Rooster2

Any CEL............Check Engine Light seen? Does CEL come on when first turning the ignition key to "run" position, before turning further to crank position?

I am appalled that California charges all those fees on a car that I assume you weren't driving. Would it be better to sell the car in or out of state to avoid paying the laundry list of fees, then buying something else? Let me guess........there would be a whole new list of fees to be paid upon buying something else. Gotcha coming or going!

I bet California realizes this loop hole, and their computer system will block this move once the VIN number is brought up.

Glad to hear you are okay. Car looks like it crumpled to absorb energy as it was engineered to do. Far better to replace a car, then repairing human body parts. I'm betting you buy another Subaru!?

I am glad I don't live in Humbolt County. Why so expensive? What state do you live in?

No hands on experience, but I have read a lot to remember that there is no computer swap needed, and no issues, or very minimal issues with wiring harness if swap is done on 96-99 Leggies. After year 99, it won't swap because of computer issues. Something also about a bracket swap to attach the A/C compressor. Use the bracket from the 2.5 on the 2.2 motor. Tons written here on this subject. Check the Search feature on this forum to learn a lot.

A new radiator is a sign of over heating. That is what I first noticed on wife's car. I first thought that replacing the radiator would solver the over heating problem. My guess is that my wife continued driving the car when over heating to the point of causing the radiator to leak at the seams. I can never get her to look at the temp gauge. Only gauge she looks at is fuel gauge. You may get lucky, and it only needs a rad cap. It is a cheap thing to first try. Early HG problem is intermittent. It will drive fine for a while, then over heat a few days later. Then drive fine for a while, and over heat. Pretty soon the over heating episodes get more and more frequent. Sounds like the motor has not been damaged by over heating. Replace the HGs, and you will be good to go for many more miles.

I don't think the ABS wheel sensors is the cause. They never hold the brakes on. A sticking master cylinder that won't release brake pressure after you have depressed the brake pedal (stopping the car) is causing the problem. The over heated brake pads may have warped the rotors. If you have a vibrating shutter when braking, it is prolly caused by warped rotors.

Thanks, good info to learn on tire shipping cost. I was under the assumption that cost was flat rated across the entire continental U.S. Good to learn otherwise. Agree, it is difficult getting tire work done entirely correctly. It is sad to realize that you had better check the quality of their work. Like said, either the air pressure is off, or lugs need re-torqued. Once I had a lug nut cross threaded by a shop using an air gun. Just happened to find it when replacing brake pads. If I had had a flat on the open road, I would have been screwed trying to remove that lug nut using a 4 way lug wrench.

$1,000 is a good price. Let's hope it has not been severely over heated. Does the motor run good? If so, I would think it has not been severely over heated. On the 99, the engine needs to be removed from the car to properly replace the Head gaskets, as there is just no room to work around the motor to replace the HGs. Much written on this forum about replacing head gaskets. Use the Search function on this forum to read all about it.

Kinda like looking for a new girl friend!!

You need to replace that smaller tire. All wheel drive Subies absolutely need 4 tires of the same size. Otherwise, it is very hard on power transmission components, am thinking you already know this, because you went to FWD. Suggest leaving in FWD until you replace the tire. All Subies over 10 years old were made to leak oil. They all do,........ unless valve cover gaskets and other seals are replaced. Your car may run and shift better after a spark plug and wire replacement. Do the plug replacement first to see if that improves driveability.

Good to know that Walmart will install tires and balance. The price is good. I am not keen on the low life they hire to work in automotive, but mounting and balancing tires is pretty much a no brainer. A little bit more then no brainers is what they hire to work Walmart automotive. Good that you saved the 6% sales tax, and got the tires you wanted, but how much were you charged for tire shipping??

Same thought........a new master cylinder. Years back, I had an Audi that did most of what you are describing. A new master cylinder fixed it. New brake pads may also be needed.

Glad to hear you are okay. Crumpled cars can be replaced, crumpled people not so easily. Good that seat belts, and a well made car protected you. Looks like a total loss. Just too much damage to repair.

Did you change the ATF 3 times??

I am thinking that this car has not received the best of maintenance during its life. Prolly needs accessory belts, and a T-belt. There's a possibility that changing the ATF would smooth out the shifts. Like others said, fixing the sun roof would be expensive. You don't mention if the dealer is a Subie dealer, but if so, have the dealer fix the above problems before, or at the time of buying this car.

Generally leak at the pump unit. Some fix by replacing internal seals or o rings. I have gone to wrecking yard, bought a replacement for $35 to fix the problem.

Subies with auto trannies use Dextron type ATF. To me any ATF fluid that is marked on the container as being Dextron type, or Dextron quality is acceptable. I use the Walmart brand Dextron type ATF with no issues after 5 years of use. What is nice about Subarus, is that they are made with a drain plug bolt on the bottom of the AT pan. The bolt is the same type as used on the oil pan. So, draining out ATF is really easy. You will need a plastic funnel with a long stem to insert into the ATF fill tube. It's the same tube contains the AT dip stick. Be aware that the short AT dip stick marking only requires a pint of ATF to go from low mark to high mark on the stick. If you can't find the ATF dip stick, let us know, and we will tell you where to find it.

Call the installer from the list provided to learn what he charges. Typically, an installer will charge about $65 or so to install 4 new tires. IMO, the economics of buying tires on line, then having an installer do the labor, works out cost wise to be about the same as buying the tires at a store, and having the store install the tires. Tire cost on line is pretty much the same as at a store. Buying on line, you don't pay sales tax, but do have to pay shipping cost. At a store, you pay sales tax, but don't pay shipping cost. The net result is minimal cost difference. I like the idea of buying and installing from a tire store. If a tire goes bad, or tire balance is not perfect, you can easily go back to the store to get things easily fixed. Tire stores offer free rotation and balance for the life of the tires. Plus fix flats for free. Discount Tire has this service at no cost. An installer doesn't have any of this service.

+1 on doing a drain and refill of ATF three times, with short drives between changes. It takes some time, and uses a lot of ATF, but still less costly then a power flush. Don't recommend using Trans-X. The product is only recommended for trany problems on 99/00 models, that have a unique problem to those two years. Don't recommend dropping the pan under any circumstances. The coarse screen inside doesn't get dirty, and doesn't need replacing. Resealing the pan with a new gasket is a nasty job..... Nasty getting off remnants of the old gasket. Even then, with new gasket there is a chance of a pan leak. I dropped a pan on a Subie just one time to learn my lesson, that it is a bad idea. I will never do it again.

White smoke could indicate that a head gasket is bad, allowing coolant to enter the combustion chamber, and exit as steam from the exhaust. Check your radiator to see if the water/coolant is a little low. Don't think that the white smoke is oil and gas. If that were to occur, the color would be darker, and more blueish in color.

I am not intimate on this, but think you will need to find a hub from an Leggie OB from years 96 thru 99 only. Units from Forester or Impreza or other years won't work. If it were me, I would get one from a local wrecking yard, as shipping cost from a distant yard is going to be costly. The other option is simply to go to a shop, have the wheel bearing swapped out with a new one. It requires a puller to remove the bearing that most shops have. I have had that done on my 98 OBW, which is like yours, and it was not costly. I prefer swapping out the bearing, because buying a used hub unit could result in your getting a bad bearing in that hub.

maybe did not add enough ATF?

Nice work...........you gotta be single, my wife would kill me, if I ever tried to use a bathroom as a paint booth!