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Do 2 oil changes, each about 50 miles apart. Throw in some of that Magic Mystery Oil. The second time. Let us know how it goes.

You mean you took off all the bolts from the transmission extension housing? Make sure you got them all- some are really up there and a pain to get out. Get a drain pan underneath as you're going to lose several quarts of trans fluid when it comes off. Take a thin screw driver and just start slowly prying. Be gentle but use gentle force. Also get some Red Permatex and new gaskets for the housing and solenoid. This is a good opportunity to reseal the transmission.

Try an online subaru dealer. You can probably find the OE for $15 less than the local dealer.

Do you mean the strut mounts?

That's exactly the point. This is arguably the most important maintenance that you can do on the car (lumping in the timing belt and water pump). I would much rather go with a superseded OE part that has 2 bearings than an aftermarket with one. I am going to be spending a few bucks on this, so may as well do it right. I am in MA and subarupartsforyou is CT, so I figure it'll be here in a day or so. No rush, tho the whining balancer is getting me nervous. I also ordered an OE timing belt and will do that when all the pulleys are replaced. Does anyone know if I missed any important parts?

Here's an experience is the local parts dept vs an online OE dealer (who has a store not too far from me, so I can save on the shipping) Part Local (CitySide Subaru) subarupartsforyou.com 13085AA080 Idler Pulley w/teeth (1) 81.82 62.00 13073AA142 Idler Pulley-smooth (1) 74.95 56.00 13068AA051 Hydraulic Tensioner Adjuster 149.95 99.00 PULLEY CRANKSHAFT, BOLT & KEYWAY FOR 1997-2009 LEGACY OUTBACK 2.5 179 145.00 Total: 485.72 362.00 I think it's pretty obvious who I will be buying from. $123.72 difference in price for the same exact parts. Holy Moses!!!

*nod* It shall be replaced.

Copy that. Good to know.

Got it with the tensioner. I have a "split year" car. Some of the parts are 96 (like the coil) and others are 97. The manufacture date was like Jan 97 or Dec 96, so I think I have the old type of tensioner. Do you think it's worth it to replace it with the new tensioner (and get the bracket) seeing as it has 220k miles on it?

Is that because the tensioner rarely fails? The one in there is the original with 220k miles.

Ok I got my list of part numbers. Here it is: 13073AA142 Idler Pulley-smooth (2) 13085AA080 Idler Pulley w/teeth 13069AA063 Tensioner Pulley 13068AA051 Hydraulic Tensioner Adjuster I already have 13073AA142 Idler Pulley-smooth (1) and 13069AA063 Tensioner Pulley Will need: 13085AA080 Idler Pulley w/teeth (1) 13073AA142 Idler Pulley-smooth (1) and 13068AA051 Hydraulic Tensioner Adjuster and the balancer, all of which I will make an order in a few minutes. Regarding the seals, the engine was resealed last summer with all new cam, crank, HG, oil pan and valve cover gaskets. Also did OE plugs, OE wires and OE coil pack. Also did PCV valve. At the time I should have done the pulleys and tensioner, but I didn't. I plan on getting this all done ASAP.

I'll check there. Thanks for that. One thing I'll need to do is identify what parts I actually need. How many idle tensioners, etc. Just now sure how many of what I actually need.

Guess what I just found sitting in the corner of my apartment in a box labeled "Subaru Parts" and in smaller boxes labeled "Subaru Genuine Parts" with the Subaru logo: 13073AA142 IDLER CP-BELT 13069AA063 TENSIONER ASSY 15010AA300 OIL PUMP AY ENGINE It appears I already have at least 2 of the pulleys/idlers I need. Can you all help fill in the gaps of what I will need to finish this?

Found an OE balancer for less than the guys above: http://www.subarupartsforyou.com/cp_partdetail.php?partid=4919 plus I can pick it up so no shipping cost.

Which one of their kits would you recommend? This is the link that I am coming up with: http://www.theimportexperts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1997-Subaru-Legacy--.5--Dohc--4wd-Engine--Mechanical&yearid=1997%40%401997&makeid=SU%40%40Subaru&modelid=LEG-4WD2.5-001%40%40Legacy+2.5+DOHC+4WD&catid=A%40%40Engine+Mechanical&subcatid=A5006@@Timing+Belt+Kit&mode=PD

The balancer is in bad shape. It's making a high pitched noise and it wobbling bad. I'll check those guys out. Do they have OE parts or their own aftermarket ones?

97 OBW AT EJ25 Hey folks. In response to a whining harmonic balancer and pulleys and idlers that are begging for change I've decided to bite the bullet and do it. Now that the weather is nice and school is ending in 2 weeks I will have the time. If you all can help be determine the parts and their numbers I would be indebted. I will go OE on this as these are super important parts. I understand that a lot of the parts have been superseded over the years with upgrades parts and I would like to make sure I get those. Does anyone have such a comprehensive list or maybe knows about what I should be looking to replace? Again, it's for a 97 OBW AT EJ25. I've already replaced the cam seals, water pump and t-stat last summer and only put on about 5k since then, so getting one of those kits doesn't seem to apply to me.

Cam seals....

Jeff, It doesn't exist. There is no online source for OE Subaru parts. You'll have to download the mechanical specs for each part, find a local machine shop and have them grind out the part for you. JUST KIDDING!!! http://www.subarupartsforyou.com is a good one. I've been to their actual store (a Subaru dealer) and it's good. Regarding the SeaFoam, you put 1/3 of it in the gas tank, 1/3 of it in the oil (change the oil about 50-100 miles later!) and 1/3 into the brake booster vacuum while the engine is running.

Get a bottle of SeaFoam. Put 1/3 in the gas, 1/3 in the crankcase and 1/3 into the vacuum intake. It's smoke like a mofo and get tons of carbon out. Change the oil about 50 miles later and reclock the MPG.

Nevermind, I got the code wrong. Have you smoke tested the engine?

Injector.

There is insufficient information for a meaningful answer. How many miles? Manual or AT? How old is the gas? Did you check for spark? Any lights on?

I've heard of using MMO to temporarily "fix" a siezed engine.

Agreed. Do this.