Stelcom66

Ok thanks - took a quick look this morning but didn't look in that area. Fortunately the engine seems ok, he sure was lucky. If it remains ok there's another credit to the 2.2L engine with 174k miles. Fairtax4me... looks like you have a very similar car. My son's is an automatic transmission, my choice would be a manual as in my Forester. Like my former '92 Legacy that was automatic, this time of year when it's cold it'll be a while before the torque converter locks up at highway speeds. I assume that doesn't happen until a certain operating temperature is reached.

My son called to tell me his '95 Legacy overheated and the engine was 'smoking'. He added some antifreeze and drove it to a local repair shop nearby. Didn't suspect head gaskets as there weren't any signs of that and it's a 2.2L. The mechanic told me the bypass hose was blown out. It was replaced and we picked the car up last night, but no one was around to point out where exactly that hose is. I'll take a look next time the car is at my place to see if I can see anything that looks new, I wonder where that hose is? I just hope he didn't drive it long enough to do any damage. Maybe it's time to replace other hoses.

I thought I could always depend on Subaru to offer a manual transmission. I'm not in the market for a new one, but very disappointing. I do like the styling of the new Legacy. I also have to admit though, I have a company vehicle with a CVT that achieves very good fuel mileage for a small SUV and would consider that if given an option. From the article: "Speaking of things that fall into the “too bad” column: the manual transmission model joins so many others in the scrap pile. The five-speed automatic is also gone in the 3.6R. Yes, a CVT is standard across all models and that is that. But it probably doesn’t matter because most people already buy the automatic Legacy and this time around it’s quite a bit more efficient. Subaru expects an average 30 mpg with the four-cylinder and 23 with the six, both of which are substantial improvements." http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2014/02/2015-subaru-legacy-cuts-manual-keeps-flat-six.html

When we bought my son's '95 Legacy in Feb. 2011 it overheated - as mentioned here it must have been air in the system. We used the methods to remove the air and it's been fine since.

I thought the Outback's higher weight and tire size may have been the reason for the 5th gear choice. As you said - the 2.2L does just fine with those lower ratios. Comparing my '92 Legacy auto and '98 Outback with the 5MT - there was about a 1,000 rpm difference at 65mph. Getting 29mpg in an Outback is great - surprising given the conditions. Maybe Subaru would think the perception would be the car was underpowered with the manual if it had the same reduction of the automatic. We know that isn't the case. Up a significant incline (as long as I'm not behind someone doing 40 - 45mph) I can hold the Forester in 5th. At the crest of the hill I'm down to 45mph, the speed limit and the shift point recommended in the manual from 4th to 5th gear. I don't do that all the time - usually don't, it's just nice knowing the car can. That's cool you'll be able to get the WRX 5th gear into the '03 Outback - I would probably but that car! I assume that's currently turning around 3200 rpm at 65mph like significant other's new '02 Outback. On a different note - changed the oil in my son's '95 Legacy today . Was pleased the owner's manual was in the glove compartment - along with all the service records. The car has 165k miles - I saw the water pump and timing belt were changed at 112k. The manual transmission recommended shift point speeds in '92 are identical to the 2002's.

I do try not to exceed 65mph. Thanks for the information on other factors to consider. While I prefer manual transmissions - I'd consider the CVT in the newer Outbacks. My company vehicle, a small SUV, has a CVT. If the Outback's is anything like the Jeep's CVT it does keep engine rpms down and gets decent fuel economy. Although it is just FWD, the Jeep averages between 27 - 29mpg in warmer weather. With the 2.4L 4 it's running at only 2k rpm at 65mph. I've heard the Outback is that or maybe even lower. A few Subarus around this house - along with my Forester my son has a '95 Legacy LS with the 2.2L. His girfriend has an '02 or '03 Outback, Last month my other half just got an '02 Outback with the 5MT with 121k. Check engine light just came on - other than that runs like it's new. It has the nice wheels with the goldish tint. I thought those were only available on the Limited or H6 models, which hers is not.

Before my '02 Subaru Forester 5MT I had an '02 Outback 4EAT -at 65mph the Outback ran around 2650 rpm. My Forester is about 2750 RPM - an '02 Outback 5MT I drive runs around 3200 rpm. The '98 Outback I had also ran around 3200 at 65 mph. A 92 Legacy with an automatic I had ran only around 2250. I do wonder why Subaru chose the gear ratio for higher rpm with the manual. The engine is certainly capable of moving the car just fine at the lower rpm. I also wonder is the gas mileage penalty (I assume there's at least some) is significant if running for a few hours at 65 mph on level road. I've read where lower rpm doesn't necessarily mean less fuel consumption. In the case when still in top gear when going up an incline I'll open the throttle to keep the speed up. When doing this I assumed I'm not using any more fuel since the engine rpm is remaining constant, say 2100 rpm. Since the rpms are staying constant I thought this will not actually use more fuel even though the throttle may be 3/4 open. Similar to the idea when braking in gear - the enging is turning a certain rpm going downhill but the gas pedal is not pressed. To try to summarize my question - is fuel consumption based on engine rpm (I thought yes except going downhill) or how much the throttle is open. I know it's not good to lug the engine - at the same time I try to keep the rpms to at least a medium level.

My former '02 Outback automatic would run around 2600 rpm at 65mph. Prefering a manual transmission, I traded it in for an '02 Forester. That 5 speed runs around 2750 rpm at 65mph. I was glad to see that - a '98 Outback I had turned around 3200. My significant other just got an '02 Outback manual, like my '98 hers is around 3200-3300 rpm at 65. I wonder why - the engine seems to have plently of torque to run lower. I would think 500 rpm or so higher would mean less fuel economy on the highway - or maybe that's not enough to make a significant difference.

Looks like you were correct - another bad solder connection on the circuit board. Got a new soldering iron with a better tip and resoldered several connections. For about 2 weeks it's been ok.

Yes - I heard it's a good idea to re-solder all connections possible which I'll try. Happened again while driving today.

Finally tried again to program my old keyless entry remote - this time it was successful. Not sure what I did differently - maybe didn't turn the key on/off quick enough before. Luckily I forgot to turn it the 2nd remote for my Outback when I traded it in - but just as well since the one I received with the Forester was defective. I now have intermittent trouble with the clock - I got it working a while ago but occasionally it'll reset to 1:00. Resoldered the suggested resistor, still happened. Don't think it's an interruption of constant 12v - the radio doesn't lose it's presets but maybe it has an internal backup battery, and once it happened while I was driving.

I had the timing belt replaced on my '02 Outback with 139k, it was only about $350 at the dealership which was less than I expected. They must be easier to replace than in a transverse engine. The dealership called to confirm a few things when it was in the shop, a bit over an hour later it was done. The dealership recommended the headgaskets should be replaced - I knew they had a slight leak years ago. I'd just keep an eye on the coolant, every few months I'd add some. I had the coolant conditioner added once by the dealership in 2006 at around 75k miles, they recommend that procedure every 30k miles. Other than that & the timing belt, the only times the cars was in the shop was twice since I bought it at 49k - for tires and brakes. Recently traded the Outback in for an '02 Forester with just under 100k and a 5 -speed. Both those attributes were rare when searching in the Connecticut area. To finalize the deal the dealership (I hope they really did) replaced the timing belt and water pump in the Forester. I'm very pleased with the Forester - feels great driving a manual transmission again.

Wow - over 200k, and 260k! My other son bought my mom's '92 Legacy years ago - took it to North Carolina and did get highway mileage in the low 30's. Sold it to his friend because he had to have a Cadillac STS. Blew the headgaskets on that Norstar engine. I should have bought that Legacy back from his friend. I saw a somewhat rare '94 GT AWD wagon with a 5-speed on Craigslist a while back - boy do I wish I bought that. If Subaru needed a bit more of a powerful engine, too bad they couldn't have just worked with the 2.2 design. New isn't always better - I've seen that many times lately with major appliances.

My son has a '95 Legacy S he picked up a few months ago with the 2.2 and about 151k - I love the sound of that engine . Reminds my of the old '92 Legacy and '85 Loyale, I think that was a 1.8. The '95 is great - no rattles, runs well and feels tight. It's the 7th Subaru I've had in my driveway.

I formerly had a '98 Outback with the 2.5 DOHC engine and 5 speed. At 65mph the rpms were around 3200, which drove me nuts because the engine certainly had enough torque to be running slower. My '92 automatic Legacy was about 1000 rpms lower at the same speed. The '02 Outback 2.5 SOHC automatic was 2600 rpms at 65. I was concerned about the '02 Forester I just purchased - I really wanted to return to a 5 speed but didn't want to see significantly higher rpms. I was pleased to see it's 2750 rpm at 65, which is reasonable. I've seen manual transmissions are typically geared slightly higher than automatics.

Wow - 6 Subarus - I've owned a total of 6 but not all at once! The rear drive Astro would be fine in Texas 99.9% of the time. I liked that van - it's size in between a minivan and full size van.

That's the only 5-speed Astro I've ever seen. I owned a Ford Aerostar with a 5-speed - a nice but rare combination with the 3.0 V6. But it was awful in snow - we get plenty in this neck of the woods which is another reason Subaru is what I'm staying with. Just checked the Forester - the coolant level seems fine. Subaru is one of the few still offering manual transmissions with an SUV - not any more in the RAV4 or CRV.

Unfortunately I could smell a bit of anti freeze when I drove the Forester recently. Looks like I'll need to be aware of possible trouble. I had the same situation with the Outback - but it never overheated. I'd just add coolant every few months or so. I remember seeing a first generation Chevy Astro - with a 5-speed. Must have been with the GM 2.5L 4 that was available as a base engine back then.

I'm in Connecticut. I assume all the 2.5s were SOHC from 2000 and up. I was lucky to find the '02 Forester with just under 100k miles.

Sorry for the delayed reply - I've had a lot of trouble getting on this board lately - keep getting 'Database error'. I installed a new battery in the keyless remote - as suspected the remote itself seems bad since the LED will sometimes stay half lit after pressing the orange button. I'll try programming the remote from my Outback again. In the mean time it's nice having a clock again - I like where it's mounted. Reminds me a bit of the compass in a Plymouth Grand Voyager I had many years ago. I do really enjoy driving the Forester with the 5-speed. Although the same engine as the Outback I traded in - it is a distinctly different vehicle. I'm impressed that I can comfortably stay in 5th gear most of the time in hilly terrain.

In February my son bought a '95 Legacy S with the 2.2, now with 151k - I love the sound of that engine, brings back memories to my '92 Legacy L and the '85 GL. I think that was a 1.8. I just traded in an '02 Outback for an '02 Forester with the manual transmission. The Outback was a great car - would have kept it years longer had I not found the Forester S with the 5-speed. I wonder do the SOHC tend to have as many head gasket failures as the DOHC? Luckily traded in a '98 Outback with 102k in 2005 for the '02. The dealership recommended the '02 Outback's headgaskets be replaced - never had any overheating issues but did have to add anti-freeze every few months.

Thanks everyone! I started looking at the clock more carefully - component 510 in particular (a resistor?). I touched the solder joint with a screwdriver and the whole resistor fell off. I soldered it back on, now the clock works! I was kind of surprised because the tip on my soldering iron isn't very fine and I probably worked on surface mount components only once before.

Haven't fooled with the keyless entry but bought a new battery for the remote. Took the clock apart - checked continuity ok in a few random places. Thanks for the link to the repair - I'll need to check the connection to that component carefully. I verified constant 12v and 12v ignition on at the connector. If I have no luck - how does one get to this classified section in this forum?

Thanks - I don't recall the owner's manual saying to step on the brake. Will try that.

That's good to hear - where exactly is the classified section? I'll try quick links.