porcupine73

Hi 2001Outback! Yes, the valve covers have to come off to replace those spark plug seals. Then you might as well install new valve cover gaskets and maybe those little sealing washers that are around the bolts 6-8 bolts that hold the valve cover on. You might be due for checking the valve clearance anyway, but not sure how important that is. Well, for those model years (2000-2006) it is anyway, and I have the previous years edition too, it can be a bit generic in some areas and sometimes wrong in other areas. I would go with the OE manuals if possible, but that can be a lot more price than a haynes manual. The haynes for 2000-2006 just came out a few months ago so not every store might have it. Another option might be AllDataDiy; I have that too and use it a lot and it seems pretty good and it basically must have been taken right from the OE manuals at least for Subaru's.EndWrench.com is Subaru's Web site for auto repair shops and stuff and has nice articles and information and things about common jobs; it's very cool esp. since it's free.

Thanks for the info OB99W. I think I'll just stuff a wire down in the bolt hole on the thing and jam some paper in there to secure it and then ground it with an alligator clip before heading off to work. If the ECU gets pissy I'll just pull over and remount the thing and unhook the battery for a minute.

Yah SuBrat84 now that's what I'm talking about! That's a pretty sweet ride and the rack goes well with it, and with the front guard. That looks like a real workhorse being lifted and all. That must be a lot of fun on the trails.

Actually I hope the knock sensor isn't just looking for a ground signal as now that I think about it it seems like the connector has only one wire.....maybe mesha better go have a look see.:-\

Hi all, somebody please warn me if this is a stupid idea before I drive 35 mi to work in the morning Just removed the knock sensor from the block on my '96 Legacy 2.2 and wrapped it in bubble wrap and secured it loosely with tie wraps to a nearby hose (left connector connected to avoid CEL and resulting fully retarded timing). Then unhooked battery for a couple minutes to (hopefully) make the ECU forget it's previous life as a knock retarded processor and start it's new life tomorrow morning as a new zero knock retardation engine! Anywho, she's filled with 93/94 premium fuel, plus I poured in maybe 6-8 oz. xylene to try to get even more octane, goal being that if there's any knock it won't be because of too low an octane gasoline. I'll keep the radio off and windows down so hopefully I'll hear any deadly knock. Have tools in the car to bolt sensor back in if need be. Will report on results (provided I make it back home in one piece!!)

Anyone have any pictures of or put safari roof rack on a Subaru? I saw a chrome one I think on pimp my ride, but that was on a truck, but I really liked the look.

Terrific Nipper, thanks for pointing the reason for the rear fog lights. Sorry to make you hehe just never heard of it before and couldn't add 2+1. Thanks for the info on the mom&pop motels, sounds like a plan....I'm thinking dong a solo trip could be a lot of fun! Might not be doing it until December, so maybe I'll stay south of the mason dixon...or what the heck it's a Subaru right so maybe I'll go to Yellowknife!

Cool nipper, that sounds like an awesome trip. So do you just sleep in the car, or stay in hotels? Hm, the euro mandate sounds interesting. I mean, what's the purpose of that light, if you're driving forward, what does a rear fog light show? Unless you're backing up? (or doing reverse donuts)......

Oh yes I forgot to mention, Haynes did recently publish a 'Repair Manual' (or at least that's what they call it). I just picked one up at Pepboys yesterday, it's for Subaru Legacy & Forester, 2000 thru 2006. I don't really like Haynes a whole lot and have OE manuals, but like to check Haynes procedure sometimes to see how the suggest doing a job without the special Subaru tools.

Maybe the idle speed spec is posted on some sticker on the bottom side of the hood? Often that's a place to look. 500rpm park idle is terribly low; only car I saw idle that low was some old car like a Packard or something with a 10 or 12 cyl or whatever.

Good buy 2001outback! Yep if you take care of it that car will give you lots of good service. Per your numbered questions/comments: 1. I get between 24 and 30 mpg in '00OBW using 10% ethanol gasoline. 2. If you're having issues with 'pep', then maybe try premium gas for a few tanks just to see what happens, and run a good fuel injector cleaner like RedLine SR-1 or maybe seafoam with it. Mine seems sluggish if I don't that regularly. 3. Don't know of any mods; maybe make sure the air filter is clean. Make sure all the intake parts are there; not sure but maybe it's a 'tuned' intake? (I mean there are parts there that don't seem to have any logical purpose.) 4. What nipper said. I had some oil down in my spark plug holes too. It's a result of the spark plug hole seals. I just replaced them and the valve cover gaskets. The spark plug hole seals compress with time and then leak little bit. Here's a picture of my leaky ones and the new ones: (new is on left; used is on right)

I've never even heard of a rear fog light but it sounds cool. Are you making this trip by yourself? I've been thinking of taking such a trip later this year but I wasn't sure if I'd want to do it alone, but if you're going alone that might give me the courage to do it!

I haven't worked on that early a Suby yet, but I just did timing belt on '00OBW, and I aligned the cam sprocket marks (not arrows) with the locations indicated in the service manual, which on the LH side was a notch in the back timing belt cover. I think it is almost exactly 12 o'clock position, but the manual said align with indicated marks.

I don't know how far you're willing to travel to get the end link, but there's a couple of salvage yards near me on route 20 in Brant and one on I think it's route 249 in Brant; I never called them to see if they have any Subaru's though. Cool idea TheBrian about getting prices. I think I'll have to start doing that with Northtown. Considering the shipping charges involved with Internet orders it might be cheaper for me to just get everything from Northtown then. From what I can tell, the parts 'list price' is 40% above dealer cost.

Wow that's pretty sweet that you have new head gaskets so you shouldn't have to worry about those things going nutty on you down the road. Looks like maybe only things to do would be change ATF and diff gear oils if haven't been done.

Dude that is totally wack. I didn't need to know that either! edit: At least the Outback was also in Edmunds top 10 vehicles for towing in '04 or '05, right in with the ranks of the Dodge Ram 3500 dualie. Sure the Hyundai Elantra is on the list too but so what!

Thanks rd, sounds pretty simple, I gots ta look around for some yards that have Subaru's, there's three yards within miles of my house. Maybe I'll see if I can negotiate for a 2 part minumum instead of the cover charge. git-r-doneeeee So would it be bad etiquette to ask them how much they'd charge for some part you want before you yank it, or do you just haggle with them when you get back to the counter?

You might try a good fuel system cleaner; maybe your rings and pistons are all coked up. But that's not a terrible amount of oil consumption. What brand and weight oil are you using? Are you sure there aren't any leaks? I also have an '00OBW; I don't notice any oil consumption but of course as pointed out there is at least a bit.

Dude how'd you get that for free? Any leads on any more like that? Nipper your list looks like a winner!

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a lot of time&expense. Well I think I'll just stick with the drum brakes; they seem to work OK. Unless I can get all the parts I need from a salvage yard and just rebuild the calipers! schweet...

Hi all, I read a lot about salvage yards on this board, and I've never been to one, but they sound fun. I mean, how do you know how a particular slavage yard operates? Like do they let you in and you yank what parts you want and then bring them back and pay for them? Or do some just pull the parts you want but not let you into the yard? How do you know how they operate? I guess I could ask them, but I thought I'd get a little up front info first. How about any Web sites about the topic? Thanks!

I didn't see the previous thread so I don't know if this was already mentioned; there's a TSB (16-65-99R) for flashing AT temp light in the 99&00's, if TCM trouble code 38 is found?

Hi Brian, subaru-parts-dealer.com has them for about $40. I couldn't find any lower price sources. Even RockAuto wants like $53. I've got a '96 Legacy too and I also am from Buffalo Which dealer did you check, West-Herr or Northtown? West-Herr charges me like double list for parts, Northtown I think is closer to list.

I've bought a few sets of those 2 and 3 horn 'air horns' with the integral air pump from the auto parts stores in the past; they last a couple years maybe and aren't really all that loud. You said under $100, so I don't know what to recommend there, but when I was looking for loud airhorns a couple years ago, it appeared that Wolo I think was the brand had some nice loud airhorns, but they weren't cheap and often you needed a little compressor and air tank.

Excellent! That's about as good a record as can be obtained.