2005 Impreza STI service

2005 Impreza STI service

Author
Discussion

Tame Technician

Original Poster:

2,467 posts

205 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
quotequote all
I'm looking at a 2005 Impraza STI this weekend, could be my new motor for the winter a least, maybe longer.

As far as I know it needs a service and quite likely the cam belt too.

So I'll probably do everthing, plugs, diff oil etc, but I'd still like to know what is supposed to be done.

Does anyone know the full service schedule, and is the UK one different to other markets and is the STI different to normal impreza turbo.

I found a US one that says the oil needs changing every 3000 miles, is that right, my moter bike has longer service intervals than that.

Any help gratfully received.

Ekona

1,654 posts

203 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
quotequote all
Is it a 2L or 2.5L? Not sure if there's a huge difference between the servicing of either tbh, but a 2005 car could be a blobeye or a hawkeye. The wife's 05 blobeye STi is definitely just the normal 10K service intervals/oil changes.

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

164 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
quotequote all
http://www.extremescoobies.co.uk/servicing.html

I use this guy. Very good. Not much detail, but shows when the cam belt needs doing. To be honest, if your looking at a 2005 then the belt should have been done already regardless of miles!

Epic car. Mines mapped to 350bhp and it's comical.

JollyGrnMonster

887 posts

198 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
What area are you in?

I would recommend an independent to do it (depending on area) or where to get parts from if you intend doing it yourself.

The main thing to ensure imho is that the oil system is primed after and oil change. Oil change frequency will depend on use. Ie. daily use I woukd run it to 5000 to 7500miles. Monthly a lot less.

Simon

JonBoy1

58 posts

171 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
http://www.rogerclarkmotorsport.co.uk/servicing_im...

This should give you a good idea as to whats needed.

Great service from these guys, but holy sh!t was it expensive

Tame Technician

Original Poster:

2,467 posts

205 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the input.

I will be doing all the work myself, while I'm not masivly familiar with the scooby. I've worked on one or two. I am an Audi mechanic, well mastertech actually, so I'm pretty handy with the spanners, just need all the info on what needed to be done really.

My next car, fingers crossed, comes to me fairly cheap as it needs a little work, but its body is good and its already on winter tyres, which is great as I wanted 4WD so I dont get stuck in the snow. We probably wont get any this year now.

It is a 55 plate 2.0L last of this shape



Does anyone know the best place to source genuine subaru parts at a sensible price.

Should you always do the tensioners and rollers with the cam belt.

Thanks again.

TT

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

227 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
Get all your bits from Alyn at ASPerformance, he sends by courier unless you happen to live in Newcastle. His prices are very good inc delivery.

Very nice choice of steed. thumbup

P.S. Yes to belt tensioner/idler pulley.

Tame Technician

Original Poster:

2,467 posts

205 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
Nice one many thanks.

I did think it was the way, Its what I would do with other cars, just wanted to know as its looks like a £300+ parts bill for everything.

Still at least I found the instructions.

Doesnt look any harder than a Vauxhall V6, cost a bit more to fix if it goes wrong though.

Incase any one else needs it here is what I found.
http://ken-gilbert.com/wrx/STi_Manual/02.%20ENGINE...



I'm looking over the car saturday, get to drive it and have it up on a ramp. What are the common faults, if any I should be looking for.

Thanks again.

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

227 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
The 4WD system is very strong as per the engine. From that point of view just make sure there are none of the usual clunks, whines and crunches from the drivetrain, make sure the DCCD (driver controlled center differential) works ok manually and in auto.

Juddering from the clutch is not uncommon. caused by hotspots on the clutch and flywheel faces. Can be temp cured with a couple of full bore standing starts or install an aftermarket uprated clutch kit.

Engine wise there shouldn't be any unusual noises, knocks, bangs, piston slap, big end rattles or anything else. From under the bonnet rev the engine from 2000-3000rpm. Anything that sounds kind of cammy will likely be some bottom end rattle, not camshaft. More often comes from the drivers side of the engine. Can run like that forever without issue, rather like some earlier impreza with piston slap, or it's indicative of some potential catastrophic bottom end failure in due course.

Oil pumps used to be a potential issue once upon a time. Pressure vallve plunger would stick and no oil pressure. Happened to my 02 WRX engine, but i'm certain 2005 onwards cars had a modified oil pump to stop that happening so you're fine.

They don't smoke or use much if any oil at all.

Rear suspensions knocks means replacement dampers. Generally Subaru bushes are very hard wearing so rarely get a problem there. Brembo brakes as standard are good so at least you'll stop well enough.

Just keep on top of the servicing, specially if it's been modified/mapped, and it will look after you for ever more!!

I'm sure i've missed bits biggrin

P.S. VF35 turbo is very reliable and quiet. If there's any excessive smoke or turbo whine it may mean you have turbo seals/bearing gone or on the way out. I'm based in Northants so if you're nearby and need an extra eye before you buy it give me a shout.


Edited by ScoobieWRX on Wednesday 4th January 21:50

Tame Technician

Original Poster:

2,467 posts

205 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks very much for that very informative. The car is currently someone else's daily driver so I dont think there is anything major wrong with it, or they probably wouldnt be using it, but I know that its due a service and as selling they are not having it done, so its down to me. Price reflects this, bit of a bargain.

I'm in essex, but thanks for the thought.

If I get it, I'll put some pics up.

Thanks Again

TT

Edited by Tame Technician on Wednesday 4th January 23:55

fildigger

1,095 posts

206 months

Friday 6th January 2012
quotequote all
Great choice of car thumbup

Bomb proof in all departments and such a rewarding car to drive.

bls1

49 posts

171 months

Thursday 19th January 2012
quotequote all
OP said "Does anyone know the full service schedule, and is the UK one different to other markets and is the STI different to normal impreza turbo. I found a US one that says the oil needs changing every 3000 miles, is that right, my moter bike has longer service intervals than that."

No according to Subaru it doesn't need changing every 3000 miles, its more like every 10k or 12k, I forget which. Many people choose to do an intermediate oil change between, making it every 5 or 6k. Whether it needs it or not arguably depends on whether its tuned, the quality of the fully synth oil, how much its thrashed, number of cold starts and if left to warm up and cool down properly. But mainly it depends on personal opinion...

US has many more very cheap & convenient while-u-wait oil change places, and they tend to use them.

Tame Technician

Original Poster:

2,467 posts

205 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
Well the deal fell through. The car was coming in as a trade in where I work, But the owner (quite sensibly TBH) decided not to exept the trade in we had offered him and sell the car privatly. Its a real shame was gonna be trade money + £200 to me and was a very tidy car.

Still never mind, was a nice M3 in the car park the other day, wonder if the sales bods managed to do a deal on that.....

BerksJack

1,155 posts

167 months

Saturday 21st January 2012
quotequote all
Tame Technician said:
Well the deal fell through. The car was coming in as a trade in where I work, But the owner (quite sensibly TBH) decided not to exept the trade in we had offered him and sell the car privatly. Its a real shame was gonna be trade money + £200 to me and was a very tidy car.

Still never mind, was a nice M3 in the car park the other day, wonder if the sales bods managed to do a deal on that.....
That's a shame mate, the last of the blob eyes (with the dccd and widetrack) are great cars and still in the cheap tax bracket.