Leaderboard

I'm tellin ya - sell that albatross while it still moves. RIGHT NOW you can sell it and cut your losses. When it fails? What's your prognosis financially? The ONLY course that makes sense given the reputation of this transmission is to get rid of it NOW. Gambling in Vegas probably has better odds IMO. If you look at the sum total of my experience - go back and look ay my posts from 10+ years ago - 15-20 years ago even. I was an EZ Board member of this forum when I was just a kid in my 20's with no money and a $400 Subaru. I've been AROUND ya know? You really think I got here without (once upon a time) being a fan of the Subaru design, engineering, and in general their simple construction and being friendly to repair and service? At this point I check in here from time to time - mostly to marvel at how much the tables have turned and to warn others of the writing on the wall that I see on a daily basis owning and running a Subaru performance/repair shop. You think it's good for my business to rag on the brand? Be grateful that I don't care. GD

I've only been wrenching for 50 yrs so this should be easy for me. Did timing belt, water pump, etc. Car was fine but for a water pump leak. All back together and I cant get the bottom hose hot. Thermostat isnt opening my guess. I've put a known good one in and another. Everything is fine with no thermostat, good circulation, etc. I've burped it to the best of my ability. Pulled a heater hose, pulled the throttle body hose. There is no air in the system. Thermostat is inserted into the block, tit out. Not head gaskets, car was perfect before I apparently borked it. What in the world am I missing??

Based on reliability history, experience, and resale value I would pick the Toyota 4Runner or Tacoma/Tundra hands down. They are still available relatively trimmed down and simple, they are bulletproof, and they hold their value: https://caredge.com/toyota/4runner/depreciation Toyota has a host of other models also and don't seem to suffer (as much) from the foolishness that has plagued Subaru in the last decade. And overall they hold their resale value at least as well. Without adjusting for inflation you can practically drive a 4Runner for free these days - selling it after 5 years for nearly it's new asking price. Subaru is a puppet of Toyota and with the trend toward electric vehicles Subaru really has no technology to offer - leveraging Toyota for that space. Going forward they have nothing to offer other than a brand image. Once you go electric you no longer need the mechanical symetrical AWD, and the boxer engine is just an old gas burning relic. Toyota will milk the brand for it's image and toss the husk. Watch and see. GD

Check the timing belt and tensioner. Have you tried spraying starter fluid into the intake when it's stumbling and see if that smooths it out? What happens if you prop the idle open by hand or drive with partial throttle like 10 mph - does it stumble then? Or just at idle? If it's happening just at idle I'd swap in another idle control valve. Is the fuel pump aftermarket? Pressure looks good but I don't trust aftermarket subaru pumps/alternators/starters - they're routinely garbage and fail or work poorly.