edrach

I'm no expert, but if Subaru is happy with the smaller filter in their WRX and STi screamers, I'm certainly happy with the smaller flter on my EJ22 Impreza. I change my oil and filter every 2500 miles. Sounds like I should skip changing the filter every other oil change.

Useful link for OEM alternator part numbers in the USRM. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=104949

If that's the case, adjustment is too tight. Loosen it up a tad.

Glad you got back in one piece. I hate think about getting stuck out there overnight. Friggin cold. Nice you came out and were able to pick up their distress call. I wonder if that was why we saw so many emergency vehicles coming up the road as we were going home. At the time I thought it was a pretty major response for the family that had put it in the ditch on the hairpin turn.

Let me think about that. PAP is hard to get into now during the week (early closing at 5PM) and I value my weekends (especially this month). Also, my success at testing them has disappeared since my "contact" at the autoparts store left.

Nice pics. You had more than I. I can't post them; too much trouble re-size them and I don't have a posting 'site. I like picasweb; first 'site that was intuitive enough for me to look at them without needing directions. One of these days, I'll have to set one up.

Were you talking about the cars spinning donuts in the field; or the Krispy Kreme donuts? There were some of the KK stuff left over. If you missed them, you weren't paying attention.

Many years of alternators are mechanically inter-changeable, but the cable that plugs in may be different (round plug on the older cars, square plug on the newer one). Also, the output is usually higher on the newer cars. Check the alternator part number chart posted in the USRM to see which types were OEM on the vehicle.

Most often, as GD says, they don't fail but are mis-adjusted so they appear not to work. Too loose and they don't hold; too tight and you don't disengage the brake as you let out the clutch. Here's a tip on adjusting it: Tighten the cable until you can just squeeze a dime between two turns of the coil spring. Use the dime like you would a feeler guage. You might have to tweak it just a hair from that, but generally that works just perfectly for me. 2nd tip: Make sure your clutch cable is properly adjusted FIRST. Also make sure you test it on a hill not on a level street.

Those of us who were there (looked like about 40 cars but I didn't actually count them) had a good time. Thin layer of snow on the road on FR70 on the way in; was icey and more treacherous on the way out. We came upon a half-rolled large truck (hard to tell from the underside) at the imfamous hairpin turn. We pulled over to assist just as another car was coming up the hill stopped to assist. JRach and another person held the passenger door open, while the passenger and a 6 year old climbed out; and then a very embarassed driver. Thankfully no one hurt. It's going to be tricky to right the truck and pull him out of the ditch. I was too busy trying to be useful to grab the camera and take some pictures. We saw a number of aid/forest service cars heading up while we continued down. The day was bitter cold as reported and qman had to nail down the canopy to keep it from blowing away. Lots of firewood and the fire was a popular congregating location. Hot dogs were plentiful and thanks to Debbie for all the hard work cooking them. Hot chocolate and hot cider were more welcome than the cold, bottled iced tea I schlepped along. Thanks also to the guy from Vancouver who brought the apple and apple/cherry cobbler; it was delicious. More cars came up to play in the snow than previous years, but the hardy ones among us did get their trees off the mountain. We shared our staging area with some jeeps and other 4WD trucks; but we outnumbered them all. The two jeeps were amazing; I have to give them that.

Impreza is packed and ready to go. I'll be picking up the kid and his gf bright and early in the morning. It will be cold, but we'll survive.

I second that all this will tell you is that it's electrical; no spark could be either bad ignitor or bad coil.

I can only vouch for the Hitachi ignitor. It is available from Subaru, Schucks, NAPA, and most other aftermarket houses. Cheapest is to find one at Pull a Part. I used to collect them when I had mostly EA81 cars in my lot. I kept one tested spare in each of my cars then. Be sitting when you hear the price; it can run from $90 to $200 (I bought the $90 version with the shortest warrantee, but it never failed). Pull a Part ignitors are less than $5.

Save yourself the trouble; with a flashlight even an old fart like me can read the code on the lock.

I'm with you on that, Mick. I had a spare ignitor in the glove box of every EA81 we owned in the past. I still have them in the Brats. Classic symptom if it's not the fuel filter on the fuel pump.

I'm with rooster2 on checking to see if anything is binding up the blower. I lived in a rural area a few years ago and had trouble with the blower not working in any speed setting on our Brat. Pulling the blower assembly, I found that a mouse had built its nest in the fan portion; cleaned out the nest, and everything was just fine.

Did you just put it in 4WD and now it won't come out? Or have you done some recent work on it? I had my '86 wagon stuck in 4WD and found the way to get it out, was to let if drive backwards for about 20 yards (in gear), then depress the clutch and pop the lever back into 2WD.

The only keyless entry systems I know of come with an after-market alarm system. The system and the installation is not cheap. We had our Impreza done after it was stolen (yea, I know too late) for a total cost of around $350. That was 4 years ago and we've never had any trouble with it. It's a Clifford system installed by Magnolia Hi-Fi(which is pretty much out of business now). You might try pricing a system at Car Toys. Now might be a good time to buy; after Christmas might be better since business might be a bit slow in January.

The key to this (pun intended) is to have a master key made from the numbers. Usually, the original key wears more than the tumbler set. Once you have a master key made from the numbers, check it to make sure it works in all the locks including the ignition; then use it to make duplicates. Duplicates made from a working master should also work fine. Any decent locksmith will charge $2 to $8 to make a key from a working master. Before you have duplicates made, verify that they will work; if the locksmith won't guarantee his work, find another locksmith who will.

I've seen the car run and it's a screamer. Best off the line launch I've seen. This would be a great deal for someone. I'd love to buy this but just don't have the bread.

The code is on the passenger side lock tumbler. Just remove the upper door card and with a flashlight and inspection mirror you can read the code (something like W833). No need to take out the tumbler.

Check out www.books4cars.com for a hard copy FSM. They usually have everything. I have a set for the '97 Impreza (Vol. 5, 6, and 7) for $90 (plus shipping). You can match it up with the one '98 volume that books4cars have to get most everything you need.

I agree that the ignition module is likely toast. Hopefully, you have the Hitachi distributor where the ig module is relatively easy to replace. If you have a wrecking yard nearby you can pull just the module and know how to re-install it in your car.

Google Joe Spitz at Carter Subaru, Lynnwood, WA. He has that type of stuff on his website.

You're only a short drive to the Seattle area. I can think of four shops down here that I'd trust to do the work required. Figure $1500US give or take $500 depending on what they find.