Needed cheap ideas/now need engine shopping advice

[dman]

While taking my exit from the highway the car quickly developed some crackling/rattling/marbly sound coming from the engine. Related to rmps (or possibly to turbo rmps) and most pronounced while giving it gas. Was able to make it to the second traffic light and died there. With some effort and lots of gas pedal application I was able to start it (was probably a very stupid thing to do) and make it two more blocks (where it died at the stop light again) so that I can park it and walk home. While making these two blocks sounds were very loud, car was very sluggish. Before going home quickly checked oil level (fine, and does not leak in general), transmission oil level (fine) and coolant (fine). No CEL's before today, did not check if there are any now. It did not smoke while making these noises, although I think I did smell a bit of oil, but not too sure.

Before this it did not really have any drivability problems, car drove fine until the very moment noises developed. It did have some issue related to water temp sensor (I think - it was not starting on the second try if it did not fully warm up). And I did not drive the car for 2-3 days, and it seemed just a tad slow to start relative to usual when I was driving it to a couple of places today.

I need ideas for some simple things to check tomorrow, before calling AAA and having it towed to my mechanic. A little background, car is 5spd 94 legacy turbo, no engine mods, around 120k on the clock, timing belt with all oem pulleys/rollers/tensioner/water pump and oilpump reseal done last summer, tune up (plugs, wires) last spring.

The only two simple things I can think of that I can check with a wrench on a car parked on the street - dying alternator with seized bearing, or dead and seized up turbo, and I'm not even sure those can have such simptoms. Any other ideas?

[douglas vincent]

Where are you located?

And it doesnt sound good at all.

Alt would notkill the car, nor wouldthe turbo, sounds like a spun bearing.

[dman]

Where are you located?

And it doesnt sound good at all.

Alt would notkill the car, nor wouldthe turbo, sounds like a spun bearing.

I'm in Minneapolis.
That's what I think too, but who knows, don't have any prior experience with spun bearings, so I have no idea if they develop this fast with no prior signs, and totally prevent a car from starting.

[gijonas]

You should bring a breaker bar and a 23mm?? i think socket and try to turn the motor by hand,it should be easy to rule out bottom end problems as far as a spun bearing that way,take out the plugs to do this if possible.You may have oil in the engine but if there is water in the oil for any reason spun bearings can happen still.

I agree though marbly noises and not wanting to run doesnt sound well.

[icrman]

Cheap ideas.
1 If you have a place at home to work on it have it towed there.
2 Run an add on craigslist for a subaru mechanic to help figure
out whats going on for sure. I agree its probably junk now.
3 You could get a low milage japan engine and have the hired
hand help put it in.


If it goes to a shop,,,,, $100 or more to figure out the problem.
Then it will get crazy like $2500 to fix or replace.

You may get away for less than $1000 with a jdm or wrecking yard engine.

[tahoe.ss]

man it could still be other things, my best friend had a turbo center section take a crap on a long road trip and made terrible noises but only smoked a little at stops and would barely idle cuz it was leaking exhaust gas into the intake side. i almost pulled the head off cuz of that noise.
also check to make sure you have fuel at the right pressure, pinging on a boosted apposed motor could sound horrible sometimes as well as you needing to hold the throttle open to start it again.

[dman]

Thanks guys.
I don't have a place and time to work on it right now and already know a decent mechanic who knows the car. Had it pushed into my parking spot yesterday and will tow to a mechanic during the week.

Looked at it in the daylight, no holes in the block yet

So where does one get JDM engine for these? Will anything fit without major rewiring?

[dman]

Ok, an some update.
Mechanic called. Says the noise mostly from the back, it still runs, but dies once warmed up unless given gas. Oil pressure is borderline ok, but does not come up as quick when shut down and restarted. Some silvery metal shavings in oil. Compression readings low on #1 and #3 (were fine last summer).
Says he thinks its rear main bearing.

So, I would guess it does not make sense to tear engine apart to see exactly what's wrong, better save that money (6 hours labor according to him) towards a different engine, right?

[SLODRIVE]

Your mechanic may be right about the spun bearing, although that doesn't exactly explain the driveability issues, which could easily be something worse. Either way, with the oil full of metal, the whole motor may well be compromised. Unless you plan on a full rebuild, you're probably better off looking for another motor.

Sorry about the bad news

[dman]

So, about this EJ20g, is there a good thread that covers the basics? Is this a good idea if I am not going to be doing it myself? My mechanic is decent, and worked at subaru dealership for a long time, but I'm paying if something weird has to be diagnosed and fixed.

Are there wiring issues besides ignitor?

And while shopping for EJ20g, does it matter which tranny it was mated to?
Say this, for example, is an auto, will it work just fine?
Thanks!

[93forestpearl]

Tranny will not matter. You are generally better off with one that used to be mated to an auto, as the likelyhood of overrevving would be low.