edrach

Next Brooklyn event is 7/29.

Another vote for Legacy. Easier to work on in all respects....timing belt is easier and changing a front axle is certainly easier. Handles much better too. Only downside is slightly poorer gas mileage.

It is a good price for the switch. The most probable cause is the switch; I wonder if the replacement comes with the 6" cable and connector to plug into the harness. The connector can also be the root of the intermittant problem and should also be replaced. It's usually pretty easy to spot a bad connector, the plastic around the bad connection gets hot and turns brown or black. A quick visual inspection could confirm that.

Benebob is right about a faulty battery causing alternator failure. An open circuit (internal or bad connectors) in the battery while the car is running can wipe a good alternator almost instantly. In any event go back to the rebuild shop and explain the situation. A quality shop will warrantee their work; they also have the ability to check your electrical system to make sure the alternator didn't fail due to external problems.

Your fiance is right, you'll figure it out. You didn't mention the other problems earlier, and you might be correct in letting it go. As to the electrical problem, the symptoms sound suspiciously like the ignition switch which is easily replaced along with the problem connector that has been known to cause similar symptoms. Taking care of that would go a long way toward allowing you to use the car until you find a suitable alternative. Good luck and hang in there.

Mike, here's the info you're looking for:http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10410&highlight=Cameron+weber

Don't get discouraged. Remember how old the car is and know that certain things are easily fixable. Bucky's symptoms are that the engine doesn't turn over: this could be a weak battery (or alternator not charging the battery fully), poor connection(s) at the battery terminals, a bad ground connection, a faulty ignition switch ($5 at my local Pull a Part yard and 30 minutes to install), and lastly, a faulty starter motor (or loose connection at the starter motor). None of these require a rocket scientist to diagnose nor a lot of money. Lean on your local support group to give you a hand if you need it....I'm sure they'd be glad to do it for a 6 pack or maybe a weekend BBQ. The most expensive item on the list would be the starter motor and it would be the last thing I checked. Good luck with it and don't give up; you don't impress me as the type that would.

This is my car for play as well as backup when my daily driver needs work. '94 Impreza 4 door with EJ18 and 5MT transmission. A few suspension mods but otherwise pretty stock. Pics are here:http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showgallery.php?cat=828

Mike, good to hear from you again. I can look inside the weber and see but I don't know for the life of me what's in there right now. If you can find some of Cameron's old posts on the weber this one was rebuilt/re-jetted by him a long time ago and I think I had to open up the air bleed jets to lean it out a bit when it was on my "hot" engine. I'll try to get you some info on it.

Thanks, I wasn't sure, but now I don't need to worry about it until 2008 and it passed today and it'll pass in 2008...Webers rule!

Fred, glad to see it's working for you. Sometimes the simplest solution are the answer. Your car's symptoms were classic and you had eliminated the other things first. Good job. PS: I ordered a radiator from Spalding today for my Impreza....brand new $83 plus tax and shipping. I'm so happy.

Failed miserably this year....450ppm HCs at cruise. Took it to the downtown emissions guru that I tell everyone else to use. He tweaked it down to where it should have passed and he offered to take it through for me. Since he had two cars waiting behind me I said I'd take it through...Big mistake. They make you get out and run it themselves and when it didn't finish right away, the guy just kept upping the rpm in 2nd. It failed with 172 ppm(limit 170:eek: ) Warren took it through without any changes and it passed. The secret, run it in third at lower rpm, not in second....it passed just fine, just cost me another $15 for the re- test since they only give you one free one. Only one more time and I'll be exempt; I can't wait!:-\

I would check Kelly Blue Book prices on both cars. I would suspect the turbo is overpriced for the year and condition. GT seems about right. Check KBB and make your own decision based on that. Also, I would spend $100 or so on whichever you decide and take it to another independent shop for a "pre-buy inspection."

Summer looks cool; glad you like the pugs.

You'll laugh, the first 3 out of 4 that I did were installed upside down! So much for a 50-50 chance of doing it wrong.

Olympus SP-500UZ. Currently on sale until Tuesday at Frye's for $249 plus tax with a "free" 512Mb memory card included. 6 megapixel and 10x optical zoom with 5x digital. Not small and a bit clunky, but I was looking for the features and not appearance. I also like it since you can download pics on your computer without installing any funky software; just plug it into a USB port and the camera acts like an external drive. Lastly, it doesn't wait 2 seconds after you press the shutter to actually take a picture like my old camera. If you have the Frye's flyer from last Friday, it's listed on the top left of the front page at $349 before savings of $100. Considering I paid $249 for my 2.0 Mp Olympus three years ago this is a pretty good deal. http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1189

Bench vise works just fine; I've done a half dozen. Pause a few seconds between each squeeze. Also, put the "grenade pin" in from the top (where the mounting holes are); it can't be removed if installed from below.

Point taken; but I still don't think the class structure is good for rallycross since it eliminates the low budget entry.

You posted some good times with that wagon; don't sell yourself short. Yes, it's down on power and that's what I have against the new SCCA classes for rallycross....they virtually eliminate the older, lower power vehicles which is sad. It's why I bought the Impreza; I was just getting tired of beating the crap out of my old Brat trying to stay competitive.

Here's some more pics of the Evans Creek weekend. Sorry, I didn't get more pics of the gnarly off road stuff but I didn't figure out how to use my new camera until Sunday and spent too much time holding on to take a chance taking photos from inside Zap's rig. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showgallery.php?cat=877

Some pics from Evans Creek weekend. Sorry, not enough of the gnarly off road stuff. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showgallery.php?cat=877

We didn't get there until late Saturday (around 5pm or so). But did get to see Turbone on the way out. Parked the RV in the main camping area and set out to find the designated camping area in my stock '91 Legacy. Found the camping area and I was glad that I didn't decide to bring the RV in that far. Nobody around but found a note by the campfire and left a reply that we were at the main camping area. Zap and Brian came in around 8pm and stayed the night there. Zap took me for a ride today in his rig and I was more than impressed; he does make it look easy, but I know how much skill is involved and how well prepared his truck is. I got some pics with my new camera and will post them as soon as I can.

Good shot of GLCraigGT in his power wagon. http://www.oregonrally.com/gallery/RallyCross_July2_2006/DSC_0047.html

Sounds right for the year if the condition is okay. As said before, check to see when the last time the timing belt was done. Also, it's important if it hasn't been done, to replace it as soon as possible since the '98 engine is interference type. If you wind up doing the timing belt consider replacing the water pump also since it won't last much past 125K (but that's about two more years of "average" usage) and it certainly won't last until the next timing belt change. Your Impreza should last well past150K miles without major problems. With good luck and proper care 200K to 300K is not unusual.

Some of these are really looking good! http://www.oregonrally.com/gallery/RallyCross_July2_2006/