1999 Brighton

[99bright]

I'm excited!  I've been looking at getting a Subaru for a long time.  Got rear ended a few months ago in my pickup and totaled the poor thing.  Fortunately, the timing was great and I found a bone stock 99' Brighton manual trans that has 207,000 mi.  The cool thing is that it's a one owner car and the PO took immaculate care of this thing.  There's a stack of paperwork 5in thick!  They kept every receipt and every scrap of paper that came with the car.  Even the original dealer window spec sheet.  Been in a garage it's entire life in California.  Mostly used to commute from Sacramento to SF and LA. Most exciting is New timing, driveline, wheel barrings, wheel cylinders at 198k.  Picked it up for 2k.  I swear the PO replaced/fixed everything the shop said to.

 

Well, I can't say I'll take as good of care for it as the PO!  But I'll do my best.

 

I live way out in the boonies and I'd like to do a lift on it.  Been reading about the outback spring/strut swap... is that the best cheep route?  Would you buy new or used OEM components or a different brand?  Will larger wheels bring it up even more?

 

Just replaced the factory tape deck.  It's wired for rear speakers but I can't find them.  Anybody know where the speaker wires end up in the rear of the car?  Doors?

 

Any online stores folks recommend for parts?

 

Where is the Chilton manual?  I've always disliked the Haynes... frankly, I'd rather have both on hand for repairs.  I want hard copies not online pdf's!

 

Well, I'm stoked to be part of the community and excited to get this thing customized to my lifestyle!

Ryan

[GeneralDisorder]

Those engines like to burn oil. Watch it closely. If it does there's no solution but to replace the rings and only the dealer sells rings for that oddball phase-II single port EJ222. They also have the same head gasket problems as the 99 to 10 EJ251/2/3/4, etc but I don't think they got updated gaskets in 02 like the 251 did.... so probably Cometic is the next best choice. That engine is HIGHLY interference so make sure the timing belt is maintained or you'll be replacing 16 valves. 

 

All those manual suck. Go to sl-i.net and download the FSM. It's free. All Subaru manuals since 95 are electronic ONLY - they never printed them. Print the section you are working on. Trust me this is much better. 

 

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/showthread.php?18087-Subaru-Factory-Service-Manuals-(FSM)-Every-Model-USDM-EU

 

Online dealers like subarupartsforyou.com, etc. are the best for parts. Subaru is HEAVILY discontinuing parts for 90's and early 2k's models right now - if dealers return stock of those parts they are instructed to smash them beyond use and dumpster it. Get what you need soon. 

 

GD

[wtdash]

 

if dealers return stock of those parts they are instructed to smash them beyond use and dumpster it. Get what you need soon.

[Gloyale]

All those manual suck. Go to sl-i.net and download the FSM. It's free. All Subaru manuals since 95 are electronic ONLY - they never printed them.

 

So, the 99 Forester FSM I was just looking through is a hallucination?  Feels pretty heavy for a hallucination.

[GeneralDisorder]

Odd. I've never seen one in paper format. Only through 94. I'm guessing most dealers didn't opt for paper manuals. It's also generally a lot more expensive. My 91 Legacy 6 volume set was over $300 originally.

 

At any rate you can get the digital copies for free and PDF's have search capabilities, etc. And paper is just a click away to the laser printer.

 

GD