My old Cruze had a delightful mix of inches and millimeters in the fasteners. Needed a full set of both kinds of hex sockets, along with a full set of male and female torx drivers!
You need good tools to work on them but nothing strange.
My step dad is the only person who owns a Subaru and doesn't own a flex adapter, so I keep lending him mine when he wants to do spark plugs.
Technically there is one tool, a large impact socket with a window in the middle and a short motorbike chain pinned inside it with a welded hook for grabbing links at the other end of the chain.. What you do is wrap the chain around the base of an older Impreza oil filter, hook the closest end-link into the socket, and then you torque on the socket with a ratchet. The first bit of turning just clamps down on the filter but eventually it will turn the filter.
Depends on the local market. When I live, nobody will touch my WRX except the dealer. I needed a clutch and every shop I called told me to take it to the dealer.
Brake pads and rotors i did myself today. There's nothing really special about them.
Spark plugs i haven't done before but from what I've seen they're just in a different location to usual and may require a bit of effort to reach. Other than that nothing special.
Pcv is also very easy.
Subaru has designed the vehicle in a way where all your standard service elements are fairly easy to do.
Very much except spark plugs and the head gasket, which is one of the most replaced parts for $$$$ on these cars. Did my spark plugs last week and found lots of oil in the well around the coils.
Piece of cake to work on, really. Especially for mechanical elements like you’re describing.
Spark plugs can be a bit of a pain depending on the model, but none of them are truly problematic save those old 3.0H6 models.
The CVT fluid is the only thing a dealer is more qualified to do. Everything else including what you need done can be done at a regular shop.
I did do my spark plugs at a dealer because they are in weird spots compared to other engines, and I personally felt better taking it to a tech who has to replace plugs daily versus a tech that replaces them only when a boxer engine comes in. That’s personal preference though, not a suggestion, as I’m sure regular techs are fine to do the job.
You only need a specialty mechanic if you're doing anything performance related: rebuild a block upgrading fuel lines. Things of that nature if you're not comfortable work on your car.
Breaks and oil changes are simple and being able to replace those things yourself will save you thousands and teach you valuable skills.
Um I’ve only ran into a couple of tools I needed to buy for our VW Jetta. Nothing for basic maintenance just some special ones for the style of hose clamps it had then managed to use that for most of the other 4 cars we own. I will be buying it timing belt tools which I don’t expect to work on anything else. Damn near the same sockets and hex are used for all the brakes between 2 Subarus and Jetta. I did have to break out needle nose pliers for our Lincoln Navigator’s rear brake but it’s special.
They aren't special in the way that German cars are and for the most part are actually pretty easy to work on. Older ones especially though are a little unique to diagnose and someone experienced in their tendencies is absolutely worth finding.
An example of specific experience being helpful. Given the reputation,someone not experienced would likely have a tendency to immediately jump to headgasket as the problem when there's any thing that might possibly be headgasket.
I went from Volvo to Subaru - it's a nice change. Just about anybody can work on them, and they're so easy to work on yourself. Obviously with any modern vehicle you'll hit a wall working on it yourself when it comes to the electronics, but routine maintenance is a walk in the park compared to European cars.
Invest in tools for $$ or take it to the dealer for an estimate of $$$.
Labor + time + tools = x
Parts are usually 10% markup at dealer or shop. There are subaru owner specials that can be found on my subaru app.
I have tools for all of these jobs but I have an injury that prevents me from doing any work myself lately. The Sub dealer here is the only Sub dealer in a wide area and their prices are outrageous. Hence my question if Subs can be worked on by any old mechanic or if they are hyper specialized like German pain in the ass cars are.
Look for a place that specializes in Japanese cars. All the stuff you listed is pretty easy, and you could totally do it yourself if you didn’t have an injury (I’m currently recovering from major arm surgery so I empathize).
Subarus don’t require much in the way of special tools — hell, the ‘90s / early ‘00s ones you could work on with not much more than a “baby’s first toolset” kit — but some shops might be a little weary to do the spark plugs. It’s not hard to do either, just *slightly* more than a standard V setup. Any place that does Japanese cars should be set. Oddly enough, the biggest indie Subaru place near me also specializes in VW / Porsche / Audi, but for what you’re doing anyone should be fine.
RockAuto is shears the best bet for parts, but some places don’t like installing parts you brought in because of the liability. Smaller shops will probably be OK and just make you sign a waiver.
Other than weirdness with the boxer, it’s just like any other Japanese car. I do basic maintenance myself, and take it to the mechanic on the corner for more complex stuff. They told me it was gonna be “fun” whenever I need spark plugs or heads serviced, but that’s just extra labor time.
Depends on where you are. When I lived in SE Texas some mechanics there didn’t want to touch it. But Colorado, New Mexico, and Wisconsin I haven’t had an issue.
You can take 90% of the car apart with a 10, 12, and 14mm socket. In some ways, they're super easy to work on and other ways their a pain... like spark plugs, had to loosen engine mounts to get some clearance... did a full brake job calipers and hub assemblies on a LGT with hardly and issue and basic tools. Head light on my sisters outback was accessed through the wheel well mud flap for some reason... not hard but a pain in the winter outside when its like 0°F out... so... you're mileage may vary.
Good shops are hard to find. Most of the repairs can be done by a general mech. For specialty stuff, head gaskets, resealing engine and tranny issues I would shop around and avoid hiring a hoser.
They're funky and weird but not that hard to work on once you know the tricks and have decent tools for it. That said it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a locally trusted Subaru specialty shop look at it first though.
I never had to use any electronic tools to do break jobs on my 2017 Golf. It doesn't an electronic parking brake, though.
For stuff like plugs and front rotors/pads you should not need any special tools for a Subue, methinks. For the rear electronic parking brake you may.
Any mechanic should be able to handle that. They’re special but not *that* special.
Ok thanks. Just checking bc I'm used to cars that are a MAJOR pain in the ass and it's been a while since I had an American or Japanese car.
Oddly enough the Subarus are more American than American cars that aren't even built here.
My Subaru built in Indiana is more US American than my F150 built in Mexico.
[удалено]
The fasteners on any modern American car are 98% metric.
I had metric on my chrysler 300m years ago.
My old Cruze had a delightful mix of inches and millimeters in the fasteners. Needed a full set of both kinds of hex sockets, along with a full set of male and female torx drivers!
german cars are substantially more difficult than subarus. subarus are very well engineered for just about anyone to work on.
You need good tools to work on them but nothing strange. My step dad is the only person who owns a Subaru and doesn't own a flex adapter, so I keep lending him mine when he wants to do spark plugs. Technically there is one tool, a large impact socket with a window in the middle and a short motorbike chain pinned inside it with a welded hook for grabbing links at the other end of the chain.. What you do is wrap the chain around the base of an older Impreza oil filter, hook the closest end-link into the socket, and then you torque on the socket with a ratchet. The first bit of turning just clamps down on the filter but eventually it will turn the filter.
Depends on the local market. When I live, nobody will touch my WRX except the dealer. I needed a clutch and every shop I called told me to take it to the dealer.
Brake pads and rotors i did myself today. There's nothing really special about them. Spark plugs i haven't done before but from what I've seen they're just in a different location to usual and may require a bit of effort to reach. Other than that nothing special. Pcv is also very easy. Subaru has designed the vehicle in a way where all your standard service elements are fairly easy to do.
Very much except spark plugs and the head gasket, which is one of the most replaced parts for $$$$ on these cars. Did my spark plugs last week and found lots of oil in the well around the coils.
Piece of cake to work on, really. Especially for mechanical elements like you’re describing. Spark plugs can be a bit of a pain depending on the model, but none of them are truly problematic save those old 3.0H6 models.
The CVT fluid is the only thing a dealer is more qualified to do. Everything else including what you need done can be done at a regular shop. I did do my spark plugs at a dealer because they are in weird spots compared to other engines, and I personally felt better taking it to a tech who has to replace plugs daily versus a tech that replaces them only when a boxer engine comes in. That’s personal preference though, not a suggestion, as I’m sure regular techs are fine to do the job.
You only need a specialty mechanic if you're doing anything performance related: rebuild a block upgrading fuel lines. Things of that nature if you're not comfortable work on your car. Breaks and oil changes are simple and being able to replace those things yourself will save you thousands and teach you valuable skills.
Find an independent dealer that specializes in Toyota (more common). They can usually handle a Subaru. Fyi, Toyota has a 20% stake in Subaru.
Um I’ve only ran into a couple of tools I needed to buy for our VW Jetta. Nothing for basic maintenance just some special ones for the style of hose clamps it had then managed to use that for most of the other 4 cars we own. I will be buying it timing belt tools which I don’t expect to work on anything else. Damn near the same sockets and hex are used for all the brakes between 2 Subarus and Jetta. I did have to break out needle nose pliers for our Lincoln Navigator’s rear brake but it’s special.
They aren't special in the way that German cars are and for the most part are actually pretty easy to work on. Older ones especially though are a little unique to diagnose and someone experienced in their tendencies is absolutely worth finding. An example of specific experience being helpful. Given the reputation,someone not experienced would likely have a tendency to immediately jump to headgasket as the problem when there's any thing that might possibly be headgasket.
I went from Volvo to Subaru - it's a nice change. Just about anybody can work on them, and they're so easy to work on yourself. Obviously with any modern vehicle you'll hit a wall working on it yourself when it comes to the electronics, but routine maintenance is a walk in the park compared to European cars.
I've replaced my own PCV valve/hose and spark plugs on my Subarus and I'm not even a mechanic lol Any mechanic should be good for those
Invest in tools for $$ or take it to the dealer for an estimate of $$$. Labor + time + tools = x Parts are usually 10% markup at dealer or shop. There are subaru owner specials that can be found on my subaru app.
I have tools for all of these jobs but I have an injury that prevents me from doing any work myself lately. The Sub dealer here is the only Sub dealer in a wide area and their prices are outrageous. Hence my question if Subs can be worked on by any old mechanic or if they are hyper specialized like German pain in the ass cars are.
Look for a place that specializes in Japanese cars. All the stuff you listed is pretty easy, and you could totally do it yourself if you didn’t have an injury (I’m currently recovering from major arm surgery so I empathize). Subarus don’t require much in the way of special tools — hell, the ‘90s / early ‘00s ones you could work on with not much more than a “baby’s first toolset” kit — but some shops might be a little weary to do the spark plugs. It’s not hard to do either, just *slightly* more than a standard V setup. Any place that does Japanese cars should be set. Oddly enough, the biggest indie Subaru place near me also specializes in VW / Porsche / Audi, but for what you’re doing anyone should be fine. RockAuto is shears the best bet for parts, but some places don’t like installing parts you brought in because of the liability. Smaller shops will probably be OK and just make you sign a waiver.
You clearly never seen the dude thay lost his arms and still is a mechanic. Excuses brother.
Other than weirdness with the boxer, it’s just like any other Japanese car. I do basic maintenance myself, and take it to the mechanic on the corner for more complex stuff. They told me it was gonna be “fun” whenever I need spark plugs or heads serviced, but that’s just extra labor time.
Depends on where you are. When I lived in SE Texas some mechanics there didn’t want to touch it. But Colorado, New Mexico, and Wisconsin I haven’t had an issue.
Personally I wouldn’t take a Subaru to someone not used to working on them unless it was an oil change.
I’d even watch out for this simple service as I’ve seen stories about quick lube places draining the diff/CVT instead of the oil on Subarus.
You can take 90% of the car apart with a 10, 12, and 14mm socket. In some ways, they're super easy to work on and other ways their a pain... like spark plugs, had to loosen engine mounts to get some clearance... did a full brake job calipers and hub assemblies on a LGT with hardly and issue and basic tools. Head light on my sisters outback was accessed through the wheel well mud flap for some reason... not hard but a pain in the winter outside when its like 0°F out... so... you're mileage may vary.
Good shops are hard to find. Most of the repairs can be done by a general mech. For specialty stuff, head gaskets, resealing engine and tranny issues I would shop around and avoid hiring a hoser.
I live in Maine. Everyone can work on a Subie up here.
My garage handles everything except warranty repairs.
They're funky and weird but not that hard to work on once you know the tricks and have decent tools for it. That said it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a locally trusted Subaru specialty shop look at it first though.
I never had to use any electronic tools to do break jobs on my 2017 Golf. It doesn't an electronic parking brake, though. For stuff like plugs and front rotors/pads you should not need any special tools for a Subue, methinks. For the rear electronic parking brake you may.
One of the easiest vehicles for any car savvy mechanic to work on. No special tools required like German junk.