's nasty stuff. The scary thing is, you don't really notice the symptons when you're not idling, except for the light. So if you see that light, get off the road as soon as you can.
They also gave me a free rental car for the duration of the repairs. This was in Lancaster, CA.
I just called the dealership I bought my P5 from and they said there is nothing as of "YET" any sniff of a recall for Canadian P5's that fall in the built/VIN range. The service Tech also told me that the American and Canadian VIN's are different so this might not affect the Canadian cars at all. I highly doubt it so Im going to keep my eyes open on this.
