subaroo808

:grin:

Thank you Ill try that before I put another one in. Mahalo nui loa, Ã hui hou -Jason

I just got my 96 leg. back everything seemed fine until. yesterday evening I turned the key and nothing I thought at first dead/low batt. but it is fine. I have power going to the starter but it does not sound like the starter is doing anything when you turn the key. I am planning to pull the starter a little later when it stops raining. Is there any kind of fuse or relay that controls the starter that possibly has gone bad. or maybe just the starter itself?? Jason

Yeah some of those roads/streets are pretty crazy by themselves then add no visibility and dumba** drivers. Not a good combo.

It does suck because the place is awesome. I do have to say though I have been to SF quite a few times and there are very steep roads but I dont remember anything comparing to this road. they say 25-45% grade.

It has nothing to do with driving in the snow but I know that here in Hawaii they are in the process of banning awd vehicles to some 4wd only roads. one place specificaly is Waipio valley http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Waipio-Valley.htm They are arguing that a lot of awd vehicles including Subarus do not have a low enough gear to go down into the valley and are worried about people losing their brakes, and the same for going back up the road. I guess quite a few people are getting down there but they dont have the gearing to get back up. The road is pretty intense as most of the way down there are no guard rails and only a couple places to pull off to the side to let other vehicles by. You can see where cars have went over in the past, so I can see their point. BUT its still a bummer because its a long way to walk. Personaly I have been down there four or five times in my 90 legacy with no issues except for having the brakes be hot at the bottom.

I second that. I would for sure keep up on your belts. Non-interference or not my 96 threw the belt and took the valves with it.

I finally picked up my car tonight . Its been at the mechanics house for a while now getting the valves done and replacing the clutch fork. I got it back last week and there was a noise coming from what sounded like somewhere in the tranny. I took it back and he said he found a broken rod or something to do with the shifter linkage Im actually not really sure what it was. I was in a hurry and just excited to get my car. Now I can quit driving the aerostar:clap:

You might want to check the clutch fork. I thought the clutch was going out on my legacy but it turned out to be a cracked fork. When I first noticed that it felt like it was slipping it would only do it sometimes. Then progressively got worse from there. Jason

I dont really know "how" it was the valves I just know the timing belt broke I took it to the mechanic and he and the machine shop said they were bent. Sorry not more help. Jason

Thats what Im starting to think. of course my car has to be one of those "special" ones with "special needs" :-\ I dont know... I have been told exactly what you are saying by many people now. I dont think the engine was replaced. I was just kinda thinking that maybe it was made late in 96 and got a 97 engine??? Jason

They were bent.

That happened to my Legacy It sounded like the starter was just spinning I thought there were teeth broken on the flywheel or something. but it turned out to be valves.if yours starts thats not the problem. Maybe try to pull the starter and see if you can see anything broken in there. Jason

I wanted to give a new update to a old problem. I have been out of town working and my car has been at the mechanic for almost two months "getting fixed". Turns out that no matter what is or is not supposed to happen to a 96 SH&^% happens . Because it toasted the valves. The only thing I can think of is maybe its a "late model" 96 and maybe got the next years engine?? I dont know. I had him take the heads to a machine shop to check them out and replace the valves, got them back and they were all good "looked brand new" he put it all back together, I also had him replace my clutch fork "it had a big crack in it". Well he called and said it was ready so I went and picked it up and on the way home it was making a funky kind of ticking noise coming from what sounds like in the trans. You can feel it in the stick and when you shift or put in the clutch and coast it gets considerably worse. I called him and told him about it and he said bring it back, so tomorrow after work Im going to take it back and have him look at it. Im just wondering what might cause that to happen:confused: Im hoping its something easy. just maybe they didnt put something back on right and hope nothing is broken and needing replaced. Anyway Thats enough of my whining for now:( I just wanted to vent a litttle and was just hoping someone might have some idea of what might be going on so I have something to tell him to look for instead of him "looking for it" himself. ~Aloha Jason

I took the car to a mechanic. He seemed to think the timing was not correct and wanted to try a new belt (when it broke I took one off my other car to try). I told him that I had heard that if the belt breaks while driving it can bend or break a valve or rod?? He said that he didnt think that applied to Subarus, and that the belt was just not on right. Well....he tried a new belt and still nothing:banghead: all it does is spin and not even sound like its trying to start. Im just hoping that someone here has had the same thing happen or can advise me on maybe what the problem might be. I know the guy is a good mechanic and most likely can get it running but I just wanted to possibly get some answers so I dont go broke while he is trying to figure it out. Thanks Jason

I rechecked the timing and it looks like its as good as it gets. You can hear the starter spin and the timing belt moves when you turn the key but it sounds like the starter is spinning faster than normal. I said earlier I was driving it without the clutch for a while. To get it to go I had to start by putting it in 1st, pressing the clutch pedal in and then turning the key, which made it jerk...but start, then I shifted it into the other gears without pressing the clutch pedal at all. Im wondering if starting (and driving) it that way damaged the flywheel or some other internals? The splines on the starter all looked to be intact Any Thoughts.

Thank you for your replies. I was thinking yesterday that maybe it was the starter because when I first tried it, it sounded strange like it was spinning fast or not engaging. But I pulled and checked it and it seems to be working fine. Im about to go out and pull the belt and make sure its all right. Im just confused because The only thing I did was replace the belt after it broke and it started prior to that. I dont know I guess try try until I get it:) . Its funny that you say that. Just a couple weeks ago I was messing around and had the timing belt off of my 90 Legacy. I put it back together and wouldnt start. I finally realized that I had it lined up with the wrong mark. (had it lined up with an arrow on the gear the belt rides on rather than the mark on the back of the crank sproket). Well Im going to go try again. Thank you again for your help. Jason

Ok here goes... I have a 96 legacy 2.2 ej. Ive known the clutch has been slipping for a while and it has been getting worse Ive been driving it for a week or two pretty much without the clutch. Well yesterday while driving it the timing belt broke. No problem it broke just down the road from my house so I towed it home, I had a timing belt to put on so I did that this morning. Well now the car wont start I double checked the timing marks and everything looks good. When I try to start it you can hear the starter spinning, its turning the crank (it just seems like its not spinning as fast as the starter). So I guess my question is...would the clutch have anything to do with the starter not engaging all the way?? or maybe I still dont have the timing right on?? it looks like its right. Im just lost as to whats going on. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Im pretty new at working on Subs. The only reason Ive been able to do anything to it is because of this board. -Thanks Jason

Nice pictures, nice car, nice scenery!!! The only bad thing about them is they make me miss Oregon..

If you do end up going out somewhere in that area..one piece of advice...take plenty water, it gets HOT in the desert this time of year..

If you are going to go up 97 you might want to check out Christmas Valley you turn on to hwy.31 out of LaPine..... If you like playin in the sand and dunes that is your place..... It is awesome out there, sand dunes as far as you can see and lots of jack rabbits to chase around...five points for the small ones and ten for the big ones (they are much faster)......Anyway hope that gives you another idea.. Aloha..

The other day after going through water about 3/4 of the way up my tires I noticed that my steering was not quite right (felt stiff). It didnt last too long maybe five or ten minutes. Now it seems to be fine. I was just wondering if this is a normal thing or if maybe there is a problem. Aloha

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinion. I think Im going to do it. Ive been wanting to get more clearance for quite some time and this sounds like an easy way to get it.. I will post pics of my progress.

What size tires are you running after doing that???

thanks for the replies. I read it in the new gen subie forum, he was talking about putting outback struts on a 95 legacy. I was just wondering if it was possible on my car. Im not looking to go huge (not yet at least:grin: ) I was just hoping to gain a little clearance, maybe add bigger size tire.