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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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In your initial post, you mentioned "timer, and other belts", I assumed you meant timing belt. Most 2000 Subarus have a lot more than 40k miles on
them. A timing belt should not be needed until 80 or 90k miles on that car. Yes, struts are the same thing as shocks, just bigger, more expensive, and
more time consuming to replace. My wife killed a rear strut on an 09 Honda Element in one trip to La Paz and back, at 18k miles. Have them checked,
because it will run into some serious $, but believe me, driving anywhere in Baja just tears them up.
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabass
driving anywhere in Baja just tears them up. |
How true. Baja is no place for a nice car.........hate to say it.
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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How many have you torn up Dennis? Just with the streets of Ensenada and the road to Punta Banda, I'll bet a few.
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabass
In your initial post, you mentioned "timer, and other belts", I assumed you meant timing belt. Most 2000 Subarus have a lot more than 40k miles on
them. A timing belt should not be needed until 80 or 90k miles on that car. Yes, struts are the same thing as shocks, just bigger, more expensive, and
more time consuming to replace. My wife killed a rear strut on an 09 Honda Element in one trip to La Paz and back, at 18k miles. Have them checked,
because it will run into some serious $, but believe me, driving anywhere in Baja just tears them up. |
Thanks, Bass. The car has been in (rainy, cold) WA for 10 years, and has never been garaged. Maybe it was not always timely serviced. The Vashon
Island, WA mechanic (whom I know a bit and trust) said: Two belts in front of car are worn, (one has dry rot). For that reason, he suspects the same
problem with timing belt. (Won't know until he takes things apart.) Brakes are at 20%. I could "get away" with leaving rear brakes alone, but (at
least, if I were driving car from WA to Bay Area or farther, which was my earlier plan) front brakes should be replaced.
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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I was thinking it was an age issue. Do everything he suggests within reason, maybe hoses, thermostat and fresh coolant also. The better shape it is in
when it gets there, the longer you will be trouble free!
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Sell it today. This thing is way more trouble than it's worth. |
LOL -- you may be right; I am in a quandary about what to do with it. (The car CANNOT be sold, however, at least, not before 12/17/2011. That is
part of the "complicated" and "long story," which is best not told in a public forum.)
The Subaru is the most "appropriate" car I "have" for driving in Baja. Obviously (just based on the posts in this thread alone) my Jaguar XK8
convertible is not too appropriate. (And NO -- I WON'T sell it!) My other car is a 1993 Mazda MX-6. That car, while junky enough not to worry about
what happens to it in Baja, is not the best car for Baja, and it may not last too much longer. So, if I can put the (4-wheel drive!) Subaru into good
repair for, say $1,350 (that includes the tires that it needs, which I did not mention previously; it does NOT include the $600 cost to ship it from
WA to San Diego, though), then it may be worth the trouble. Where else could I get a reliable car to drive in Baja, with room to carry stuff, 4-wheel
drive, and only 40,000 miles on it, for under $2,000? 
[Edited on 11-11-2010 by MsTerieus]
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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You can't! So, fix it right, or bite the bullet, and buy a low mile, used 4x4 small truck or SUV. A much more suitable vehicle, but 10-20k! I just
turned in an 09 Tundra 4x4, for a low mile 06 Tundra 4x4, saved darn near 20k, on a truck I know I will destroy! 
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabass
How many have you torn up Dennis? Just with the streets of Ensenada and the road to Punta Banda, I'll bet a few. |
I'm in the process of ruining one right now. It's a strippy '97 Nissan pickup and I do my best to not abuse it. It's perfect for here. It's just
starting to rattle a little here and there. It can't be helped. The potholes will take their toll in time.
Anyway, another hundred thou and I'll probably have to park it.
That's OK. I'll get another one plus I have an '08 Wrangler Sahara in the garage with less that 2500 miles. I won't have to walk.
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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Dennis, is your mechanic in Ensenada proper? Do you think he'd need a Subaru owner's manual en espanol? As for parts, I'm thinking that importing
parts to Baja could be a big pain with the Customs guys. Any way to check and see if the particular parts I need are readily available there? (And
do you know if there is any mark-up due to the fact that they may need to be imported to Mexico?)
Thanks
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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newer car repair in mex
HOLA,as a master mec,that has lived in baja 32 winters,I can tell you , the ole days of these boys can fix anything is long over!!!!your sub is feul
injected, ele ign. system that is way past these great folks... best to have worked on north of the border!!! I know I might get some flak for saying
the truth..but that is where we stand today in repair..I stand tall with friends down here,but if I broke my arm and needed some engine repair on my
volvo.....not till my arm was moving again!!!!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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if you have to ask, you can't afford it............................
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MsTerieus
Dennis, is your mechanic in Ensenada proper? Do you think he'd need a Subaru owner's manual en espanol? As for parts, I'm thinking that importing
parts to Baja could be a big pain with the Customs guys. Any way to check and see if the particular parts I need are readily available there? (And
do you know if there is any mark-up due to the fact that they may need to be imported to Mexico?)
Thanks |
Is he proper??? I'll have to think about that one.
If I recall, your list of complaints covers the most mundane of mechanic's chores. A brake job....replace some belts...change the struts...what else?
Plugs? This is all junior mechanic stuff.
Just buy the parts and throw them into the trunk of your car and forget about them till you need them.
Your car isn't hi-tek. It's a beater just like mine. If it required an engine rebuild, I'd say bring along the manual, but changeing brakes or a belt
doesn't call for a PhD.
You're making this whole thing hard on yourself by thinking their are international ramifications and mechanical engineering issues involved in the
job. Do yourself a favor and quit looking at a tune-up through the eyes of a lawyer.
You worry too much.
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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Dennis,
Thanks for your advice. The only thing car needs & you didn't mention (specifically) is timing belt. I really want all repairs made asap after I
enter Baja (especially having timing belt checked).
May I infer from your reply that (a) your mechanic works in the city of Ensenada, (b) he does not need a Suburu manual in Espanol (not MY idea -- it
was suggested in this thread)?
Thank you
PS: "Try not to worry so much" is what my father often used to say to me (even long BEFORE I was a lawyer). 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MsTerieus
Dennis,
Thanks for your advice. The only thing car needs & you didn't mention (specifically) is timing belt. I really want all repairs made asap after I
enter Baja (especially having timing belt checked).
May I infer from your reply that (a) your mechanic works in the city of Ensenada, (b) he does not need a Suburu manual in Espanol (not MY idea -- it
was suggested in this thread)?
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Timing belt / chain....no problem for this guy.
He works out here in Punta Banda. Makes house calls.
Believe me....if this guy wasn't capable and the best available, I wouldn't be mentioning him. I don't owe him anything and he has plenty of work.
If you end up taking your car down to the campground mechanic [no names] that some of your neighbors will say is "really good," like they would know,
well, you're on your own.
By the way, if the timing belt is going to be checked, just change it. Put one on your list of things to bring down.
.
.
[Edited on 11-11-2010 by DENNIS]
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Timing belt / chain....no problem for this guy.
He works out here in Punta Banda. Makes house calls.
Believe me....if this guy wasn't capable and the best available, I wouldn't be mentioning him. I don't owe him anything and he has plenty of work.
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Right in PB, AND makes house calls? Sounds swell! 
Thanks!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Hope you saw my PS about the belt/chain...whatever your car has.
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Hope you saw my PS about the belt/chain...whatever your car has. |
Yes, saw it. Will get one.
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KASHEYDOG
Senior Nomad
Posts: 649
Registered: 2-21-2007
Location: CARLSBAD,CA 619-990-0270
Member Is Offline
Mood: SO MANY TACOS, SO LITTLE TIME... Gotta Go, See ya there.... 
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Hey, MsTerieus !!!
What are you thinking?? Your original post said you had $750 worth of
repairs to do. So just how much do you think you're going to "save" by getting the work done in Baja, maybe a couple hundred bucks???
Now, having said that let's look at the big picture. You can spend whatever it takes to get the car in GOOD running condition by a reliable mechanic
and good parts availability. Or you can take your chances with poor parts availability and a mechanic who has very little experience with Subaru. Let's see,
how many days can you go without car in Ensenada?? And who are you going to take it back to when it's screwed up. Why are you even thinking about forfeiting reliability for the sake of a few
dollars????????
Want my advise?? Drive it to San Diego. Take it to the Subaru dealer in Chula Vista. Spend "whatever" it takes to make the car right and enjoy Baja
from a dependable car. You really don't need to start living in Baja with a car that is always on the side of the road and you walking home.
Or as Dennis said, sell it and get a real Baja car.
That's my 2 cents. But what would I know, I'm just an old LEXUS car salesman. But my philosophy has always been " do it right and never sacrifice
dependability for a few pesos". Life is too short to be screwing around with the small stuff.
Don\'t mess with the old dog...... Age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery! Brilliance only comes with age and
experience.....  ....  ....
Are you getting the most out of life OR is life getting the most out of you ??
Twenty years from now you\'ll be more disappointed by the things you didn\'t do then the things you did.
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by KASHEYDOG
Hey, MsTerieus !!!
What are you thinking?? Your original post said you had $750 worth of
repairs to do. So just how much do you think you're going to "save" by getting the work done in Baja, maybe a couple hundred bucks???
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Hey, Kashey! Long time, no "see." I appreciate your concern. However, you should understand that I likely will have another care (or 2), so I'm not
too worried about being without a car in Baja. And since I am about to retire (early), I do need to watch my spending. A savings of $200 off of $735
would be worth it, to me, under the circumstances.
Also - I don't believe that there aren't good mechanics in Baja who know how to fix 10-year-old Japanese cars. Basically, I agree with what Dennis
posted, and I plan to take his advice.
PS: I'm sending you a U2U with more details. As stated above, it's complicated. : }
[Edited on 11-12-2010 by MsTerieus]
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MsTerieus
Nomad
Posts: 462
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda, Ensenada, Baja California
Member Is Offline
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Mexican Tires?
Sorry -- one more question. The Subaru needs new tires soon. I originally figured that I should buy them in the U.S. (e.g., from Tirerack.com).
However, I did a quick Google search and found that some name-brand tires are made in Mexico. So, am I just as well off waiting and buying them in
Baja, which would be more convenient for me??
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