brus brother

is your sprayer mounted ON the hood or is it mounted in a cradle underneath the hood?

In the 08 the nozzle mechanism rides and pivots in a "sling" mounted beneath the hood. I think the needle technique applies to the type mounted on the hood. If it's just one side, open the hood and make sure there isn't any leaf or other debris lodged in the mechanism keeping it from rotating freely.

just looked at mine. there are nozzles on driver and passenger side... correct? are both mis-aimed? dirt occluding the nozzle?

Since it seems that you have already contorted yourself to see behind the hvac control panel, I will just add my experience in the hopes that it might be something simple. My 08 OB has the speed and selector dial. Apparently, I may have been heavy handed in operating it or just plain unlucky at some point after which it stopped working. Twisted my aging 6'4" frame under the steering wheel and saw that the lever intended to operate an actuator had been displaced. Fiddled with it (using controlled force) until I reattached it and all was well in HVAC Land. Hope you are as lucky.

My 2000 legacy had the delayed engagement issue with the AT (transmission replaced under extended warranty) but if you are looking at manual, it's not an issue. You might want to do a search of Technical Service Bulletins for those years to get an overview of what you might expect. When you look around at God's creations you might think Him an underachiever, so considering cars are made by man...

Is there no way to make these bearings serviceable? At $200+ a pop plus installation it isn't "cheap" but if it is a seal failure, then re-greasing/servicing won't help regardless. Reviewing old posts describe greater incidence of front failures possibly attributed to greater brake heat up front.

Kept hearing the sound from front left, not central to transmission/gearbox. Took to Indie transmission shop for a quick look see. He drove it alone (Covid protocol) came back and said, good news... wheel bearing. Had it replaced today and that sound is gone, although now I can hear every other creak and groan from ye old clunker. Spinning the old bearing by hand off the car it feels real crunchy. Common things happen commonly. Occam's razor.

subaru re-manufactured may be available at reasonable cost. call around dealers.

alternator bench check?

Thanks but no engine, no exhaust, (that would make it easier to grab the transmission), busted glass, bad body... I'll stick with the devil I know. $2K seems high for what you aren't getting.

Thanks Numbchux for the clarification. As a retired dentist, I appreciate the sensibility as I always asked the patient to rinse and spit before proceeding

Are you talking about diagnosis of the grumbly old transmission? Two trusted Subaru mechanics gave it the thumbs down. Stethoscope on the gearbox produced grumbling. No sounds coming from the wheel bearing that I had originally suspected. I found a USDM trany with 91K for $550 delivered to my address. 6 month warranty. Thanks all for elbowing me past the JDMs.

near me 06880 high mileage (90k miles +) and either 6 month or 90 day part warranty only found this seller on ebay but spoke with them directly in Washington State. Foreign Engines average 50K miles with 1 year unlimited mileage warranty. $325 + 300 shipping. https://ebay.to/30v9nAJ Anyone local have experience? Their ebay rating is 100%

Subie Tech says I have some time as he's heard much worse. Will keep hunting for a lower mileage one around 50K. I found ads for partsrequest.com that lists some used JDM transmissions with around 50K miles. Just need to ship from west to east coast. I'll be researching them later today. Wouldn't mind trading up but the car sales market is ridiculous right now. Gave our daughter the 2019 so we are trying to nurse the 08 for a while longer.

4EAT by vin search: AT, 2.5L, Outback, w/o turbo; vehicle dynamic control

2008 Outback AT 132K miles. On a 6 hour road trip last month, I heard a whining noise I had hoped was my new tires/pavement. Put car in neutral while cruising down the road at 60 mph but the whine remained the same. After a few miles it stopped. A few days later, travelling home, the same whine recurred but again, stopped after a short while. Before I reached home, a new sound arose. Now the car developed what I had hoped was the sound of a failing wheel bearing. Sound doesn't change while loading/unloading the bearing by turning the steering wheel side to side. Subaru tech put it up on a lift and while all set to replace the front driver bearing, instead diagnosed a failing gear box. He placed a long screwdriver against the gearbox with the tires spinning and let me listen to some grumbling from the gearbox. Took it to a reputable Indie transmission shop yesterday who took it for a test drive but didn't have a lift to fully diagnose. He acknowledged the sound and swerved side to side thinking as I had that it could be a wheel bearing but no change in sound. Wants me to leave the car for final diagnosis but lacking a second car, I am trying to figure out the what ifs. Trusted Subie tech quotes a 90K mile used transmission installed for $1500 complete. Indie was closer to $2400 including $1300 labor, based on him finding a used transmission with not as yet determined mileage. He did say it isn't cost effective to rebuild as there are many of these used transmissions around. I am in Fairfield, CT. As it's our only car, I am concerned about driving it on any long trips as I can't predict if catastrophic failure is in my future. The gear and transmission fluids are topped off and clean as a whistle. I guess my concern is that a 90K mile transmission of unknown history isn't that far (?) from my current 132K mile failing transmission. Terrible time to be looking into buying another car. The TB and HGs were done at 95K miles, front suspension bushings etc have been worked over recently and with the exception of some exhaust noise the car is in good shape. Any thoughts appreciated or suggestions to source transmissions. Any crystal ball thoughts on final failure?

I love a happy ending. You have the entire USMB behind you now. Welcome to the board.

wonder how the car is holding up...

huh? this is the current owner relaying his findings, not the seller. he acknowledges tick and proposed treatment.

Not intending to hijack this thread in anyway BUT last month on a 6 hour road trip from CT to Maine in my 2008 OB AT with 132K miles, I heard a whining noise from what i at first thought was new road/pavement noise. It stopped. Sound came and went again on the return trip but then developed a new sound, a growling that I thought might be a front wheel bearing BUT today a Subie tech put it on a lift and heard the growling coming from the gearbox. Pulled the gearbox dipstick and the fluid was full and clean as a whistle (at 132K miles??) even though I don't ever recall changing it. Tech squirted some snake oil in (no charge) and suggested he would be looking into a used tranny in my future. spoob happens but at your mileage, unless the car was abused (I guess my never changing the fluid might qualify for abuse) it is certainly disheartening. I am hoping the model year 2008 OBs aren't imploding on cue! Keep us posted. Fingers crossed. Edit: Tech who did HGs at 95K seems to recall he drained and filled gearbox at the time

twas good until

Random rattle is benign loose heat shield. Box o rocks sound is scary. Check fluids.

You are most welcome for the fish ;-)

Quitter!! The car looks brand new! Can you take it across the border and sell it for a decent price or is that tax structure across the EU?

what settings are you looking to change?