jjimpreza
11-05-2001, 02:13 PM
Well I got off from work Friday night and hopped in my car to start it. It started only to idle at 1500 RPM for 2 seconds and then die. I looked at things for a while and couldn't figure it out (gas,fuel,spark). There was no check engine light or any codes of a possible problem. So I opted to have it towed to the dealer that was closes to my location. My 2000 Impreza RS has 36,538 miles on the odometer and is leased thru SOA. Subaru informed me that it is my bill to have it towed. So I finally get the car towed to the dealer by midnight and do a drop off for the service.
I called the dealer in the morning only to hear the worst possible news! The serviceman told me that they were able to get the car running to diagnose the problem. He told me that the check engine light was on stating there was a diagnostic code. He asked how long the light had been on and I told it was never on at all, EVER. He told me car the computer was generating a code 11. Which in plain English means an ECU failure. The serviceman told me that computer of the car is bad and will have to be replaced. He told me the service department was shocked to determine this as the problem. Well this is an expensive little fix $1100 part, $200 labor closes part is across the U.S. My serviceman said this is not covered under a warranty because my warranty has ended 538 miles ago. He told me that this is not covered under the 50K warranty.
Has anyone else experienced an ECU problem like this? I can't believe it my car is less than two years old with absolutely no Mods and the computer has died. What would cause this to happen if it wasn’t defective? I thought Subaru’s were supposed to be reliable cars and run forever. My second question has anyone dealt with Subaru with warranty issues? I know it is out of the 36K warranty but this problem seems like a defect in my eyes. Do you think they will help compensate me with this issue? The Service shop told me to call and that Subaru may help out.
Any thoughts, ideas or personal experiences regarding this would are welcome.
Jerimi
I called the dealer in the morning only to hear the worst possible news! The serviceman told me that they were able to get the car running to diagnose the problem. He told me that the check engine light was on stating there was a diagnostic code. He asked how long the light had been on and I told it was never on at all, EVER. He told me car the computer was generating a code 11. Which in plain English means an ECU failure. The serviceman told me that computer of the car is bad and will have to be replaced. He told me the service department was shocked to determine this as the problem. Well this is an expensive little fix $1100 part, $200 labor closes part is across the U.S. My serviceman said this is not covered under a warranty because my warranty has ended 538 miles ago. He told me that this is not covered under the 50K warranty.
Has anyone else experienced an ECU problem like this? I can't believe it my car is less than two years old with absolutely no Mods and the computer has died. What would cause this to happen if it wasn’t defective? I thought Subaru’s were supposed to be reliable cars and run forever. My second question has anyone dealt with Subaru with warranty issues? I know it is out of the 36K warranty but this problem seems like a defect in my eyes. Do you think they will help compensate me with this issue? The Service shop told me to call and that Subaru may help out.
Any thoughts, ideas or personal experiences regarding this would are welcome.
Jerimi