Tiny Clark

Haven't changed mine yet, 96 Legacy with 96k miles.

Why double clutch when you can keep the clutch in and tap the throttle to bump up RPM's to match the speed of the lower gear? I have to agree with Phillip, that's why they make synchromesh trannies. And why downshift coming off a freeway? I just use the brakes, then pop it outta gear without the clutch when my speed is low enough.

Stereo Review did a test back in the 80's right after Monster Cable came out. They tested it against 18 gauge lamp cord, and the audiophiles they brought in couldn't correctly pick the set of wires they were listening to, and this was in a closed environment. I don't think stock wire is even 18 gauge, more like 20 or 22, but it works for me. If you are pushing some serious power, then maybe some bigger cable would be of help, but I don't think 12 is necessary. I think that's what I'm running on my tablesaw with a 220V 3HP motor. Anyway, I just as soon spend money on my home stereo and leave the wiring as is. Mine still gets loud enough to overcome the road and wind noise.

Couldn't agree with you more Setright, but if you don't know how to do it, it's worth just a bit of practice so if you need to, you can.

I second the motion on taking it back, your MPG is way too low.

I'm sure some folks on this board know this, but with a broken cable/hydraulic system, the car can be driven and shifted without a clutch. The starter will get the car going in 2nd gear rather easily.

Yes, I've left the lights on in cars before. My only point is that the switch is not visible to me when I'm sitting behind the wheel. I didn't even know it was there until I went to clean the car after I'd had it for a few months. Some of you folks really need to get a sense of humor. This board seemed to be a bit more fun when I first joined. Maybe all the blown head gaskets has put a damper on it. I will try to keep any posts I throw out from now on to the technical aspect only... NOT! Sorry, I just can't help trying to get a little banter going, like on my reply to the spark plug replacement. I've also been around long enough to see way too many stupid human tricks from automobile engineers, and they never seem to learn from their predecessors. It would be easy to make a car that lasted much longer, but that is not in the best interest of the car makers. So, the only way I can keep my head above water is to make fun of the whole situation.

I'm the second owner of my subie, and Carfax showed only one owner. Maybe you have to take this info with a grain of salt, just like everything else.

I dunno, most cars have a chime or buzzer for a reminder that the lights are on. Maybe they should have put the switch someplace where it could be seen while sitting in the seat.

How many Subies has that Big O store done? It's possible they just don't know how to do it.

Maybe they put in a real piston, the type with a longer skirt. They probably tried to lighten the whole mass up by using those short-skirted ones, not that I have anything against short skirts, just not in an engine or on Rosie O'Donnell

avk, I bought into it only as an innocent bystander. Blitz (and all others), OK, OK, I understand all this theory mumbo jumbo (unfortunately, I make a living at trying to fix crap that engineers dream up) about the series circuit and anodes and cathodes, and lions and tigers and bears, Oh My! Me thinks it would work in parallel as well due to decreased resistance of the plug gap on the combustion stroke, but I have to bow out to the pocket protector & RPG/BCG wearing geeks on this one. But remember, these are the same guys that put the parking light switch on the steering column and the drink holder in the perfect spot next to the climate controls and above the radio, supported slightly enough to bounce around a can of Coke so that it will completely disperse its carbonation in a few short minutes. Better break the microscope out to see the deposits tho, at least on mine. I just changed my regular old AC copper plugs out after almost 30,000 miles and didn't see any NOTICEABLE difference in them. Anyway, and theoretically of course, if the deposits go from one side to the other, then the build-up and tear-down should result in the gap staying the same. However, the extra acceleration and power I didn't feel with the new "platinum quad-spark dilithium crystal super high output beryllium coated superconductor center core plugs" I installed really put the hurt my neck during the test drive, and my gas mileage went from about 25.220 mpg to 25.255 mpg... Satirically yours, Tiny

Good deal, sounded like it. Did you buy a rebuilt, or is there an alternator repair place around your area?

They don't do lights like that in any European country that I am aware of. German cars have a small bulb in the headlight (usually) and use the tail light on the side of the car that is parked toward the street on dark roads. Usually, this is set by pushing the turn signal an extra click. Subaru must have gotten this from Ford, as in "they thought they had a better idea..."

He could always have it load tested at Autozone. I will stick by my method...

I know that sometimes it appears that I play the devil's advocate:lol: , but I have a polling question. Has anyone ever replaced only a fuel filter and for a problem they were having, and it was fixed by this repair? If so, what was the problem? Danke, Tiny

Reverse Polarity Spark? Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore... I really have a hard time swallowing this one, as a matter of fact I can't even force myself to sniff at the bait! Until they come up with a camera that can stop action the spark right in the middle of it's path, I'm not buying it.

I know everyone will give me hell when I say this, but I've never experienced or seen damage done from doing it. Start the car, then remove the positve lead from the battery (or take the positive lead off and jump start from another vehicle if you don't feel it's safe). Turn on the brights, fan on high, rear defroster. The car should run powered only by the alternator throughout the RPM range. If it don't, it ain't hackin' the mission, if'n ya know whut I mean.

Oh damn, I guess i'm out of the closet now. Yes, I have a latex fetish. I even wear the ball gag and cuffs when working on the car as well.... Actually, I don't like working on cars anymore, same with computers, as I've been doing it for so many years. BUT, I hate to pay a "qualified" someone four times as much to do routine maintenance on my car. I wear gloves for (some) of the following reasons... - I can take them off quickly to do something else, as stated previously in this thread. - When I change oil, I also give a look around the engine bay and underneath to see if I can spot anything that looks or FEELS abnormal. i.e. hoses, belts, boots. Even though I try to keep my engine clean, pulling the dipstick results in a little road grime on the hands. - I drain my oil pan into a large laundry detergent bottle after the oil change to transport it to the disposal site. That can get messy as well. I wear gloves when I do any maintenace like changing tires, brakes, oil, filters, struts, etc. It's just a habit. After more than 20 years of dealing with grime in the finger nails and such, I happen to think gloves are an excellent idea. I wish I would have thought to use them sooner.

Or you can turn the key one time, and do it the old fashioned way...

These displays/nav systems are real popular in Germany now. Even Opel is installing them in their mid-level entries.

The windows only lower that far due to the tire well cutout.

I've had gas wrinkle the gloves, and maybe if you put them in oil for a while it may cause problems, but I've never had a glove even partially dissolve on my hands, and I've been using them for about 10 years now.

HMMM, maybe I should start selling small oxygen bottles with fittings to dump it straight into the intake manifold. Porbably run like a raped ape until the heads blow off!!

I do too, in a classic Mustang, Camaro, etc... I just think you're taking a chance with burned out display lights, weak isolation dampeners for the CD player, and on and on.