moosens

Dramatic I know but I don’t know what else to say at this time. Fresh battery, but I could tell something else was wrong. Yesterday I pulled into a Wendy’s and put the noisy car in neutral and turned it off to make my transaction. Got my salad and went to start , NO GO. Faaaahhk I thought my battery was good but nope. Jumped it, had my wife follow me to the store but the car died again just a hundred yards or so. Really went into limp mode or dying mode just a few seconds after taking off. At the same time I notice I’m out of gas too ! Yeah it was a rare one of those days kind of moment. After turning red we retrieved a gas can at my storage fairly local, got gas, and tried to jump it again but as soon as I took the cables off it went to death spasm. So I declared the battery totally spent and bought a new one for the “starting at” cost of $178 , I laughed way too loud and too long in the store when the kid said “they start at $178” . This car won’t be with us longer so I went cheapest. Installed the battery , had fresh gas , and it ran fine. Drove home , went to work later , went to storage at lunch all no issues. Then I head home from work , no problem on the parkway/highway , then almost home the car starts to crap again. And yeah now the fuel is low too but this is truly not a fuel issue. Will not start. Acting like the battery is drained out. No lights on dash but I’m guessing I’d better have that alternator checked now. But I think this is related to a faulty neutral/lock out switch or grounding. Half asleep. I’ll fill in more later. I just left the car a couple blocks away or so. Have not tested anything yet

For parts at the dealer you might be able to get them to go through another distribution hub. For older parts that’s what I have had to do here on the east coast. Sounds like I would have used my ten pound sledge and a steel drift stuck into the axle end. They can be bears.

That’s one good thing about the newer steering column set up on later models. Old school , yes it would double the blink frequency and your bulb would be shot. Good luck but please post your results. I’m always pushing around older Subarus and we are currently running 2 third gen Legacys and 1 fourth gen Leg. Outback

Don’t forget the age of the ECU. Tough call from here but as mentioned age and electronics are not a happy couple.

Generally referred to as the Hub. And yes you should gather a good set for going forward. As you may have found out those splines sure will strip out. Good luck.

Both EA81 4WD It’ll certainly help. http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Subaru/ maybe that helps too ?

Yikes ! Maybe soon...

Yeah about 35 years ago my buddy gave me big balls because those halogens were new and first thing I did was grab the bulb not the plate. That bulb did work and lasted plenty long. But I can still hear him .... Agreed , too many spikes. And too many morons driving past twilight with only their DRL’s on.

So this is just an industry screwing once again ? We know bulbs blow too soon , and have to buy LL type ? So the rest of them , and there are many and several levels of so called integrity for lack of a better word , those all blow fast ? Im not a movie fan at all but this harkens back the that one from the 80’s I think “Blade Runner” where the android dude just wants to know “how long have I got to live ??? “ to Harrison Ford if I’m correct.

For the record , to my eyes the factory installed fuses have a solid colored plastic and not so translucent as shown. Maybe not to your eyes. TBD

Bulbs. I’m going to find that receipt and you know the rest. This current set I went one or two notches up from the bottom. Something like $34 for the set. But I’ll be raising cane over the $fiftysomethin’ $et that just blew.

Yes , I did switch fuses now that you mention that. So I’m guessing it’s the bulbs. How wonderful !! You have to know I just recently , like days or weeks not months ago replaced those bulbs with fairly high end bulbs. Typically I’ll buy a less expensive set but no , not this time. Ok I’ll devote some time and check the bulbs and avoid the world news. I mean yes I can’t help myself lately looking in but I’m a total skimmer these days. I used to be that guy that never ever bothered with world news. Add a strained back to the equation. Thanks Larry for the side by side. That pic looks more clear than what my eyes saw.

Having an issue with our low beams and apparently the daytime driving lights not working. High beams work. Looked at the fuse but to my eyes it looks good. I did not test it in any manner. I also did not try a replacement because suddenly I can’t find mine and no way am I buying more when I have them. So , these new fangled fuses , do they not show a blow as easily as older style ? I’m assuming I’d see a burn or separation somehow in the head of the fuse. Pardon my old man-ness.

Good to see you’re still around and haven’t just scrapped the lot. Very soon I’ll be taking in a 78 4WD wagon. Replacing my former same. Here I sit on the east coast but I’ll see what if anything I’ll need in the next month or so. Right now I could use a running EA71 first edition. Even just the short block as I have heads here. You willing to throw a good short block on a small skid or whip together a crate of sorts? Two guys in NC each drove up and put a major dent in my stock which I was paring down as you are. I hope you find that same guy or guys. Will send a PM too.

Cool thanks Dave. Hope they’re open for lunch. Hotel breakfast mmmmm but they’re getting better. Real Greek yogurt!

Taking some time to see Cali. Up in the hills tonight. Heading to the shore around SD and then back to the desert.

Why the hell haven’t , or DIDN’T , we (the almighty USMB) have a centralized national show/meet in Colorado? They got me out to the PNW for the West Coast Subaru Show #20 and that was very very cool. I have also been to a few east coast meets including when we would club up at the Carlisle Import show and also have attended the Wicked Big Meet which is mostly newer Subarus. But holy cow Colorado is Subaru country. That’s all I’ll say. Nobody needs to try to make this happen. It’s just a thought. This board used to be one happening place. I can think of three main guys in CO that have helped me and we have Larry still helping people with parts, all great folks. Take your Subaru to Colorado. It’s kind of a religious experience.

Feeling way better now. That sun kicked the crap out of whatever was in me. I saw 117deg. today , nothing new to me. Happens most of the time I show up in this state. Couple more days here and I’ll be growing horns and a pointy tail.

Dave we’re in the same time zone finally. Cheers ! Next time I’m heading up and out meaning you’re way and probably OR and WA. Next year we tell ourselves.

Atta boy. I’ve been here four times previous , usually for a week plus or minus. And two of those events were in July , one in June , and one in April pretty much just as the heat kicks back on but we did enjoy that most for the temp and mix of sky , little sprinkle of rain. And got a head start that year for tanning being New Englanders. Hoping to roast these last symptoms out of my head and move on. Lingering cold/flu. But not like they’re fitting me for a body bag yet. LOL

Trip over , car made it flawlessly. Health hasn’t been the best due to a virus. Colorado is where it’s at. Not sure which day I’m leaving yet but I’ll be in Tempe and up in Scottsdale , but I do have some cold/flu symptoms. Gahddammit it’s hot here. Send ice !

Thanks ! Let’s see what the week brings. I share your philosophy. Our newest car is an 06. Colorado is where it’s at. Plenty of old Subarus Did the Continental Divide, currently in Aspen. Working west , looking like we are going to just relax and cruise. Any pressure to get back East quickly is removed. To a degree.

From your info it looks like you know what you’re doing. You do what you want but I offer to you that you just flip it to an enthusiast, or appreciate the vehicle for what it was upon its manufacture. Enjoy it !

Kansas, kind of not so bad. Like one mega golf course in the eastern third. Working the western grasslands now. Wrap up the day in CO. Thought we were going to stay on 70 but we’ll see what we decide in the morning. I’d rather head through Pueblo and down to Santa Fe, but we’ll see what the party decides. Knock on wood this old 2003 is rocking it out. 292,470 on the car , I’d say around 250k on the swapped in tranny and rear differential, and around 128k on the engine with a very recent headgaskets, etc etc

Thanks ! Got the travel thread heating up now. LOL