Mitchy

OK I get you. As far as I can tell the European Subarus retained OBD I much later than the USDM models, our ‘99 Forester and ‘97 Legacy still have the old “connectors and CEL flash codes” system, no dash-mounted diagnostics socket. I am not so sure about the ‘04 models though. This is all theory to help me for my next purchase- thank you

Toying with which car to buy next, I would like to know if anyone can enlighten me as to whether an EJ22 will easily swap into a 2.0 NA ‘04 Forester. I have a damaged complete ‘97 Legacy with 90k miles and I am looking at the numerous options before buying a replacement car. one such vehicle is a clean 2004 2.0 NA Forester, but has 230k miles. -Not necessarily a problem but I don’t need a high mileage lemon! I would love to keep that EJ22 as a future replacement, but obviously only if I have a compatible car. We are in Europe and have Japanese-made Subarus. Thanks for any information

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I love my Subarus. I’m in the market for a new workhorse/family car. How about a clean 114k mile AWD dual-range Legacy wagon 3 from 2000? It has the NA EJ20, so not that quick, but I have an EJ22 standing by just in case.... I have not yet studied this version in any depth, so any information or tips from owners would be very welcome. Similarities between earlier generation legacies etc? Many thanks

Thanks guys @4Flats I am always looking at the possibility of a lift! So I am still in the market for a new (old) Subaru, new possibilities keep showing up.... Like a gen 3 Legacy station wagon with dual range? lowish miles, it has the 125hp 2.0 with manual, and I have a spare 2.2 just in case. Waddya think? Now about those LegOB struts..... Thanks

Hello all I find myself in a predicament; I have a set of new KYB 96-99 Leggy Outback struts and simply wish to know if they will happily install on a Forester SF. I was buying a Legacy I but it looks likely to fall through. The other option open to us right now is another Forester, but I have these struts, a clutch set etc. for the Legacy, sitting on the shelf. I am aware that Forester struts are commonly mounted on Legacies, but is it unknown to install Outback struts in the Foresters, and what would be the effect? Thanks for your help

Ookay Now that I know what this noise is I have burped and now all is good! thanks

Sweet project, will be paying attention... thx

This is likely the last entry for this car. I finally got around to extracting it from my neighbour’s place. Jacked it up and took the broken wheels off. The RH rear lower arms were both bent, the rearmost at 20degrees! I straightened it by jacking it up against the weight of the car. Everything else looks good, so basically the body and bent suspension arms absorbed the impact. Rear swaybar also bent with a snapped drop link, so that had to be removed too. With two spare wheels on there I drove her back home up our track- driving it one wouldn’t know it has suffered such damage, though I wouldnt risk taking it out on the public roads. So now I just have to wait two weeks until I go to Barcelona to pick up the 1992 Touring Wagon, meanwhile removing those lovely parts from the poor sedan and planning the modifications to the Wagon. And then to the scrapyard with the sedan :sob:

Hard luck, I hope you are OK. Its a gutting feeling to see your wrecked car when you put so much work into it. I feel for you, especially as it was not your fault. I recently destroyed my beautiful Legacy, after putting many many hours into it over the summer. It was totally my fault, and no-one or nothing else was hurt. I hope you can get back on the road soon.

Thank you fellas The burping helped, as there was air in the system, likely due to not having filled correctly when I removed the radiator a while ago after a small bump. The rad is maybe two years old, but the cap is likely the original. It is OEM Subaru and I have not replaced it in six years of owning the car. Next up. Heater control: The heater switch makes a relay tick at 1-3, but only runs at 4. Thanks

OK thanks Bennie I’m under the bonnet burping right now. Another thing I just found out is the heater blower only works on #4 setting... unrelated?

Hello all Our 1999 Forester SF is making a noise like gently trickling water at start up, from behind the dash, heard inside the car. The ‘trickle’ increases with engine revs and goes away after a minute or so. It does it every time, and this is a fairly recent situation. There is no apparent external liquid loss nor wet carpet. I’m going to make a closer inspection soon, check coolant levels and burp the system, but wonder if anyone has an idea about this. Stock 2.0 NA Many thanks

Hello all Our 1999 Forester SF is making a noise like gently trickling water at start up, from behind the dash, heard inside the car. The ‘trickle’ increases with engine revs and goes away after a minute or so. It does it every time, and this is a fairly recent situation. There is no apparent external liquid loss nor wet carpet. I’m going to make a closer inspection soon, check coolant levels and burp the system, but wonder if anyone has an idea about this. Stock 2.0 NA Many thanks

Thanks Bennie The rear right-hand suspension on the blue Sedan is toast, lower arm arm is bent (I am away from home til the end of the week and haven’t got around to a really good evaluation of the damage). I’m guessing the RH rear hub, trailing arm and brake are now untrustworthy too. The four uninstalled KYB Legacy OB struts I just bought for the sedan will be put in the Wagon, as will the 15” sedan alloys with bigger tires. I’ll keep the engine and trans of the sedan, hoping that the rear diff is OK. I don’t mind having a low mileage ej22 and 5mt trans kept by just in case.... I will retrain the wagon’s dual range, as we already use the Forester’s LO mode every day to climb the camino to our house. The sedan chugged a bit up our hill in 1st gear to be honest. Driveshafts, and everything else that can be salvaged and swapped/stored for use on the wagon or Forester will be kept too. I’m actually very happy to be (unintentionally) swapping the sedan, as the wagon is more practical, more capable, and generally better-suited to our lifestyle. Thanks Ben.

Additionally, I just bought an Exedy clutch kit for the Sedan. Will this also fit on the Wagon? I hope so. 225mm dia, 24T, plate part no. FJD025UF Exedy Japan.

*** HAVE NOW FOUND THE INFORMATION IN THE ‘GEN 1 GEN 2 LEGACY’ THREAD*** Thanks I am wondering which major parts of my 1997 sedan will be a straight swap into a 1992 wagon. Both cars are Manual 4wd 2.2 n/a, though the wagon has the dual range gearbox. I will keep the compatible major components of the low mileage sedan for future replacement in a ‘92 wagon and ‘99 Forester The engine I would keep, at least to swap so the 170k mile wagon non-interference engine can be restored at some point. Will the centre differential be the same in both cars? Also, can the sedan’s gearbox and rear diff be reused? Here I am unsure if the wagon’s low ratio transfer box can simply be bolted on to the sedan’s box... both are 5MT. at the moment i am unsure as to the exact mechanical condition of the wagon; roadworthy it is. I am picking it up in January, but wish to make a start on dismantling the sedan beforehand, with some prior knowledge of what should be kept, and what is not compatible. thanks

You could be lucky and never have a water pump failure, but whilst everything is accessible i generally renew/restore all I can whilst doing the timing belt. Keep the old working one as a spare perhaps?

I just changed a Dayco belt with eight years but only 30,000 miles. Looked brand new, if a little polished. I swapped it for a ‘Unitta’ Subaru oem belt made in Japan. Why not spend the mere price of a tank of petrol on this part? Of course I swapped the 22 y.o. idlers too, they spun free and dry, with ateeny bit of lateral play; When you compare them to new ones, that is when you feel the difference.

Awesome is probably not the right word... End of the road, awesome buddy.

True- anything is reparable- but I need a good useable car, not a project! I say take the hit and move on, I learned a lot with the sedan, but that wagon is calling now. I will be dismantling, storing, swapping and selling whatever can be salvaged. That ‘91 will have a longer life without doubt.

And this one is 2.2 non-interfence

Thanks Bennie I’m sad for the car, it was so clean and low kms plus all the little things I had done. Any how, Lesson learnt, no real damage done, and now I have a ton of spares. Plus I really need a wagon more than a sedan. Stay positive!

Here’s the probable next car:

Sniff! On my way to work this evening I hit a damp patch a tad fast on my favourite bit of road... tail went light and i got sucked into a stone wall. The rear right fender is toast, along with the bits which hold the wheel on. I’m pretty sure that I will not be fixing this! I’m presently sitting on the tow truck on my way home, remains of The legacy sitting behind me. I am looking at a 200,000 mile 1991 2.2 4WD station wagon as the replacement... what can I salvage from my once beautiful 2.2i 4wd? obviously the motor is a likely candidate to put in the 1991 car.