The engine tear down has been completed. According to Subaru, the engine failure was caused by an issue with the valves and damage to the cylinders. The fault was not due to "a lack of lubrication" although this is what the Wilsons were told at the start. And as far as proper maintenance, the findings of the tear down was that the engine was clean without sign of build up or gunk, meaning that proper service was done (even though it was not serviced at Subaru).
The result? Subaru of America has agreed to pay 75% of the cost to replace the engine. The Wilsons will be responsible for the remainder, which could be a bill of $1,200. The loaner car was no longer available, having exceeded the 5 days that Anchor had agreed to allow the Wilson family to use it.
The repair to the engine could take a week or more.
So that is the final decision of Subaru of America in the saga of the Wilson's Forester.
Thank you all for your comments and you support. Please feel free to let us know what you think about this final development.
UPDATE FROM W. MOORE:
The result? Subaru of America has agreed to pay 75% of the cost to replace the engine. The Wilsons will be responsible for the remainder, which could be a bill of $1,200. The loaner car was no longer available, having exceeded the 5 days that Anchor had agreed to allow the Wilson family to use it.
The repair to the engine could take a week or more.
So that is the final decision of Subaru of America in the saga of the Wilson's Forester.
Thank you all for your comments and you support. Please feel free to let us know what you think about this final development.
UPDATE FROM W. MOORE:
As it turned out, a valve guide failed in one of the cylinders, which caused the valve to fail. It put excessive loads on bearings and damaged the cylinder and head of the engine. As mentioned, the engine was very clean inside, so it had nothing to do with lack of engine maintenance on the Wilson's part. This was mentioned by Anchor Subaru.
That helped in Subaru America's decision to pay for part of the cost to repair the damage. Mr. Benoit negotiated with Subaru America, in the Wilson's behalf, and got it so that Subaru paid 75 % of the cost of repair, which is about $3,500 total. In the deal they are replacing timing belts and some other components while the engine is apart. The Wilson's part in all that is about $900 with additional monies going toward the replacement of non-damaged parts just mentioned, bringing the total, with tax, to around $1200.
Considering that the engine was 5000 miles over warranty, they could have insisted on not doing anything, and while that would have been very undesirable, none the less, they could have taken that stance.
Yes, the engine should not have blown at 65,000. Obviously there was a defect in one of the engine parts, and it took that mileage to manifest itself. In a beautiful, loving, self sacrificing world, Subaru might have given a free loner car for the entire duration of the ordeal, (Which would have spoken volumes for, and put a feather in, Mr. Benoit's hat- I wish he had done that) and Subaru America might have made everything go away for free,(don't hold your breath) but that does not happen very much in the world we currently live in.
And it would also had been better, had Subaru really stepped up to the plate and pay 75% of their cost for the part( manufacturing cost), and their cost for labor (Anchor Subaru's cost), but they did not. Instead they are charging full retail price. Welcome to the real world. Still, all and all, I think the Terrence and Jennifer should be thankful for this outcome, and move on. And I thank Mr. Benoit for his part in it and wish him well.
That helped in Subaru America's decision to pay for part of the cost to repair the damage. Mr. Benoit negotiated with Subaru America, in the Wilson's behalf, and got it so that Subaru paid 75 % of the cost of repair, which is about $3,500 total. In the deal they are replacing timing belts and some other components while the engine is apart. The Wilson's part in all that is about $900 with additional monies going toward the replacement of non-damaged parts just mentioned, bringing the total, with tax, to around $1200.
Considering that the engine was 5000 miles over warranty, they could have insisted on not doing anything, and while that would have been very undesirable, none the less, they could have taken that stance.
Yes, the engine should not have blown at 65,000. Obviously there was a defect in one of the engine parts, and it took that mileage to manifest itself. In a beautiful, loving, self sacrificing world, Subaru might have given a free loner car for the entire duration of the ordeal, (Which would have spoken volumes for, and put a feather in, Mr. Benoit's hat- I wish he had done that) and Subaru America might have made everything go away for free,(don't hold your breath) but that does not happen very much in the world we currently live in.
And it would also had been better, had Subaru really stepped up to the plate and pay 75% of their cost for the part( manufacturing cost), and their cost for labor (Anchor Subaru's cost), but they did not. Instead they are charging full retail price. Welcome to the real world. Still, all and all, I think the Terrence and Jennifer should be thankful for this outcome, and move on. And I thank Mr. Benoit for his part in it and wish him well.
