Interference engine, or not?

[Guest Biffbradford]

I bought a '92 Legacy L wagon this past weekend ($1,1000) and I would like to know if it has an interference engine or not.

 

The sticker on the hood says 2.2 L, so that would make it NOT interference, but it's a 16v ... does that make any difference?

 

VIN: 4s3bj6320n6909978

 

(Can someone decode the VIN for me? )

 

I was told that the car was traded into the dealer at 160k by a traveling nurse (I found this out after the sale), then driven to the current 205k miles by the seller who did not have the timing belts changed.

 

Should I plan on doing that this weekend?

 

The car runs GREAT, and I'd like to keep it that way.

 

THANKS !

 

John Wilke

Milwaukee

[Guest Legacy777]

2.2 engines are non-interference.

 

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get the belt done, but if it does break, it won't hurt the engine.

[Guest subyluvr2212]

The car will actually run a tad better with a new timing belt. The old one, at that age and mileage, has definitely stretched, if just a teeny bit. That will alter your timing slightly...

 

As for the VIN, you already know it's a 92 Legacy Wagon, so I don't need to decode that, the only other thing I can tell from it is that the 4S at the beginning means it was built in Subaru's Indiana plant, and not in Japan.