# 03 Forester with 190k miles. Worth the Timing Belt Repair? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** forester, subaru, timing-belts\ **Created:** [December 11, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217 "2017-12-11T16:05:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/21 "2017-12-13T14:16:12Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > No experience w/the issue myself, but AllData shows all Subie’s w/SOHC are a free-wheeling design, non-interference. All w/DOHC are interference. Not sure how far that goes back, but the assessment appears to go back as far as the early 1990’s at least. AllData is dead wrong about “all SOHC” DOHC was a disaster for Subaru, good they pulled it out of production there are multiple SOHC engines on the road, George: - JE22 is a golden engine in late 90s, extremely reliable, no headgasket issues =\> NON-INTERFERENCE design - EJ25 is more or less current model, famous for headgasket failures =\> INTERFERENCE design - FB25 is current production line, chain drive, no head gasket issues, eats oil =\> INTERFERENCE design for any modern Subaru, interference design has to be assumed, like in '03 OP has ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/22 "2017-12-13T14:19:22Z")
seems most folks here think changing timing belt at 60k-90k intervals is a good thing. its when you go past the cutoff and still own car that there is an issue. maybe it will break, maybe not. if it does not and you sell car problem is gone. you can tell buyer you did not change belt and go on. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/23 "2017-12-13T14:42:28Z")
I had the same dilemma with my 2005 Honda Accord V6 with 187,000 miles. I got good offer on a trade-in and took it, buying a 2017 Accord I-4 to avoid timing belts in the future. the car still ran well. The used car manager commented on how well the engine and transmission ran with this mileage. Remember that any problems you encounter now are maintenance. The only repairs are for items you replaced recently. You will put about 30,000 miles on any car commuting each year. Do you want to do that to a new car or a this one? In less than 7 years you will be at this point again on a new car. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/24 "2017-12-13T18:07:58Z")
This is the warning shown in Alldata for the timing belt replacement for the 2003 Forester 2.5 L SOHC; **CAUTION: INTERFERENCE ENGINE** When installing the timing belt, be sure to align all alignment marks on the belt with corresponding marks on the sprockets. If incorrectly installed, interference between pistons and valves may occur. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/25 "2017-12-14T01:13:42Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > This is the warning shown in Alldata for the timing belt replacement for the 2003 Forester 2.5 L SOHC; > > CAUTION: INTERFERENCE ENGINE Yes, I checked the actual procedure and I see that warning too. My comment above is based on the Technician’s Reference /Timing Belt Replacement tab. It appears that info doesn’t match the warning in the procedure. The procedure mentions that it was updated in 2009. Not sure if that update applies to the interference/non-interference issue. I’ll edit my comment above as it appears there’s an inconsistency in what AllData says. That may be confusing the OP’s shop too. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/26 "2017-12-14T01:19:40Z")
> [@thegreendrag0n](#): > > there are multiple SOHC engines on the road, George: > > JE22 is a golden engine in late 90s, extremely reliable, no headgasket issues =\> NON-INTERFERENCE design > EJ25 is more or less current model, famous for headgasket failures =\> INTERFERENCE design > FB25 is current production line, chain drive, no head gasket issues, eats oil =\> INTERFERENCE design According to AllData the engine in a 2003 Forester is “F4-2.5L SOHC”. Is that the same as one of the three you mention above? ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/27 "2017-12-14T01:21:40Z")
> **[List of Subaru engines | Subaru EJ engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Subaru_engines#Subaru_EJ_engine)** > > The EJ engine was introduced in the 1989 Subaru Legacy to replace the EA engines. It was designed from scratch with five main crankshaft bearings and four valves per cylinder and can be either SOHC or DOHC and one timing belt. The fifth digit is the only way to tell without seeing the engine. > 1.EJ15: 1483.4 cc SOHC, 1990–2003 JDM Subaru Impreza | > 2.EJ16: 90 hp at 5,600 rpm used in the 1993–2006 Subaru Impreza | > 3.EJ18: 1820 cc SOHC 110 hp at 5,600 rpm used in the 1993–1996 Subaru Impreza and E... EJ25 is “generation E, modification J, 2.5 liters” ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217/28 "2017-12-14T01:25:22Z")
Good info in that link. Maybe **F4** in AllData means it is a **flat 4** configuration, and isn’t related to Subie’s engine number scheme. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/03-forester-with-190k-miles-worth-the-timing-belt-repair/110217.md?page=1)