wavekayaker

Muskiefshr, did you ever do the tailhousing swap? Looking at the same thing with a VDC to non-vdc tail housing.

Thanks for the input guys! I picked up a lower mile used trans for a good price and used that instead. I've got it all back together and now it won't crank over. Started a new thread on that one. I should have stuck to the earlier Outbacks. This thing is a head scratcher.

hi guys, scratching head here. I picked up a project 2012 Outback 2.5 with a bad front diff. Drove it home and onto the work stands. I replaced the trans and TCU, had the engine out for timing belt, and seals. Got evrything all back together and it will not crank over. Battery is good, temp light is flashing blue to red, brake dash light is flashing, fuel light is flashing. I don't hear the fuel pump even trying to prime. Starter doesn't even click. I've checked and double checked to make sure everything is plugged in. Hooked up my cheap OBD2 reader and it goes blank trying to communicate with the car. I'm missing something, but have searched and can't find anything. Help!

I just picked up a 2012 Outback with the ej25 and auto CVT trans. The front diff is howling pretty bad and stops while coasting. I've searched but cannot find if you can split the front diff from the trans as a unit, or is it more involved than that? I was hoping the trans output shaft and diff input shaft aren't the same piece. Thanks for the help!

And answered my own question..... Found the washer that goes between the center diff and the output shaft in the drain pan. All back apart and ready for the second try. Oh well, glad I found the smoking gun!

I just replaced the center diff in my girlfriend's 2010 Forester with a 5MT. There were no strange noises before. I was very careful on tear down and reassembly to not mess with the outputshaft setup org to loose the washer on the output shaft. Everything went together great, but on the test drive, there is a loud whine on acceleration that gets louder white the RPMs. Looks like it has to come back apart, but any clues to what I'm looking for? Thanks!!

Good point GD. My thoughts were that after running it low on oil, there was probably more wrong than just rings. She ran it low a year or so ago, so probably would not see anything in the filter. Downtime is also a concern. The only thing I have done rings on was an old diesel dozer and I didn't want to spend the time and her money to figure out I didn't get it quite right. I might just go for it and see what happens

Got a little more of the story from the girlfriend this weekend. About a year ago she smelled a burned oil smell and took the car to the dealer where they told her it was very low on oil. After that the car started using more oil. Sounds like she might have messed up more than the rings. Looks like new short blocks can be had for $1700, so..... Probably going to have her get the new short block, gaskets, center diff, and timing set and I'll spend some quality time with her car while she drives my 99 Outback.... I needed a new clutch anyway . Thanks for all the input and advice guys!

Thanks guys! I wish we were closer to GD, would probably just drop it off for some love

The girlfriend has a 2010 Forester w/ 110000 miles. In the last year or so the car has started using oil (~ 1qt/ 1000 miles. I need to do a leak down test to get a good idea of where the oil is going ( none on the drive, no visible smoking). I changed the PCV valve and that helped a bit. The question is on these ej253s how common is it to just need rings without touching the cylinders? Car is also starting to have pretty bad torque bind (5mt trans). Pretty resigned to replacing the center diff at this point. . Seems every time we ale a trip we are in my 99 EJ 22 swapped Outback . Love that rig! Thanks for an input guys!

Great price! If it wasn't a sedan, I might have to race you to it

I was thinking of this today. Thanks for the pin out! Saves me a bunch of time!

I'm in Columbia , SC also... Have a few 30 year old Toyotas that have been here their whole life. Every almost every bolt can be unthreaded by hand after breaking it loose. Cars can last forever here.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/157228-cluster-problem-outback/ http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/156935-cluster-problem/ These are the other posts you have made about this same problem. Have you followed the advice in them? There is a lot of good info there.

If the cruise works, it's probably the cluster. If the new one was used it could also be bad. 99 is year specific and a lot had problems. If the cruise does not work it could be one of the transmission speed sensors. This is very well documented online. Google 1999 Legacy speedometer and you will get all kinds of info.