2X2KOB

I have a Yukon here, it's a company car. It's OK for free I guess, but I sure wouldn't buy one. I named it "Pukon".

The 2000 OBW is right around there, also.

Clue us in... What is it?

Keep looking, you'll find one. If it takes you a year to find one, it'll be older and cheaper, and you'll have more money. Your classic win-win situation, dig?

It shouldn't be that hard to get a good connection. I bet the new contacts are OK - have you checked the ground connections, and the battery terminals?

What kind of car and transmission? Do you have the owner's manual?

Adding a possibly relevant data point: Punching it in the 2000 OB on loose gravel results in no spin of the front wheels - it just GOES. This is a 4EAT.

Sure can. Google up "car battery welder" for exciting arc welder goodness using car batteries.

When you turn the key to the "start" position, (and hear the click), do the dash lights dim all the way out at that time, or remain bright? If they stay bright, I'd call it a starter contact problem. If they go dim, it's the battery or the battery connections. If it's the starter contacts, replacement is probably the best bet.

Is your AC working all right?

Or give it a wipe with a hot solvent like lacquer thinner or acetone or MEK. Try it on a small area first. These things are available at the Lowe's or Home Depot or whatever and just might trash your paint so watch out.

How do you keep the axle from turning when you are trying to get the nut off? Keep it in gear? Push on the brakes?

The relevant dimension is the distance from the center of the wheel to the road - the radius.

The P0420 code is very common on these, and it's not always the cat. Mine was fixed by replacing the rear oxygen sensor - I used a generic replacement from oxygensensors.com. For off-road use, there's also this: http://www.scoobytuner.com/products/?productID=191 There is a belief that the ECU is too sensitive on setting this code.

That's wild. How much did it cost?

I've seen this a couple times on the 2000 Outbacks - the fix was to spray some WD-40 or silicone up into the outside latch release button under the handle.

This is not optimal, but I have successfully used vaseline on stuff like this lots of times.

Has the dealer given any indication as to what they might do about this, after the test period has passed? I wouldn't consider this acceptable, no matter what they say.

Does your CEL even work? It should come on when the key is turned to ON prior to starting the engine. It COULD be a burned out light bulb.