3Pin

What are you looking to accomplish?

Make sure the vacuume lines arer clear from begining to end. I used to get a rough idle and P0400's up the ying yang until one day I got fed up and started replacing vacuume lines that were older. One of lines had about 6 drops of oil in it. Once I replaced it and reset the CEL, it never came back. Cheap troubleshootign step. On a different outback I had, it was the egr valve and nothing to do with the vacuume lines. Best of luck!

Ditto. Go to a parts store and have them read it for free... or buy one they are cheap and easy to use. Once you know what the code is, I am sure you will gets lots of good advice here.

I rented a car trailer. It was like 75.00 and faster and in my opinion was cheaper than removing the drive shaft and less risk on damaging the transmission. Others will have opinions I am sure.

try plain old vinegar and water(50/50 in a spray bottle, or 409 spray, or corn oil works too.

I have had four HG's done. Mostly I buy cars in decent shape with bad HG's and drive them for my business. I haven't had the need to resurface any of those. 3 were 2.5's and one was a 2.2. None have ever gone bad after the repair. Maybe I was lucky, don't know, but on all of the engines, we replaced all of the seals, h20 pump, oil pump, plugs, cuz it is a hell of a lot easier out than in at the time and each was due for that type of maintenance. I think common sense just has to prevail. You do what you think is right for the car in front of you.

Sorry, can't help with the carfax, but I have an 02 H6 Beaner as well and really like it. Really solid feel and drive down the road. At that mileage and age, the location where it is in my opinion is not that much of a factor other than individual market values fo rparticular areas. Is this a private party transaction or a dealer? Good luck with the transaction.

Thought so. Thanks.

I just tried to clear a CEL with this in the Midwest here and it is -15 or so and the screen barely lit up. Is the LCD actually frozen? It was in my glove compartment.

The best I got was 26 mpg on a 5 hour cruise at 75mph.

I have an 02 H6 with about 80K on it. So far so good, but if this happens to mine, then basically I get my hands on a couple of 6203-2rsj bearings and it looks like I would save about $100 bucks in parts. If my mechainc does the work to do the bearing repalcement in less than 2 hours, I win. Can I source them anywhere off the net or does anyone have a recommendation?

I have an 02 H6 with about 80K. Great engine, fun to drive, same mileage as my 2.5's that I have had in the past, just a whole bunch more punch! I bought mine at about 62k for about 10K two summers back. basic maintenance only so far.

I agree with your logic and try swapping wires first. After that, it could be the plug, coil or a burnt valve. Try the easy stuff first though.

All true what the other guys say, but I'd say no more than $1,200 in my opinion. It is still a car with 199k on it.

If it is just a bad HG and the 2.5 runs decent, fix the HG and drop her back in. My two cents.

Keep looking. That is too much $$$ for a car with those miles. I bought an 02 Outback wagon LLB with an H6 with 69K for 11K. I think you can get a brand new forester for 19-20K.

$450-600 in my neck of the woods. Most guys will just yank the motor and drop a different one(usually a cheap 2.2) in and away you go. By the time you are done with all the seals and proper stuff-see all the swap info-you are into it about $1,500. That is if you pay to have it done.

It is possible to get the 2.2 running in the parts car first to make sure it runs decent before the swap?

If you go with a JDM with no instake, Couldn't you just swap intakes from the current motor and get the EGR?

I agree that swapping a 2.5 with 185K on it, but, I had a couple of 2.5 HG's repaired and they were fine. Good luck with the swap.

Why not just repair the HG on the 97 2.5 and put her back in?

Does anybody know if I can transplant the 96 2.2 into a 95 legacy easily?

Will this have the 2.2 or the 2.5? Does anyone know. It is not the GT version, just a regular 4 door sedan.

I'd do the swap with a 2.2. They are cheap and they work. A 95 2.2 is as clean as it gets. Then drive it for at least 2 years and then you can move on if you want. Good luck!

You didn't say what your budget was, but I would look into a 1995 wagon with a 2.2 motor stick or automatic and you can get them for the right price now. It is a great engine and nice year. If you go for a 96-99 2.5, just be wary and be prepared financially to replace the HG($1500-$2000). By 03, the 2.5 HG's seem to have settled down. Good luck. I am sure others will chime in.