Added a 98 Forester L to the family

[Leg93]

Hello all! I haven't been posting for a while, but lurked off and on. I am a 2-3 banana wrench, so don't have much to add to the technical stuff. I leave that to the more qualified.

 

I just replaced a Chevy Astro (stay away!!!) with a '98 Forester L with 98K on the ticker, stick shift, AWD. It appears to have been well maintained. I have had a '91 Justy and a '93 Legacy L in the past, so I am happy to be back in the Subaru mix again. I still have the '93, but it has been a lawn decoration for the last 6 months and will be until I get around to doing the necessary fixes.

 

I just changed the belts on the Forester last night, my first maintenance. I found it much easier after removing the electric fan and Rad. overflow tank.

 

I have done some searches but I'm always looking for more info. Anybody have anything I should know about my new '98? I read something about the Phase 1 vs. Phase 2 engines. I understand the HG problem is limited, so I won't worry too much about it. Any other major differences between these engines?

 

I expect I'll do the timing belt on schedule at 105K. Is this a good time to do the HG as PM, or is it better to just wait for it to go south? I'll actually have someone else do the work, I know just enough about wrenching to know when to let someone else do it...usually.

 

Anyways, it's good to be back on such a good forum. Thanks for everybody's help,even though most of the time you don't even know you're helping.

[Legacy777]

Congrats on the new purchase. I don't have anything really to add about your questions, hopefully someone else will chime in.

[MachineAgeVictim]

congrats, may I ask what you paid?

 

I'd do the TB as soon as you can schedual it, it's good to do everything around the same mileage so you know when you replaced it last, it's definalty easier to replace the HG before it goes then after, especially since you don't want to drive it at all afterwards

[Wayne Boncyk]

Personally, I wouldn't replace HGs unless and until I saw evidence of failure. That's a lot of work to do on the chance that they will fail. Remember, although we all talk about the problem incessantly around here, that less than 20% of the 2.5L engines (either Phase) have had to have HGs replaced.

 

Unless you're really into doing the kind of contortions required to do the job with the engine in the car (my way) or you have a lift and the time and sufficient other reasons to pull the engine, I'd leave well enough alone and just watch for the signs of a problem B4 doing any HG work.

[cookie]

the phase 1 is DOHC and a bit hard to work on. The phase 2 is SOHC and a bit easier I think.

If it were my car I'd change the head gaskets while doing a major service that included all seals and the oil seperator plate.

After that I'd expect another 100,000 reliable miles with little attention.

By the way that is what I did to my 99 Forester at about 89,000 miles and all I have dones since is change the oil, brake pads, and a new ox sensor. I'm now at 129,000.

[Wayne Boncyk]

cookie - I almost sort of agree with you, but only in the context of doing all that other work. If you're gonna do seals & separator, then you're going to yank the engine anyway and you obviously would have easier access to the heads. Then it might make sense to do HGs, if you're paranoid, or if you have any suggestion that there may be an issue in the future. I still would hold off without some sign that they are needed... but that's just me. I tend to do only the work that I KNOW needs to be done.

[cookie]

And you probably get out of operating a car cheaper than I do Wayne. I am a picky old ex mechanic and I need my car to give me the same confidence I'd have if it were near new. Since the head gaskets can cause a tow in they are one of the items I would do myself.

[Wayne Boncyk]

Yeah - I'd probably have the same approach as you if I had slightly more time or money available. For me, it's always an issue of balancing the need for repairs that are over and above "absolutely necessary" against the time and cash budgets -- which oftentimes can't even support the necessary! :-\

 

That's one of the biggest reasons that I drive Subarus -- I can trust them to "get me home" most of the time, even after they've been doing so for a couple hundred thousand odd miles, as long as I do the recommended maintenance.

[cookie]

Fingers crossed....neither of my current cars has had me walk back yet. My Mercedes got its first tow at about 90,000 miles. In the 17 years I owned it the car hit the tow truck five times. Oddly enough the same part caused two tow truck incidents becuse they never did really improve it.

[johnceggleston]

i think i fall into the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" category. do the maintenance, and service. but don't fix anything until it breaks. it could go 200k miles and never fail. plus, the price of the HG repair, is about the same as installing a used engine.

 

drive it. make it work for those repair dollars!!!

 

 

Fingers crossed....neither of my current cars has had me walk back yet. My Mercedes got its first tow at about 90,000 miles. In the 17 years I owned it the car hit the tow truck five times. Oddly enough the same part caused two tow truck incidents becuse they never did really improve it.

[nipper]

Head gaskets arent broke dont fix it. (plays back tape) Its only 10-15% of the 2.5L dohc engines that have a problem, and i dont have a number on the sohc engines.

The one thing that seems to be an issue is the rear wheel bearings, and if i remember correctly the fix is to put in legacy wheel bearings.

I thjink on this entire list in the 3-4 years ive been on it, less then a dozen soobies have made people walk, and of those a few were rare dramatic failures. This is an amazing number consdiering how many of us have over 100,000 miles and many closer to 200,000 miles.

The onlyother bug un the forester seems to be the spedo connnections get dirty and works rather oddly. A quick dissasembly and cleaning fixes that.

 

nipper

[cookie]

Nipper is a brave man who is about to test his theory of head gaskets by a cross coiuntry trip with his phase 1. This is really putting your money where your mounth is. I am glad to know that Nip will have his laptop so we can follow his progress, and Nip you can use my garage and tools if you need to change them here.

By the way, are you in touch with any particular diety?

[Wayne Boncyk]

Nipper is a brave man who is about to test his theory of head gaskets by a cross coiuntry trip with his phase 1. This is really putting your money where your mounth is. I am glad to know that Nip will have his laptop so we can follow his progress, and Nip you can use my garage and tools if you need to change them here.

By the way, are you in touch with any particular diety?

 

Hey, nip! Is he kiddin' or are you going cross-country with your Outback? If so and you are heading thru Colorado, stop by when you get to Evergreen!!

[cookie]

See, another place to change the head gaskets.

[nipper]

Nipper is a brave man who is about to test his theory of head gaskets by a cross coiuntry trip with his phase 1. This is really putting your money where your mounth is. I am glad to know that Nip will have his laptop so we can follow his progress, and Nip you can use my garage and tools if you need to change them here.

By the way, are you in touch with any particular diety?

Its lasted 187,000 miles. I have made many $acrifices to the auto Gods, new AWD unit, driving lights, rear fog light, ipod controller, tuneup (not cheap), and now JDM Gauges. The car should be sated.

 

Just because cookie is afraid to roll out of his garage, doesnt men the rest of us are fearful. Just found out today i should hit snow in wyoming YEHAH

 

nipper

[nipper]

Nipper is a brave man who is about to test his theory of head gaskets by a cross coiuntry trip with his phase 1. This is really putting your money where your mounth is. I am glad to know that Nip will have his laptop so we can follow his progress, and Nip you can use my garage and tools if you need to change them here.

By the way, are you in touch with any particular diety?

 

Cookie if it makes you feel any better, i have a leaking seperator plate . Odd how the dealerhip told me that the valve cover gaskets and cam gaskets were leaking, as that part of the engine is bone dry.

 

nipper

[cookie]

Quuuality is job one.

In preparation for a trip to Mexico about 30 years ago I rebuilt my Volvo wagon engine replacing all the usuals. I fitted large fog and driving lights, curtain for the windows, a paint job, lots of spares and tools and I was off.

I must have made 30 miles from Sonoma to Vallejo and it overheated. My brand new thermostat failed and I ended up pulling it on the side of the freeway. I think that other than my relationship that was the only breakdown on the trip. Thermostat about 5 bucks. House about 70,000 bucks. May all your breakdowns be little.

[Leg93]

Thanks for all the posts here! My account was locked up for a while and I couldn't reply. Thanks for posting known issues.

 

HG-definitely wait until it's a problem.

 

I think my clutch is not a happy clutch. It grinds a little going in to first and it's hard to get a smooth start out of it. Hmmm...could just be that I have been driving automatics for 4 years.

 

Thanks again!

[jon38iowa]

Head gaskets arent broke dont fix it. (plays back tape) Its only 10-15% of the 2.5L dohc engines that have a problem, and i dont have a number on the sohc engines.

The one thing that seems to be an issue is the rear wheel bearings, and if i remember correctly the fix is to put in legacy wheel bearings.

I thjink on this entire list in the 3-4 years ive been on it, less then a dozen soobies have made people walk, and of those a few were rare dramatic failures. This is an amazing number consdiering how many of us have over 100,000 miles and many closer to 200,000 miles.

The onlyother bug un the forester seems to be the spedo connnections get dirty and works rather oddly. A quick dissasembly and cleaning fixes that.

 

nipper

I agree Nipper, Harry Trumann was right. I wouln't replace the gaskets unless there is an obvious problem; I add the Subaru stop Leak to my '99 Forester and so far no head gasket problem, 133000 K and still going.

John

[hohieu]

Thanks for all the posts here! My account was locked up for a while and I couldn't reply. Thanks for posting known issues.

 

HG-definitely wait until it's a problem.

 

I think my clutch is not a happy clutch. It grinds a little going in to first and it's hard to get a smooth start out of it. Hmmm...could just be that I have been driving automatics for 4 years.

 

Thanks again!

You may just be suffering from the normal clutch judder -- my 99 does. These flat 4s have a good deal of flywheel effect. As for the rear main seal and separator plate, just wait until you replace the clutch.

 

When replacing the coolant, make sure you burp all the air out of the cooling system , and you should be fine with the headgaskets.

 

 

 

Wheelbearings: http://www.endwrench.com/current/Current6/03/Wheel%20Bearing%20PDFs/03-50-02.pdf

 

1stsubaruparts.com is a good source for oem parts.

[cookie]

I had the organic clutch in my 99 when I got it and they sure do chatter. I have the replacement type now and most chatter is gone except for when the car is quite cold.

By the way, cross your fingers for Nipper's head gaskets. He pm ed me from Missouri with a naya naya the other day!

[Wayne Boncyk]

Go Nipper!!!

[nipper]

Go Nipper!!!

 

Just had a 1000 mile day. ive come to the conclusion that 70 mph speed limits they had to write something on the sign, and they really dont care.

i'm in Neb/IA right now.

 

Few things

highest speed 110 (it was a big truck on my tail...yes thats it )

avg cruising speed 80

best mpg (flat land) 32 at 75 mph

worst 22

cheapest gas, Iowa, Ethanol 1.99 89 octane.

i'm starting a new thread as i have a high speed/hard braking issue

[Leg93]

Just had a 1000 mile day. ive come to the conclusion that 70 mph speed limits they had to write something on the sign, and they really dont care.

i'm in Neb/IA right now.

 

Few things

highest speed 110 (it was a big truck on my tail...yes thats it )

avg cruising speed 80

best mpg (flat land) 32 at 75 mph

worst 22

cheapest gas, Iowa, Ethanol 1.99 89 octane.

i'm starting a new thread as i have a high speed/hard braking issue

 

Go Nipper! Respectable numbers. Can I ask what is the purpose of this cannonball run?

[Leg93]

By the way, to the person who asked what I paid, I paid just under $7k. The car is in great shape mechanically...I think. There are some scratches on the outside, some dents in the roof right above the windshield, and the carpet is pulled up a little on the passengers side rear. The seat bottom heater on the drivers side doesn't work. I've read threads on that and I'm ok with it as it is. Tires are about 75% tread.

 

Long story: Really, I was trying to sell my Chevy Astro since February and it was starting to have problems. I had to find someone to trade it to since I couldn't sell it, even at a huge loss. 2 dealers hadn't even looked at it and said they didn't want it. This dealer did want it, paid me book value, and knocked $1800 off his asking price...which was too high to begin with, but what they hey. The only car he had I was interested in was the Forester and I REALLY needed out of my van.

 

So, I added another Subie to the Coral. I still have my tired old 93 Legacy and an excellent 95 Toyota Land Cruiser, which I love nearly as much as my children. I'd get another LC, but at 12 MPG, the Forester is the right choice and seems like a hybrid!