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View Full Version : 02 subaru wrx question


subleg69
02-15-2011, 10:59 AM
My buddy just bought a 02 WRX from a local dealer, it had 149k on it. these 2.0 motors have the head gasket problem right? my buddy tried telling me that they don't, i dont know if its wishfull thinking on his part. i know more about subarus then him yet hes tryna tell me otherwise. id just like to know for a fact so he doesnt end up being screwed cause he knows nothing about cars. what other problems do the wrx have?

Thanks mack
phi11
02-15-2011, 11:07 AM
these 2.0 motors have the head gasket problem right?

where did you hear that?

Fuel Smell Problem Recalled! 02 - 03
http://www.cars101.com/recalls.html
Huffer
02-15-2011, 01:26 PM
what other problems do the wrx have?

Drivers who have heavy right feet.
Glass-like transmissions when people try to launch them.
elislider
02-15-2011, 01:30 PM
they have tiny turbo syndrome :)
and if you try to 4-wheel-launch them you might break a transmission gear
Grafton
02-19-2011, 11:16 AM
the 2.0 itself is pretty reliable just the transmissions and the fuel line on the motor not so much...

the na 2.5's are the head gasket killers
BG5guy
02-19-2011, 05:17 PM
2.2 are solid, 2.5 have issues
mike-tracy
02-19-2011, 07:39 PM
The '02 USDM WRX was the last year to get the narrow gears in the tranny.
Tranny codes for the 02-05 USDM WRX's:

TY754VN2AA = narrow gears
TY754VN2BA = wider gears (reportedly as wide as the jdm "RA" gearset from the 90s)

It's possible that he got the wider gears if he has a late model 02.
The tranny code is on a white sticker on the upper right hand side of the tranny bellhousing (as you look in the engine bay towards the back of the car)

My opinion is that if you/he shifts the car smoothly, there won't be any problems (depending how the previous owner(s) treated the tranny of course).
StatGSR
02-19-2011, 07:42 PM
^ I was always told it was 02s and 03s that had the crappy gears, and that 04 was when things got slightly better.....
mike-tracy
02-19-2011, 07:48 PM
^ I was always told it was 02s and 03s that had the crappy gears, and that 04 was when things got slightly better.....

I'm going off what Unibomber put on on his Transmission FAQ: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... TY754VN2BA (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=665334&highlight=TY754VN2AA+TY754VN2BA)

My thoughts are that Subaru should have redesigned the trannys with stronger gears as soon as they came out with the much heaver GD body.