32 replies to this topic

[Morgan]

Ah yes, thanks for reminding me

I went and saw Leon (Shadoxity on here) who has the software to get into my ECU. He ever so kindly removed all codes relating to the air pump. There were heaps of them!

Once that was done, I was able to blank up the pump. Iain gave me a hand with this and she's now running smooth again.

Are you having similar problems?

[XTWRX]

Any Danger if you don't use the block off plates and just deleting the codes? Leaving in the pump.

Mine stuffed up in my 07 Forester XT months ago. Due to driving home in bad weather one night from work. Fountain Gate quoted me $4500 to get fixed. Funnily enough it's not covered under the used car warranty I received when I purchased my Forester. So I've been driving around a while without any issues. I'm not paying $4500 just to get my cruise control working again.
Plus what's the chance of them fixing it and the valves ceasing up again a few months later? $4500 down the toilet?

So I will be planning to put this fix in some time soon.

[Morgan]

Have been told that the air moving between those pipes is extremely hot (hence melting the valves in the first place). This is a catalyst for a fire.

Obviously worst case scenario but it's a risk.

Plates are $50.

Do it!

[Beckers]

We had a 09 XT in @ work a couple of weeks ago, it had this weird looking thing on top of the LH side timing cover.
Was it an air pump ????

[Morgan]

Dunno if they still have them on the current ones. They improves the system for the MY07s which eliminated the issue. So if they are on the MY09s they shouldn't have this problem

[Alex]

It's not just a problem with the Foresters.

A workmate has a circa 2005 impreza GX which the air pump has shit itself.

Was quoted astronomical figures to fix it ($4k +) but she says she's lost faith with the Subaru brand, despite loving her car.

I told her it was fixable for cheap, but I think she has her heart set on a new car.



Prepare for a wave of various late model Subarus with air pump failures going for ridiculously cheap!!

[Morgan]

After copious amounts of research, I thought the 06-08 Foresters and 06-07 WRX STi's were fitted with this pump. The 03-05 XTs didn't even get it.

It's definitely not visible in this picture of an 05 Impreza GX.

[Beckers]

Hey Morgan, When the 09 XT comes back for it's next service i will grab some pics.

[XTWRX]

Hmmm the boys at Fountain gate didn't warn me of any fire hazards. Maybe I can sue if my xt burns? They just warned me that since my engine light is always on just to watch out that something else isn't effecting the engine which would usually cause the light to come on also.


I wonder how much money subaru has made from victims of this failure. I just think its a ridiculous amount of money for something that is only used at start up.

Do you know of anyone that has tried to sell with the pump removed?

[Alex]

Morgan - its a hawk eye.

Year model was a stab in the dark.

[rustynuts]

Hey guys. We had same fault code and we had booked in for dealer services. Found that also had air condition fault with o rings into compressor.
We got the air con fixed non dealer for $185, low and behold not more fault with secondary air.
Freaky I know, but the dealer charge for the secondary air was going to be $1700.
Saved... Win..

[itsjasper]

Anyone needing a working secondary air pump, pm me. (E.g. If you are selling or going back to stock)

[MrSober88]

Old post but thought I would just add in that Subaru have done a recall but only on the secondary air pump relay that could fail and make the air pump stay on the whole time the car is running, Not just cold start which was making the air pumps shit themselves sooner.