kosmicki Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Greetings all! Just got my first car today, a 1988 Subaru GL-10 Wagon. Free no less, though I just have to return the “$500” dollar radio that is in it. It’s in great shape for being 16 years old, only a single dent on the exterior, no rust at all. The interior is also in relatively good shape. 5 speed, so I need to learn how to drive it. (Only autos before this) Oh, and the engine won’t start at present. But my dad is a mechanic, so we’ll figure it out. It is a new engine though, less then 30k miles on it. (I believe 140k on everything else) Just needs a new battery, a radio, and tires in a year or so. (At least that is the current list…) Yee! I’m all excited. I just wanted to make my first post here a greeting rather then whine about something. -Kos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Glad to have you aboard. The GL-10 is pretty tricked out and I think you'll love it when you get her rolling. My '88 GL wagon was my first 5speed also. Learned to drive it the day I bought it so it's pretty darn easy. The thing that really got me going quick was the fact that the previouse owner said "GET IN and lets GO!". So a few verbal commands later we were tearing off down the street! It's really easy once you are moving and I think you'll love it when you get the hang of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 And greetings to you!!! My personal opinion is that an '88 GL-10 would make a fine first car... kind of why I'm making my kids learn to drive on similar ones (though Automatics ). Lots of options reasonably comfy and quiet. And the best featur of all: FREE!!! Let us know how things go with it. And remember that if you want some help hthat some more specs would be helpful... whether it has a carburetor or which type of fuel injection system (SPFI of MPFI) it has.... and is it a Turbo??? Welcome again, and good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkard4 Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 I learned to drive a "stick" on a 84 vw rabbit diesel. 15 years later i got the car of my dreams a subaru station wagon. you've got a great car. congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kosmicki Posted November 8, 2004 Author Share Posted November 8, 2004 Hehe, thanks all. I'm pretty sure it is a turbo (due to the 4" letters on the side that say TURBO) Other then that I don't know yet, I need to get some wiring diagrams from the library before we start to tear into it. Hopefully we can get it running without too many problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 OK, I can't help but pretend that I am helpfull... What kind of problems are you having? Does the starter spin the engine? If so, is that the engine doesn't "catch"? If so, are you getting spark at the plugs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximumBRAT Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 nice GL! I learned to drive on a '89 GL bubble back (non-turbo, 5-speed) very fun, hope you like it. And you found the right place- USMB is good for us under-learned subie fans. My dad is a mechanic also, worked on(more like tore apart) subarus for 3 yrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kosmicki Posted November 9, 2004 Author Share Posted November 9, 2004 The starter does turn, but we have not had time to look at it yet (pouring rain all day, no garage) The guy we got it from took it to two shops and they did not find anything, but they both were pretty sure it was the electrical. They did not want to probe much more without getting payment. I can understand that, and the guy did not want to pay as it was not his primary car. (He has a 2004 outback, another GL wagon, and another Subaru one, I'm not sure what it is) He just wanted to get rid of it, thus, I got it. So I’m sure it's not something really simple, as he would have no doubt fixed it on his own. But aside from that, I don't have any more details. Hopefully this week if it does not snow we can pop the hood and start to poke around. Thanks for the help though, I really do appreciate it. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s'ko Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Welcome. Remember, if you notice that your Subaru starts to multiply, it's a sure sign that the virus has infused into your DNA. There is no cure. Only constant monitoring to keep it at bay. Good luck BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Only constant monitoring to keep it at bay. Usualy by a third party if you want to maintain any control over it's spreading and multiplication! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 welcome! I too learned to drive a 5-speed in my subaru, because of some communication problems, I didn't get the title (and therefore couldn't liscence it) on it for a couple weeks, so I spent that time practicing driving up and down the driveway, put it in 4 Lo, plus a slightly worn out clutch, and you almost can't kill it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobywagon Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 The addiction strikes again....another life struck down before its prime...oh wait...what am I saying? Congratulations on the new car and welcom aboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 within months your have pics fixing it , starting at a younger age is always better , basic tools 12mm ,14mm , 17mm 10mm , 36mm for the axles, braker bar, screwdrivers, timming light, good luck , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kosmicki Posted November 9, 2004 Author Share Posted November 9, 2004 Heh, being as broke as I am, I don't think I have to worry about multiple ones just yet Today before I left for work we took at look at it, the first thing we found wrong was the coil was toast. Picked up a new one today, have yet to see what affect it has though. Most of what is wrong (that we can tell) is a bunch of stuff is jury rigged, intake manifold is duct taped, ground wires all over not hooked up. Just a bunch of little things. No spare tire (or rim), and the left rear tire (just that one) is studded... So from our hour exploration this morning, it does not look too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Being broke didn't stop you from getting your first Subaru? Why on earth would it stop you from getting more My bet is by the time you 18 you'll have three and it will just get worse from there Good luck Glenn 82 SubaruHummer 01 Forester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Heh, being as broke as I am, I don't think I have to worry about multiple ones just yet yea, you'd think that'd slow you down wouldn't you. Well, I already am running out of the money I saved to lift mine next summer, and almost spent it on an XT6 instead, still debating whether that was a good choics, that would've been cool. But I would agree, a third party is a big help!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kosmicki Posted November 10, 2004 Author Share Posted November 10, 2004 Being broke didn't stop you from getting your first Subaru? Why on earth would it stop you from getting more My bet is by the time you 18 you'll have three and it will just get worse from there Might be a little tough as I am already 18 drove/driving a spare of my parents for now (87' isuzu trooper, just costs me gas and insurance) So figure... 20 or so for that tri-car figure. And if said other cars were also free, it might be hard indeed to pass them up... Started to clean it out, found a candy box, and a fork. Of all the things to find in a map pocket, I would not have expected a fork... (A metal one nonetheless) -kos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximumBRAT Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 Being broke didn't stop you from getting your first Subaru?Why on earth would it stop you from getting more My bet is by the time you 18 you'll have three and it will just get worse from there Good luck Glenn 82 SubaruHummer 01 Forester CRAP. i'm 18 in january. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 in my 88 dl d/r wagon i found an sony cd player, 2 radio's , 2 full big bags of trash , only thing wrong was the timming was off , needed a tune up , best of it is it is rust free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kosmicki Posted November 10, 2004 Author Share Posted November 10, 2004 Fun. New coil did nothing, power goes to it, but nothing comes out of it... No sparky. We started to poke around under the dash, and my dad (the mechanic) found a really burnt wire. So we spent the better part of two hours taking the dashboard off. Too. Many. Wires. When I left for work he finally got the stupid thing off and was beginning to look at the wiring harness. Woo its gonna be fun putting that all back together. Would anyone happen to know were we could find some colored wiring diagrams? We did find out it has a MPFI. Gonna be interesting for the next few weeks.. -kos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subynut Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 COOL! Another Suby owner in Arizona! WOO HOO!!! Anyways, welcome! Keep your eyes in the marketplace for a Factory Service Manual, they show up every once and a while. They have good wriring diagrams from what I've read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaru_styles Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 yeah, when i got my wagon I found a dead body inside!! j/k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now