Gnaraloo and Bluff

groundswell's picture
groundswell started the topic in Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 12:21am

My brother and I packed my car Sunday night for a 4 day mission up there leaving Monday but the engine light came on.
Had to cancel the trip and wait for a service but I'm interested in hearing a few things about the place if its alright. I know it might be a touchy subject speaking about such isolated waves so if people disagree with this thread I might delete it.

Anyway I'm unsure of a few things such as, is Carnarvon the last place I can fill up?
Will an old all wheel drive suburu make it through the track?
And how easy is it to find on the track and how rough is it? (Lowering tyre pressure needed?)
Any stories or tips welcome if its not breaking any codes about the place.

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 1:42am

And is it worth going up there in late spring or summer months.

PS how heavy is the shark situation? I'm a bit nervous these days , especially solo after a nasty encounter a few years ago.

crustt's picture
crustt's picture
crustt Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 5:02am

Canarvon is the last place to fill up , the road in is good and will be a piece of piss for a subi, I lower the tire pressure on my van but would not bother on a car.
The later into the season the windier it gets and the wind comes up earlier way more flies too.
Last time I was there guys were going fishing out in boats between the bluff and Gnarloo and getting hassled by a big white and a couple of days after I left a bloke had his arms chewed into at the bluff.
You seem like a bit of a worrier groundswell, most young surfers would have just disconnected the light and be on their way:-)
Don't know if there is any code , think they print glossy tourist brochures on the place now, but delete it after a few days, you'll feel better for it.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 8:59am

My engine light comes on and off all the time, ha, read the manual, I think it's an emmisions thing on the Subby's.

ACB__'s picture
ACB__'s picture
ACB__ Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 9:38am

Seconded Craig, I have a 2000 subie impreza and the engine light is on at lease once a drive. Common problem, due to emissions.

turns's picture
turns's picture
turns Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 9:42am

O2 sensor I think and will cost around 800 to replace from memory, Subies are great but a little exy to repair :)

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 10:26am

Ah, does the O2 sensor need replacing, what if you don't?

turns's picture
turns's picture
turns Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 10:45am

Not really a dealbreaker but in time will adversely affect overall performance. I just like to keep my bus reliable. And economical

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 11:05am

Great info, thanks turns!

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 11:27am

Thanks everyone. The mechanic checked on the computer and reset all sygnals as he said it came up with a long list of faults that if they were true I'd need s tow not a service. He reckons my car would make it around Australia, so I'm a bit disappointed we didn't go. Would have been smoking today and yesterday.

Anyway thanks again.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 11:30am

Subie 02 sensors are usually good for around 100k or more
1hr max labour to replace [if its stubborn ] -$ 800 no way.
don't ever delay the Timing belt change .

rees0's picture
rees0's picture
rees0 Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 11:37am

Buy a scanguage if you have a 2000 on efi car and your planning on travel. Will give you diagnostic codes and you can clear the engine light yourself in a matter of seconds. Thier about 200 bucks plug in to all cars with obd2 port (most cars). Also good for fuel economy figures, distances , engine information (water temp, gearbox temp etc.)

Handy little item you can take them with you when you sell car too.

rees0's picture
rees0's picture
rees0 Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 11:40am

And 800 way to much for o2 sensor stick your head under the car and look for the probe looking thing with wires coming out of the back of it. Will be on the top side of the exhaust pipe just behind the engine. Should be able to unscrew yourself unplug apply some high temp threadlocker to new one before install good as new.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 7 Oct 2015 at 11:58am

Threadlocker.........? High temp Antisieze sparingly on the sensor thread only.

rees0's picture
rees0's picture
rees0 Thursday, 8 Oct 2015 at 10:59am

Udo is correct anti-seize it will be the last o2 sensor On that car if you use threadlocker.

Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green Thursday, 8 Oct 2015 at 9:40pm

the correct mentality needed for a trip to this part of the world is: Fuck the engine light! Drive on!

crustt's picture
crustt's picture
crustt Friday, 9 Oct 2015 at 5:52am

In Typical swellnet fashion, groundswell now knows how to pull his Subi to pieces and reassemble it but bugger all about what he asked, next time you have a few days off just go mate, you'll find out all about it when you get there.:-)

cycd's picture
cycd's picture
cycd Friday, 9 Oct 2015 at 3:28pm

Yep Carnarvon is the place to fill, food, water etc. there are basic supplies at both camps. Your car will be fine unless it has pissed down that day/night before. Heaps of sharks, see them every time I'm up there.. Mostly bronzies and tigers, the odd white from fisho reports.... Can't beat up north

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Saturday, 10 Oct 2015 at 4:06pm
crustt wrote:

In Typical swellnet fashion, groundswell now knows how to pull his Subi to pieces and reassemble it but bugger all about what he asked, next time you have a few days off just go mate, you'll find out all about it when you get there.:-)

Haha actually all the posts were pretty helpful, just wish i went.
Cheers fellas.

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 Oct 2015 at 7:54pm

Imo the nor west is pretty shitty as the days of the howling Seabreeze increase from September onwards .no tides for gnaraloo after August . Indo is a bit better option for waves .but the bluff will handle a sse wind & lowtide . But much better in winter for quality waves

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 10 Oct 2015 at 7:55pm

Imo the nor west is pretty shitty as the days of the howling Seabreeze increase from September onwards .no tides for gnaraloo after August . Indo is a bit better option for waves .but the bluff will handle a sse wind & lowtide . But much better in winter for quality waves

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Wednesday, 21 Oct 2015 at 2:32pm

Thanks Camel.
Just an update as the local barber here who surfs says its lucky we didnt go as the camps were full and people had to camp in carnarvon and come back each day.The winds looked good on the reports and forecasts but according to reports she heard it was crap for all the school holidays and packed.

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Wednesday, 21 Oct 2015 at 3:05pm

And also Gnaraloo camp has apparently gone to shit as the caretaker isnt looking after it and people staying there arent either. Red Bluff camp is good though according to the barber.

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Wednesday, 21 Oct 2015 at 3:02pm

Full at that time of year ? & shit waves ? Stories .?

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Wednesday, 21 Oct 2015 at 3:06pm

No stories sorry ..its all second hand account from my brother when he got his hair cut lol.

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Wednesday, 21 Oct 2015 at 7:06pm

Usual . One guys says its shit another guy says its good . Hear it all the time .