Alec Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 Hi all. I'm probably going to have to replace a hydraulic valve lifter on my '91 Legacy; it looks like an easy job to get the rocker assembly off, but could anyone tell me if it is a straightforward process to change the hydraulic bit? I think the hyd bit is mounted in the rocker arm somehow... Also - this car is a bit of an oddball, a U.S. model with RHD - designed for mail delivery (available at mucho cheapo price in the early 90's and just the biz to import to the UK). It's a Legacy 2.2L, Non-turbo AWD Auto. Question - how do I interrogate the ECU for Check Engine trouble codes? There isn't a set of connectors in the places mentioned in many threads which all pertain to LHD cars, and the UK guides don't tally either. There are a couple of connectors to the left of the steering column under the dash, one black single with an associated lead to plug in, and a yellow connector with several wires that look like they are there for an external diagnostic tool. Maybe one day I might find out what the Check Engine light is trying to tell me. Still runs OK though, except the recent valve lifter noise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 You could try freeing up the lifter with a thinner oil, like 5W-30 and new Subaru oil filter. I had one tick in similar Legacy three times in 70k miles. It might well cure itself. Don't graze your knuckles before you are sure it's really stuck. The work is pretty straight forward. Once you have the rocker off (three 10mm bolts) it'll all become clear. CEL wires are black and green. Check out www.surrealmirage.com for a full set of instructions. All four connecters will be up there somewhere. I had a hard time finding my black ones... The most likely CEL culprit, if all seems to run fine, is the "Canister purge solenoid". Just below the nearside intake manifold piping lives a little valve that is used to direct fumes from the fuel tank into the engine. This often sticks with age and triggers the CEL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted May 27, 2005 Author Share Posted May 27, 2005 Thanks for the reply! I now have the rocker assembly off and have found the offending lifter - free to depress unlike the remainder - so I guess the next step is to find out if the oil supply to that rocker is blocked, or if the lash adjuster needs replacing. Not an expensive bit - around $20 US (but £50 UK - $90!! Almost worth flying out to buy one) so can be easily replaced if necessary. Had a good look for the ECU diag leads - still not found! No sweat though; maybe I'll just have a look at that valve... Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted May 27, 2005 Author Share Posted May 27, 2005 Solved! The offending lifter came out of the rocker easily enough - using a knife edge to lever it out. All the oil channels/feeds were clear, in the shaft and rocker. The hydraulic lifter itself has a ball valve in the base, which admits oil. I probed this ball with the end of a paperclip, and initially it appeared very stuck - a little more pressure freed it up with a distinct 'click', although I had managed to dislodge it off-centre slightly; tapping the lifter sharply on a clean surface, oriented so the ball would shift into place, re-seated the ball OK. In order to minimise the time required for bleeding the lifter, I held the rocker with the hole for the lifter inverted and filled it with oil; with my thumb over the hole in the main rocker bearing surface to prevent oil escape, I pressed the lifter in and hopefully forced some oil into it. Bolted everything together again and everything is now nice and quiet - no tapping at all, and apparently no time required for bleeding the lifter as it was quiet straight from the start. I can only presume that the ball valve had become stuck by a build-up of varnish. Anyway, thanks for the advice, and general thanks for this forum - a great source of info which has saved me a lot of time and probably money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 Sorted, mate Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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