New owner of a 05' Baja Turbo...

[Top1usa]

Hi everyone! This is my first post. My name is Tim and I'm from Los Angeles, CA. Purchased my first Baja (Turbo, auto w/sport shift) last month and so far...I'm loving it! Flew into Denver, drove it back and what a great drive it was!!!!!

I do have few question in regards to this car:

1. Where are the damn plugs?
2. When idling, engine seem to viberate a little...any reason??
3. Would like to install an air intake system but not many options are out there. Anybody has any suggestions??

Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

Regards,

Tim

[casteater]

idk about the engine vibrations but I do know that almost any STI short ram intake will fit, I have a weapon-r and it's great! I believe it is even made for the baja.

[Top1usa]

idk about the engine vibrations but I do know that almost any STI short ram intake will fit, I have a weapon-r and it's great! I believe it is even made for the baja.

Thanks for your reply. I heard of and have seen Weapon R on ebay a lot but how's the quality? Few friends said they're not that good but just inputting air...how bad can it be.....right??

I do appreicated your input!!

Thanks!!!

[Alpha Wolf]

1. Where are the damn plugs?
2. When idling, engine seem to viberate a little...any reason??
3. Would like to install an air intake system but not many options are out there. Anybody has any suggestions??

Horizontally opposed engine. So in the heads behind front tires.
Mine does too.. Normal


And welcome from a fellow 2005 turbo owner..

[Sabber]

Nice! I cant answer either of the other questions, but the first time I drove a baja I thought that it was messed up becouse of the excessive amounts of vibrations in the engine, test drove a few more nd found out it was normal, so maybe nothing. You could get your local subby shop to look at it just in case, they are pretty friendly around here and were happy to help me with my "just got this thing" questions, should probbly be able to help you easily enough in Fl. too.

[Emsanon]

Congrats on the new Baja!!!!

[bulwnkl]

Congrats on the truck buy, Tim! I have the exact same powertrain as you ('05 turbo A/T) and it's outstanding.

Tell me more about the engine vibration. Does it do it when, for example, you're at a stop sign or light and are just sitting there in gear with your foot on the brake? Or only if you put it in neutral?

Mine only does it in neutral these days, and it's not terrible but quite noticeable. When we first got it, it would shake a bit even in gear and very decidedly when in neutral. Only thing I've done that should have made it less or go away is take care of the engine in a way that cleans it up inside.

The plugs are dead center on top of the heads. Which means that they're oriented horizontally in that very small space between the engine and 'frame' rails. They're awkward to replace. I've done it with only a socket, extension, and u-joint, though. I actually found the coil packs (instead of plug wires) to be tougher to get in and out than the plugs themselves. Local dealer said when I called them about replacing for me that they have to drop the engine part way out the bottom to do the job. I say BS since I've done it myself, but that would definitely make the actual plug replacement itself easier.

Welcome to the forum!

[eblanks]

Good Morning,

I just got my 2005 Subrau Baja turbo Saturday and I am loving it .

I feel that slite shake also but I rember a long time ago that 4 bangers have that shake naturally. I don't worry too much about it since my truck has 100k miles on it. I had a 1994 toyota pickup that had a similar shake but drove just a well with the same milage.

It rides like new and I intend to care for it as best as I can. I'm building a budget for the care and intend to maintain it with the money I save on gas so I can buy accessories and stuff later.

I intend to change the timing besst and get a tune up asap since I can't tell what the maintainance was like before I bought it. I used to do most of my work myself but can't on this truck due to the design of the engine

Do any of you suggest I take it to a regular mechanic? I'm thinking only a scooby tech can do the scooby jobs right. My brother is a ASC master tech and got mad at me for buying this truck since it's hard to work on and out of production.

as We Work Together We Will Continue To Move ALWAYS FORWARD! (don't worry it just and Army thing )

eblanks

[Emsanon]

Congrats eblanks! Have to love the Baja's. It's amazing how many people I've run into asking me about mine. You might end up running into the same thing.

[eblanks]

Hey Emsanon,

I've been asked about my truck but since I consider my truck a collectors item since it isn't made anymore I am wary of people asking about it. I think they may be sizing me up so they can find a way to steel it. Yes, I'm parinoid since I know if they got it they would be in more trouble than I trying to keep it

[Top1usa]

Thanks everyone for your kind welcome and advises!

Bulwnkl...matter of fact, it shakes whenever I'm at a dead stop either at a signal or just being stop. Lots of people I'd talked to whom are scooby owners....they all said the samething as most of you mentioned, its normal!!! I'll just leave it at that but I will get a 75K service soon then I will ask the actual mechanic regarding the shakyness.

Hey guys, how about the air intake? Like to see my Baja breathe a little better!

[eblanks]

My Baja had a little shake but after the injector cleaning / replacement it rund maybe 10% smoother. I will put the K&N filter in it and replace the oil with Mobile one synthetic...

Unless Any of You Have Better Advice,

eblanks

[Thacrudd]

just after the flat shroud on the intake (from the front), there is a part of the intake that has piece that goes down and sometimes touches the inside of the engine compartment. You'd kinda have to see it to know what I'm talking about. I had to take a piece of rubber and put it on the bottom of the long plastic piece going down to keep it from hitting and vibrating. It took quite a while to find what the noise was from!