OCRentAPopo

Subaru gaskets. Part number 11044AA610, which I believe are the newer MLS gaskets. I'll check timing but it looks like this engine is coming back out as poor timing wouldn't explain bubbles in the coolant. Just glad it didn't overheat at all.

Yup. 1999 Legacy Outback with the infamous 2.5L DOHC.

1999 Legacy Outback 5MT with 199k. Both headgaskets, timing belt, tensioner, water pump, plugs, wires, etc, replaced by me 11 months ago. Had the heads planed by a local machine shop. They inspected and adjusted the valves but did not replace anything because I wasn't tearing into the bottom end of the motor. I recently started experiencing rough idle and misfire on cylinders 1 & 3. Here's what I've done so far without any success: 1) Replaced rear oxygen sensor (because P0141 code) 2) Swapped ignition wires 1 & 3 with wires 2 & 4. 3) Swapped spark plugs 1 & 3 with plugs 2 & 4. None of the stuff above made any difference. Then I noticed the coolant is a little low. So I topped it up and took the following video: https://vimeo.com/130704502 Is that what I think it is???

Thanks for the input guys. Gloyale, The plugs are NKG and about a year old. Good thinking with the extra tape and corrugated plastic. That stuff certainly can't hurt. CaptEditor, I replaced my knock sensor on 9/14/07, well before any of this misfire stuff. I imagine it is still good. I'm not sure if my engine uses mechanical lifters. Anybody else know? It's an EJ25 DOHC. The mechanic tested the injectors and apparently the fuel pressure was to spec. I hope I don't have to pull the heads and all that... (sounds pricey) but I will if need be.

So I put in the "new" ECU today. I lucked out with part numbers. The only difference is the last 3 digits. My ECU: DF7 5N 22611 AD000 JA18000 DF7 6827 Junker ECU: DF7 5N 22611 AD000 JA18000 DF7 6X29 Sadly, though, it didn't fix the misfire. CEL came after about 10 minutes of driving with the new ECU. So, how much does a valve job cost? Would a valve job be covered in a port & polish of the heads? I tend to try and spruce things up a big whenever I get maintenance done.

Grossgary, Good to know that Subaru has a history of making its ECU's interchangeable. I already went to a u-pull-it yard and got an ECU for $30. Pretty cheap and an easy pull. If it fixes the problem, hooray, if not I know the ECU isn't the issue. If the ECU doesn't fix things, I guess it's on to the valves.

...so it would appear, at least from the parts catalog, that the auto/manual ECM's are interchangeable. Awesome.

Also, I'll keep the valve clearance idea in mind. First, though, I'm gonna try this "new" ECU. It may have problems of its own, but they'll probably be different problems. This way I can be sure before I spend $300-$500 on a new ECU.

So an auto versus manual ECU swap should be plug and play assuming all else is the same. My car must have the ground wiring going to the transmission pin. Reconnect everything to the new ECU and I should be set. I'm not sure about the part number for my ECU; I'm waiting for the snow to melt to pull it. The junker ECU has these numbers on it: DF7 5N, 22611 AD000, JA18000 DF7, and 6X29. I'll compare when I pull mine out.

I ran out and checked on the injectors. White on the front and black in the back. Not sure about the valve clearance. Wouldnt that be ruled out by the leakdown test? Any thoughts on the auto/manual ECU transplant?

New member... and my first post is a long one. I've had a misfire on cylinders 2&4 since November of '09 on my 1997 Legacy Outback 2.5 DOHC Manual Trans. with about 155k miles. The misfire persists despite the work done below. I have replaced the following in the last 3 months or so: -Plugs -Wires -Coil -Headgaskets -Timing Belt -Tensioner -Water Pump -Seals -Header Pipe -EGR Sensor -Igniter (used) I have had the following services performed in the past 3 months: -BG fuel system cleaner -Seafoam in gas tank, PCV valve & motor oil -Throttle body service -Reset TPS & IAC -Leakdown on all cylinders (no problem) -pressure test on all injectors (no problem) My next step is to replace the ECU. I pulled an ECU from an automatic '97 Legacy Outback but my car is a manual '97 Legacy Outback. The VIN's are below. Is the junker ECU compatible with mine? I'm open to any other suggestions that may fix my misfire problem, too. Thanks for any help. My Car: 4S3BG6859V6611396 Junk Car: 4S3BG6850V7622314 -Sean