forester2002s

Sounds like the clutch is slipping. Could be worn clutch-plate, or throw-out bearing, or clutch-fork. The lack of oil in the MT is puzzling. Involute gears can't run for long without oil, and will self-destruct pretty quickly.

+1

My 2002 Forester EJ251 (which I bought new) gradually seeped oil from the head gaskets. Nothing major, but it did require occasional top-up. Lower left-side was the worst. At 140,000 miles I had the engine out to replace the clutch, and put in MLS HGs at the same time. Since then (about 5-years), the HGs have been tight, not even a hint of seepage.

I have a garage full of saved 'jewels'. Saved, 'just in case' I might need them. And over the years, my hoard of 'useful stuff' has been invaluable. However, as I've aged, my memory has diminished (slowly, gradually, unstoppable) to the point that I can't recall where my stuff has been stashed, nor even can I always recall what I actually have. I dream that I will bequeath my Aladdin's Cave of jewels to my children and grandchildren. The reality is that they will park a dumpster in the driveway, into which they will toss everything...

Should you be worried? It all depends... How much rain/snow? How much wind? How fast will you be driving? How important is it that you make it to your destination? Are you a worrier? Or are problems like 'water off a duck's back'? Too many variables...

Good question! Could easily be that!

Since that first event (about 6-months ago), the problem has not recurred. I do turn my wheels into or out of the curb, when parking on a hill. But I no longer force the steering-wheel over to the side to lock it. In fact I now try not to let the tires actually touch the curb. I suspect that my original problem was that I may have been forcing the right-front tire too hard into the curb to lock it. I think that the elasticity of the rubber sidewall may have acted like a spring, to jam the steering-wheel lock. It hasn't happened again since then.

I had a similar problem with my 2017 Forester. It as the keyless feature, with a fob and push-button start. Out of the blue, the steering wheel was locked solid. Like you I tried everything. Eventually I just turned the steering-wheel using more much force than usual, and it suddenly freed itself.

If suddenly accelerate, can you hear a 'thump'? And if you suddenly let off the gas, is there a 'thump'? If so, it could be engine or trans mounts.

Sounds like it needs a good fluid-flush.

Program Subaru Keys & Remote

I don't know about the Legacy 2.5. But, I have a 2002 Forester 2.5 MT, with the original engine, and it has NO EGR.

in my experience, when these types of weirdness show up, 9 times out of 10 it is related to a grounding problem.

Ah yes, the Zen of Automotive Maintenance.

'Your item has shipped' I regularly get this notification from Amazon. What they really mean is that a shipping label has been printed, but that they have just discovered that their cupboard is actually bare and that they have no inventory. I feel your pain.

Nice bit of sleuthing! I'm impressed

+1 on the ignition switch being a possibility. It's easy enough to wiggle the key when the misfire occurs, to see if it makes a difference.

If two bulbs were wired in series, across a normal 12V supply, each bulb would only be getting 6V. These would be special bulbs. And if they were then converted to the usual parallel arrangement, each would see 12V and would immediately blow. Poof! Much more likely is that you have a grounding problem somewhere in the bulb harness.

I doubt that the original Subaru design was for 2 headlamps wired in series. That would be huge safety risk, since both headlights could fail simultaneously while the car is moving.

Vacuum leak in the intake? Air-filter cover not sitting tight?

Wikipedia has an online article about Subaru EJ engines. As usual with Wikipedia, completeness or accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

And why the UP arrow? Is it because the upper mounting-hole is round, but the lower hole is oblong, so not reversible? Perhaps UP is short for Unexplained Puzzle.

Subaru Head Gasket 11044AA642 Subaru Head Gasket 11044AA770

I don't know about your particular engine, but typically 4000 rev/min is about 'peak torque'. So you would see some better acceleration at that engine speed. With a manual transmission, 4000 rev/min is good for merging & passing on the highway.

Is there an audible component to the 'shimmy'? Like a 'rumbling' sound? If so, one of the wheel-bearings could be on the way out.