Olnick

Sounds like you got a good deal on your car--congrats! Hope the MMO works for you (it did wonders on my son's high mileage '92 Legacy.) Suggest you do the front-end/timing belt as soon as practical. If the oil pump backing plate is loosening it puts extra pressure on the crank seal--which could explain your front oil leak. If you know which end of a wrench to hold you'll be just fine. Shoot, I'm no great mechanic but I've done three 2.2 timing belts over the past few years! For parts check out Mizumo Auto on E-bay. They have a complete kit--belt, idlers, crank & cam seals, water pump (Aisin) and w/p gasket--for $136 plus shipping ($17 FedEx, I think.) Try a search here on USMB for procedures and helpful hints. I'll try to dig up some info and post links. Ask questions here--and keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!

What do you mean by "going out?" Does the solenoid click but the starter won't crank? Could be something as simple as bad copper contacts.

Does the car leak any oil? Do you have to top it up very often? Is it due for a new timing belt? Two things come to mind: 1) Sometimes a small bit of dirt or gunk will block the small passages in the heads. Try adding a bottle of MMO--Marvel Mystery Oil--to your present oil and drive it for 100 miles or so (just normal driving.) Then change your oil & filter. 2) It's possible your oil pump needs re-sealing. Screws in the pump's backing plate often loosen--they need to be Loctited and tightened. That requires opening up the front end--folks usually combine the job with a timing belt change (along with new idlers, new crank & cam seals, new water pump.) Do all that and you're good for another 100k!

As I said earlier, I'd be very suspect of cheapie parts store wires--"Omnispark?" Stick with Subaru OEM or NGK, recommended by a number of folks here. How did you hook up your knock sensor after you broke the connector?

I'm no expert but I'd check the plug wire connections--are they making good contact? Might even consider new plug wires--make sure you get Subie OEM or NGKs (no parts store cheapie wires!)

Yeah, sometimes it's the simplest little things! Good job!

Beautiful scene. Enjoy that log fire! Good luck with the new coil pack.

Good going! Let us know how it goes from here. And Merry Christmas!

Quite possible the no-start is due to burned/pitted copper contacts in the starter's solenoid. Rather common problem in older Subies. Try a search on here for "starter contacts." It's not too difficult a job and new contacts aren't very expensive. Good luck.

Good people on USMB and nice thoughts. Thanks for starting this thread Larry. Mele Kalikimaka all--me ka Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Aloha, Nick

Just a theoretical question: Would a fuel pump from an earlier model work in the 2000 OB--and perhaps be more dependable?

Welcome Out_Back. This is a great place to call home!

Welcome aboard, Wolfman--you sound like a true Subaru nut already! Car looks beautiful, and 39.9 . . . Wow! Don't know how much help we can be since most of us are driving 15 to 20 year old Subaus (and love them!) But please do keep us up on what you learn. Enjoy!

Actually, tires must be within 1/4" circumference of each other--not diameter.

Welcome aboard, John. Post your problem in the New Gen Forum and I'm sure folks will offer help.

Ah, yes! But have they gone too far? Welcome aboard. Enjoy!

Looks beautiful and I'm sure everyone had a fun time. MR_Loyale, you are an excellent Photo-Journalist! I really enjoyed your coverage Mele Kalikimaka, all!.

What year is the car? +1 to what Lucky Tex said. The "looks" of the timing belt and plug wires mean nothing--get in there and replace them. Replace idlers and re-seal the front end. Do a tune-up. If it's a '95 or '96 EJ22 you won't bend valves . . . but you'll still be stranded!

'96 was the first year for the 2.5 (EJ25)--it was interference. The '96 2.2 (EJ22) was not interference.

Just a clarification: the 2.2 was non-interference through '96.

Check the wiring & harness connectors before you try to pull the switch--could be something simple.

Wow! That is a good looking wagon--looks fresh to me! How many miles on it? What kinda' tranny? And welcome to the USMB, Alexandra--you're gonna' like this place.

Sounds good! At 94k just nicely broken in. Got any pix to show us? (Everyone here likes pix!!!)

Welcome doogie. What did you buy?

Welcome aboard, Vermontsailor. Don't know how much response you'll get here--most of us are stuck to our 10- or 20-year-old Subies! But maybe someone who knows the new ones will chime in.