Manufacturer: FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES U.S.A., INC. (C/O SUBARU OF AMERICA)
Manufacturer Id: 1075
Model: Impreza
Model Year: 1998
Other Restraint System Info: SRS Airbag
Plant City: Ota
Plant Company Name: FHI
Plant Country: Japan
Plant State: Gunma
Seat Belts All: Manual
Transmission Speeds: 5
Transmission Style: Manual/Standard
Trim: RS
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
REF PE04002: SUBARU IMPREZA WRX '02/'03 FUEL LEAK 1 ? TEMP: ~5 DEG. F OVERNIGHT. STARTED CAR IN AM; SMELLED RAW FUEL VIA THE VENTS. 2 - WITH FLASHLIGHT COULD SEE LEAKAGE FROM BOTH HOSE CLAMPS NOTED IN SUBARU TSB (09-36-03); ALSO TOOK PHOTOS. FRONT CLAMP: PRESSURIZED STREAM OF FUEL; APPROX. 2 OZ. FUEL POOLED IN RECESS IN THE MANIFOLD BY THE TIME ENGINE SHUT OFF. REAR CLAMP: RAPID DRIP OF FUEL; APPROXIMATELY 0.5 OZ. POOLED. FUEL ACCUMULATION OCCURRED WITHIN APPROX. 3 MIN. OF STARTING. 3 - SPENT 6+ HRS TIGHTENING THE SCREWS ON BOTH CLAMPS. BOTH LEAKS DIMINISHED TO SLOW DRIP; NOT STOPPED COMPLETELY; MIN. FUEL POOLING, STILL THERE IF TEMP LOW ENOUGH. TSB FIX NOT IMPLEMENTED YET. FILING COMPLAINT AGAINST CLOSED PE04002 BECAUSE: A - NO MENTION OF FUEL ACCUMULATION IN THE PUBLISHED RESOLUTION, ONLY SMELL OF FUEL. NUMEROUS INSTANCES REPORTED ONLINE OF NOTICEABLE FUEL LEAKAGE. B - SUBJECT VEHICLES NOTED FOR THEIR ALL WEATHER TRAVEL ABILITY; COMMONLY USED FOR WINTER SPORTS - POTENTIALLY VULNERABLE TO THIS PROBLEM. C - APPARENTLY NO REPORTED FIRES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT SEEMS VERY POSSIBLE: COINCIDENTAL ELECTRICAL FAULT OR STATIC ELECTRICITY DISCHARGE. D - IF VENTS CLOSED, FUEL ACCUMULATION COULD OCCUR UNNOTICED. E - IF FUEL POOLED UNDER A LEAKING JUNCTION IGNITED IT SEEMS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE HEAT GENERATED COULD BURN/MELT THE HOSE ABOVE AND CREATE A FAR LARGER DISCHARGE OF FUEL. WHILE THE ODOR OF FUEL MAY NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM, I CANNOT SEE HOW SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAKAGE ONTO A RUNNING ENGINE CAN BE CONSIDERED ANYTHING EXCEPT A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE KEPT OVERHEATING AND AIR WOULD APPEAR IN THE RADIATOR. ANTIFREEZE WOULD BE PUSHED OUT OF RADIATOR AND THE HEATER WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. THE CAR HAD TO BE SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY AND ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN AND THE ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. A CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM DETECTED NO LEAKS. WE WERE TOOK THE CAR TO A NUMBER OF GARAGES UNTIL FINALLY ONE GARAGE TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS MOST LIKELY CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600. ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE, THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF ENGINES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, SPECIFICALLY ONE WITH THE DOHC.*AK