MR_Loyale Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) I couldn't help myself. I have been looking for an AWD sedan for a while now. Oh sure there are lots of wagons out there. I am just not a wagon sort of guy. I have always preferred Sedans ever since I got my original FWD in 1994. Most of the sedans for sale are either automatic or FWD. Now I got myself a beautiful red one (1992 AWD, 5spd mt): Here it is next to my other Loyale, hereby known as Uno: I am now officially a Subaru Whore! Edited July 7, 2014 by MR_Loyale 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj421 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Your neighbors are gonna love you. Get one more sedan and you'll have people knocking on your door telling you: A) You have a problem and/or Here's a good junk car removal company. Call (xxx) xxx-xxxx Gonna get similar license plates as your white car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) I had better be careful, the sheriff lives next door, lol. No, the custom plates are a one time privilege for the only Subaru that has been there since day one, with help of a special person who believed in me at a time in my life when no one else did, not even my own father. The new car can never have that connection in my life. Plus Uno has carried two of my best loved pets that are departed so it is sort of a historical artifact in my life so to speak. Ash on the other hand is open to all sorts of possible mods. Plus if I EJ it in the future, I then have a hot swappable spare for Uno. So it all works out in the end. I can get rough with Ash and not be guilty about it. I can even take Ash to the mountains banging around and it won't crack its computer like some other 4wd we dare not mention. Ash is easier to put into 4wd too. But treating Uno harshly is like crapping on your grandmother's credenza - it just isn't done. Besides, Uno has to make it to the 30th anniversary. Edited July 7, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) Well tonight I decided to peek at some of the issues with the car. The power mirrors and door locks did not work. Replaced the fuses that were blown. Also found a 30 amp fuse in one circuit and there are no 30 amp fuses anywhere in the fuse chart on the fuse panel. So I pulled it and put in the correct size. I found the reason for the exhaust "leak". One of the bolts holding the flange onto the head was totally loose. I tightened it up and it helps somewhat. But I need to get an exhaust gasket for it. Looks like the one there is a cheap third party thin one. I gave it a wash as well. There are small black spots all over the engine bay and on the fenders so I found a solvent that would get them off and began working on that. I took some more pictures as well. This car is in pretty good shape. No rust, runs fairly well and the clock even works! Edited July 8, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadsubaruguy Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 I'm jealous! I always wanted a 4wd sedan, just can't find them here... I can't even find a 2wd one.. maybe someday I'll find one... Nice looking car too, have fun with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 Did some more work on the car. One issue it had was that the alternator regulator was bad such that when the idle was low, the charge, brake fluid and park brake lights would fade in. Then revving the engine to 1000-2000 rpm made them go out. Revving higher brought them back on but bright. I figured this was the diodes in the alternator allowing ac current into the system. I had the alternator from Uno (my white sedan) and put it into Ash. That fixed the issue. I then took Ash out for a spirited drive and got pulled over by the police. My tail lights were out and I was speeding apparently. I explained I had just bought the car and he told me to drive home with the hazards on and watch my speed, both of which I did. Oh and the power door locks are blowing fuses so that is another issue I will have to sort out. But I did get one solved and the mirrors are still working but the blower motor quit on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Always fun to sort out all the issues with a newly purchased vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Yeah. But I feel the electrical issues are well within my skillset. If the car was perfect it wouldn't have been sold. It looks as if someone recently did some engine work as the engine is fairly clean on top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Well tonight after work I went after the exhaust leak. It was coming from the passenger side. Turns out it was the gasket. I happened to have two extra ones as I have the used ones from Uno sitting next to Ash in the driveway. Here is what a good gasket should look like when held up to the sky: Here is what was there: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Oh yeah. While I was down there, I noticed a nice coolant drip drip drip. Hopefully it is just a water pump of which I have a hand me down from, you guessed it, Uno the white Loyale sedan. Works out because I have a brand spanky new Subaru water pump in the box waiting for Uno anyway. Uno is the spoiled one lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 Well my tail lights aren't out. I just had that damned parking light switch on the steering wheel in the wring position. After twenty years I should know better. And for the last time AARP, I am NOT interested!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykeys Toy Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Nice find! Sounds like most of the issues are small and irritating and not to serious so even better. My flock has grown again also but I am still uncertain what the newbie will become yet... a runner and sold or parts. I need to make some wrench time. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Thanks man. I am going to miss showing up at WCSS this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 (edited) Tonight I hopped into Ash and mistakenly rolled down the driver side passenger window. It would no go up and guess when it decides to start raining? Here I am in the rain trying to get this thing working. i took the panel off in the rain and sprayed wd40 in the rollers. It works reliably now. Oh and of course the poorly designed switch in back in dangling on panel because the bosses that the screws go into busted off- just like they did in UNO two years ago. Looks like will have to employe the same fix- epoxy fill and hole re-drill. Edited July 20, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 Well this morning I fixed the dangling power window switch on that rear driver side door. As usual for the poor design, the bosses holding the mounting screw crumbled. I was going to epoxy it but I rummaged around my nuts and screws drawer in the garage and found to longer screws that would work by reaching and tapping into the remains of the bosses. The maser switch control bank on the driver door only makes the windows go down not up. I am sure that is the telltale clue of a broken wire and should enable me to find the wire in the schematic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Ok boys and girls, don' be like me. ALWAYS disconnect the battery if you are going to swap alternators. You might fry your fusible link and they are a pain to find. No auto parts stores seem to have the 1.25 fusible link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 (edited) After the big trip in Uno, I finally had some time this weekend to give some attention to Ash. Before the trip I had started to examine the power window issue. Namely, the windows go down but they don't go up except by reaching over to the sub switch. Yesterday I made it out to the JY and got a new master switch because I was able to prove that was the issue. How did I do so you may ask? I simply swapped Uno's master switch into Ash. Yeah not very clever I know, but it did prove that the master switch was the issue. Got back yesterday from the JY with the replacement master switch and it did not work. It was worse than Ash's original one. I almost took off for the JY again today until I had a thought to take the original apart and see if it could be repaired. The first thing that happened was all the little contact bits came tumbling out and the thing looked like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone (as the song goes). After a few swear words, I paused for about 15 minutes and decided I would see if I could get it working. All he bit seemed to be there. I cleaned up the contacts and after a few false starts, got the thing back together. Took iot outside and it worked. I was sooooo happy I took Ash to the car wash and got the "Beary Best" . Since he had been sitting so long I wanted to protect his finish. He has virtually zero rust and I would like to keep it that way. Unfortunately a trim bit was blown off in the car wash. When the wash was done, I hopped out and grabbed his trim bit and drove off. I will glue it back on later. For now I got working power windows. Edited October 19, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted October 26, 2014 Author Share Posted October 26, 2014 (edited) Last weekend I fixed the master power window switch. Now this weekend I worked on the headlights. I got them working but then the instrument cluster lights and the running lights quit on me. Ordered some roundy Denso relays. Tomorrow I will try to see why the power locks blows a fuse. Edited October 26, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 (edited) Got the roundie relays. They were less than $7 each at densoproducts.com and they threw in three free pairs of nitrile gloves! Headlights both work a full strength. I got the CEL light cleared and fixed by changing the purge solenoid. Now I just need to work on the running lights and dash lights. Does anyone know where the "main lighting relay" is located? My Haynes manual shows one on the schematic but no physical location. UPDATE: The relay labelled "main lighting relay " on he Haynes manual schematic is really the left headlight relay. Not the first time Haynes has led me astray . Edited November 24, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 Running light issue solved. Turned out to be a fuse. I had passed it with just a visual inspection. Upon using the test light, turns out the fuse was bad. Never had a fuse look perfect but be bad. Never overlook the basics I guess. Next issue will be the power door locks that blow the fuse. Hope it isn't wet this weekend. Oh and the "main lighting relay" is the one with the black base. he headlight relays are the blue and green base ones I believe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 (edited) Spent the entire weekend working on Ash. The door lock circuit was blowing fuses as soon as they were put it. I took all the door panels off and removed the actuators on the three doors (driver side has a master switch and no actuator). The passenger side mounting screws for the actuators each had one bugger that would not budge and stripped out. So stop and drilled them out, which of course means time to learn to use an EZ Out. You would think you could just reach inside and unplug the actuators just to do troubleshooting, but you would be wrong. The actuators are buried inside the doors in a tight space and the connector plugs right into the bottom of the actuator body. So unless one is Mr Fantastic of the Fantastic four with the ability to stretch to any shape, the actuators must be unmounted. With all the actuators disconnected, it still was blowing fuses. So the next step was the master switch on the door. I took it out and then the fuses stopped blowing. I pondered a run to the junkyard or a kitchen table disassembly like I did for the master power window switch. I did notice the plug to the master switch seemed to be globbed in a mix of dielectric grease, carbon and dirt. So I cleaned it up and tried plugging it in. No fuse pop. Progress at last. I worked the switched back and forth and still no fuse pop. One by one I plugged in the actuators, which by this time were completely removed from the locking rod and just laying in the door well. Each clicked as I moved the master switch until all were connected and clicked in unison, a beautiful sound indeed. While the panels were off, I took the opportunity to thoroughly grease the tracks. It made a huge difference. When I first got Ash, the windows wouldn't even work. In the past I hit the mechanism with WD40 but even then the windows groaned and squeaked as they moved on their tracks. Now however they move as if they are new, gliding up and down effortlessly. Due to the weather constraints, I did this over Sat and Sunday. Saturday I had discovered the issue but then had to put Ash inside as it was raining and that is not good weather for working on electrical issues in the door. Sunday I finished up the doors and took Ash for a nice long drive. While out driving, I noticed the passenger side running light was out so I drove to the Poulsbo Walmart to get the 194 bulb. I replaced it in the parking lot and got in to leave. Turning on the headlights, I noticed that the driver side was out. I turned on the brights and they both worked for a few seconds then the driver side flickered and went out. Back into Walmart I went to grab a 9004 headlight lamp. Although I tried to change it in the Walmart lot, I couldn't get the old bulb out so I decided to just drive home with one headlight and fix it at home. Good thing I waited too, because the reason the headlight went out was that the enclosure had a puddle of water inside. Had I changed the lamp in the Walmart lot, it would have been out by the time I got home again. So I had to pull the headlight enclosure and get the water out by baking it at a low temperature in the oven. I did a post about it: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/150355-todays-recipe-slow-roasted-headlight-enclosure/ Now I have both headlights working and all the indicator lamps are working too. Unfortunately now the radio isn't working but that isn't going to stop me from doing the Dec 6th Hatch Patrol Xmas Tree run up by Enumclaw. Next weekend, snow tires for Ash and a thorough underside inspection. Edited November 24, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 This is great, thanks for taking the time to do the write-up on the power locks. There isn't a whole lot out there to search for like that. Good Job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 (edited) This is great, thanks for taking the time to do the write-up on the power locks. There isn't a whole lot out there to search for like that. Good Job! Thank you. Glad it was helpful. Edited November 30, 2014 by MR_Loyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 (edited) Today I bought a spanky new set of studded winter tires for Ash. It was quite a sticker shock. But tires are basically safety items and not really a good place to cheap out. Edited November 30, 2014 by MR_Loyale 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 They look nice on those alloys too! You should have them for a long time if you switch them out seasonally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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