viceversa

Doesn't seem like it. Bad plug wires? Bad spark plugs? These 2 cylinders bad? Why would you think head gaskets? Head gaskets result in lower compression, maybe coolant in oil and vice versa.

My heat only works when the selector is on "3". 1 and 2 do not blow anything. Looks like an electrical problem with the speed selector module (whatever it is called)? I have a spare one in my parts car but cannot figure how to disconnect the wires.

I checked my tranny fluid for the first time in a long time and found out it was 1qt low. I think it starting shifting a big strangely. I hope this didn't damage anything. The total capacity is 6qts.

Check compression in the engine. I would be concerned with auto tranny going out.

I would not fix it. It is a 12 year old vehicle with high mileage. (Not really "high" but high enough for the market). The resale value is null. The only value you get out of it is through usage. You have to replace all these parts -- too much time and money. If this was a late 90's vehicle with half the mileage, then definitely. You already got your money out of it, a car should cost $1000/year. Anything extra is a gift. If you could drive it the way it is, and just not worry about the damage - but if you cannot pass the tech. inspection, then I would part it out.

Good point on pulling the distributor - how do you do that? I don't have the FSM for this car. Secondly, I am contemplating if I should get that screwdriver. Probably will. Is there a designation for the phillips head I can use? They are all not all the same size. Downside is, now I have a single-purpose screwdriver which has no use for anything else. Still, removing the headlights is kind of b1tchy. (3 screws are no problem, but the one in the upper corner is not real easy to access even with a 1/4" ratchet).

These web sites have no connection to the real market, I never use them, aside from maybe comparing relative value of one vehicle to another. The market is so different regionally as to make these estimates worthless. Here in Virginia, we have a wholly different market than say NY or Cali. My 92 Loyale has a newer engine, with 95K miles, an almost new tranny with maybe 25K miles, 185K on the rest of it, minus some replacements here and there, and the market value is probably $500, realistically, if I tried to sell it. To me, it is worth at least $1500.

On my 92 Loyale 1) The rotor is held by a tiny screw which is a major b1tch to replace. You cannot see the hole, and it is hard to align the rotor with the hole to drive the screw threw it. The whole procedure is done without seeing it. I turned the ignition key a few times to turn the distributor and could not get it in a good position. Eventually I lost that tiny screw, looked for it for half an hour, could not find it and ended up going to an auto parts store, which of course did not have that exact same OEM screw, just something pretty close. Somehow got it in there after another 20 minutes, and I felt lucky. Even though I ruined the thread for OEM-sized screws. What a poor design On everything else I have, the rotor just slides out. 2) Headlights. They are not adjustible height-wise without removal. You have to unbolt the whole freaking thing, adjust the screw, put it back, see where it points, and repeat it if not right. I got a screwdriver in there below the headlight and above the trim and I could almost adjust it but the angle is wrong enough for this to be impossible. Tried different screwdrivers, even the OEM screwdriver which came with Loyale. I started stripping the screw and said, this isn't going to work, I have to remove it *sigh*. Another "feature". Well, that's all I can think at the moment. On the upside, it runs excellently with the "newer" EA82 from a parts car I got. Only 95K miles. Revs very nicely to 3500 or 4000 and no problem driving in it on curvy twisty unpredictable Virginia roads. See lots of deer lately, so I am thinking, if I total it, I am going to be slightly disappointed. And, get a consistent 29 mpg.

92 Loyale, auto, 95K miles on 2nd engine 29 mpg consistently old O2 sensor, wonder if I replace it, it will do better.

Dropping bolts in the engine bay as I removed engine from the parts loyale I had. dropping the tiny bolt holding the rotor. Dropping sockets into the engine bay. - not just in Loyale. often never seeing them again. Very annoying.

Wix is a highly rated filter. Purolator PureOne is the one I use usually, anything other than Fram.

How do you access the oil pump and the rocker covers? I will also look in my Chiltons manual, once I get a chance to crawl under it.

I don't see any oil puddles under the car, not even drops. I don't see anything come out of the exhaust. Neither black, blue or white. I do however see that everything under the engine is covered with oil. Are you saying it is leaking while I am driving?

92 Loyale I get 1qt per 700 miles. The oil level noticeably drops if I drove even 120 miles. So I keep adding it all the time. The EA82 engine only has 95K miles so I am wondering why that is. It shouldn't be that worn. Something to do with PCV valve maybe? I think it is original with 185K miles on it.

I don't know where to get the real Subaru PCV valve. There is no local dealership here, so I am restricted to getting it on-line somewhere.

I got the PCV valve from "CarQuest", they sell stuff better than AutoZone/Advanced Auto parts. I think I can remove the hose once I remove the PCV valve first. Then I can just twist the PCV valve until it comes out.

I found it. The hose will not come off. It looks like the only way is to remove it with an open-end wrench and the remove it from the hose. The oil consumption is high on this Loyale, at 1qt/700 miles or so so I wonder if the PCV valve is responsible. I should check it anyway since it hasn't been done in a long time.

EA82 Loyale, 1992 I am reading Haynes and Chilton and they both have useless diagrams but no actual photos. I cannot find the PCV valve. My oil consumption is way up so I wonder if replacing it will help. To the best of my knowledge, it hasn't been looked at in the last 110K miles.

Thanks but I know how to remove the headlights. I don't want to have to do that however, because that would mean I have to take it out, adjust the screw, stick it back in, check where the headlight points. Repeat. Likely several times. One of the screws (top/left one) is a b1tch to remove, even with a smaller 1/4" drive ratchet. There has to be a better way! I have a multitude of screwdrivers but looking through my tool box, it doesn't appear I have anything which can reach that screw. Unless ti si bent in a special way.

I found the screw but I don't see how I can reach it without taking out the whole headlight. How do you adjust it?

It is a big single headlight. I am aware of the screw to adjust the beam left to right, but the screw used to adjust up and down is hidden in it and apparently you have to remove the headlight to make this adjustment. Is there any way I can adjust it without removing the headlight? Furthermore, if I remove the headlight, adjust it, then need it adjust it some more, I have to remove it again. There has to be a better way.

92 Loyale How do I adjust my "high" beams to go a bit higher? I've had an accident recently hitting a stray dog accidently and since then they seem to be pointing a llittle lower than before. Nothing is broken, however. In my judgment, I don't see far enough at night to drive 55-60, even with high beam.

First of all, the problem here IMO is that you are listening to her. You should not discuss this with her on that level. You should decide and she should just live with the decision. There are always going to be disagreements so one person will have to do the deciding. You cannot let a woman run your household!!! Especially make automotive decisions!! Secondly, the above does not mean you should ignore her, if she will use the car at all, you need to make a decision which will accomodate her but without jeopardizing your authorithy - that's the dilemma you are faced with. Having said that, a good decision does rule out anything from the 80's and anything that's close to a project car. No question about it, old cars 15-18 years old are less reliable. I know from experience. My 1992 Loyale hit 183K miles and everything fell apart on it or wore out. Transmission, engine, timing belts, ECM and more. The damn computer failed in the middle of freaking nowhere. That was right after the timing belts failed in the middle of nowhere. Yes, old cars do need more work, and yes, it will have downtime. I also have a 1987 Ford and that's also very problematic from age. (not mileage, it has 105K miles). Subarus are overrated realibility-wise IMO. They are not any more reliable than full size V8/RWD Chevrolets, and arguably less so. 1980's man, that's 15-18 years old. Stuff will go bad solely from age. If you do get a 80's vehicle, make sure it is super low miles, new paint, etc. and has had all the major stuff in it replaced. New drivetrain and the vehicle from a southern state. Nonetheless, the decision should be yours. Pick something like a 90's Subaru Legacy with decent miles. You need to be in control man, and she needs to respect your authority, or else you will be miserable (you have having issues before you are married ) I am sorry to say this, but maybe instead of reassessing your choice of cars, you should reassess your choice of women. It's the same story: A woman wants to change her man into something else, make him give up bikes, guns, trucks, Subaru's or whatever hobby he has. I personally could not accomodate someone like that.

You are over-reacting, nobody is "celebrating" dog-killing. In this particular incident, I think I had a fraction of a second to react given the ride on a dark night on a narrow country road. Under that emergency, I had enough sense to remember that if you try to avoid hitting something, you might roll your vehicle. I was coming out of a turn, going at an optimistic speed, I see something and then immediately, boom. That's how emergencies happen. You have 1/4 of a second to 1 second to make a decision. I hear about cars totalled by deer all the time. People avoid them and roll their vehicles. That's what I love about this Subaru. It is a12 year old car with really low market value. So you don't get really concerned if you tear it up. It was upsetting when I hit a really young deer the size of a dog. I thought it was a negative impact on the world. I also hit 2 other adult deer which did major damage to another vehicle, luckily, all cosmetic.

Sounds fairly straight-forward, I will attempt it tomorrow.