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Anybody tried the CVT AT in the new Outbacks? Is it as sluggish as the ones that they used so far? -Michael, 02' Legacy GT wagon 134Kmiles... with the "Are You sure, you want to shift?" Autobox..

Yes, only SUbaru parts on this car, only serviced by the dealer, or myself. Except one time when it got an aftermarket brake pads, but that's another story... IIRC The previous set (also Subaru OEM) was replaced because it would not start at all on one rainy night. Opening the hood it was throwing very nice light show... Didn't see it this time, but it would be really hard to see it unless it's dark. That time WD-40 was the rescue... Didn't think of it tis time, though... Probably because it happens in the morning..:-(.? -Michael

The wires are not original, they are about 2 years old if my records are correct.... I was surprised they did not chenge the wires too...

What about Automatic trans with the Diesel? Is it as sluggish as with the gas engines? Or they don't get it over there?

The above developed a bad habit lately, perhaps related to the real winter that we are having this year. Happend for the third time this morning already in the course of last week. It is not driven every day. If it was sitting idle previous day, the next morning it starts really rough idling, and shaking, as if running on less than 4 cyl. Applying throttle smoothes it a bit, but not much, trying to drive, it gets close to stalling, sometimes does stall. Have to keep foot on the accelerator to keep engine running when in gear with brakes applied, or switching between D and R. Check Engine Light come up blinking, and then becomes steady on. Codes from OBD-II - Misfire in Cyl. 2 and cyl.1, Cat function below threshold. I don't think it has anything to do with the cat, I guess it's a side effect of the misfiring cylinders. Once it warms up, it runs nice and smooth again... The gas tank is almost empty this morning, but I am not sure it's relevant. New spark plugs were put by the dealer yesterday... But not wires. It looks like something in the ignition or in the engine management goes crazy at cold starts. What would be the culprit? Spark plug wires? Ignition coil module? If it is ignition coil module - how difficult is it to replace, does it have to be done, and may be programmed by the dealer, or is it just bolt-on and plug? Temperature sensor(s)? Where is/are it/they located? Oxygen sensors? - Which one? Thanks for the advice, -Michael, NJ 02' Legacy GT 134K I guess it's something related

Will do, just have to dig out of snow first.... -Michael

This might actually be a good call, as the screeching sound started appearing also when the car is warm, and when the engine revs change - e.g. when taking off and braking, not just when steering. But it does go away after driving few miles and engine warming up. It had the headgaskets replaced last April, ca. 12Kmiles ago, with the rest of the "works" - timing belt, driving belts, seals, alternator,etc... How do I check the pulley? What is "tight" enough. It does not look like wobbling, the driving belt tension seems fine, I did not look at the timing belt. Thanks, -Michael

Yes, I am the original owner of the car. The dye was added about 4 years ago when the AC was diagnosed to be low on refrigerant and refilled. That dye on the compressor has been accumulating over all that time... May be it was getting more of it lately. But yes it's a good idea, thanks, I'll try to clean it and see.

02' Legacy GT Wagon. Drive belt(s) are making screeching noise. It is correlated with the steering, so I guess the offending one is the one that drives alternator and power steering pump. Was at the dealer today, they did replace the belts at my request, but they also provided the following theory, that I am not sure I can believe: "Your AC compressor is leaking oil, and that oil is making belts noisy, so the new belts may also be noisy again..., and you are going to need a new compressor soon...". At some point dye was added to the AC system, and there is indeed plenty of it around the compressor, although AC runs fine. So I am wondering, if compressor is leaking oil, wouldn't it be also leaking refrigerant? Is it compressor leaking, or is it a fitting on it? Even if this is true, does it mean that I am looking at investing a new compressor really soon, or is it going to be just a gasket on the fitting? -Michael, 02' Legacy GT, wagon 134K

Well, it does correlate with cold mornings.. What's Perrin crank pulley? This summer when the dealer did a headgasket job, I thought they'd replaced the belts also.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Are these two belts the same length and type? Can they be interchanged?

Are the two belts - the one that drives AC and the one that drives PS pump the same?

Squeaky sound from under the hood in the mornings, and mornings only. no cat, squirrel, or chipmunk jumping out... Rather, It seems to be the PS belt because when steering first time out of the driveway is when the screeching is the loudest. Goes away after warm up. Yet to accurately measure the belt tension, but quick look didn't see anything too loose there. Is it just a belt, or is PS pump going to die on me? Is there a simple remedy to the noise? Soap on the belt? Any hints on belt replacement job? Is belt expensive? I tried to search on-line, but only found an AC/alternator belt, which was about $12. Thanks, -Michael

How do I pull the headliner? Do the drains run down to the rear or front wheels? Both left and right? Sorry, for simple questions - had no experinece with the interior, -Michael

After strong rains, or snow melts, i notice the watter dripping from the map lights, and way in the back in the cargo area. I did not see any obvious leak sources in the roof, the rack attachment points seem solid and tight, so I guess it comes around the sunroofs. Is it because of clogged the sunroof drain(s)? Where are they? How can I clean them? Thanks for the advice, -Michael

No, mostly commuting west against traffic, and ski trips up North... highway 80-90%. Yes, it started getting rusty lately, and these AT lines just ticked me off. Got to drive the 09' OBW - the most basic version. It has drum brakes, can you believe that...? Otherwise - nice car, although this new AT is even slower, than the one I have now...

Thanks for the encouragement. It was leaking oil at 80K, may be you are right actually, it was few years ago, they may have replaced just the seals then, not the whole pump. I'd have to check my records, but that was mostly labor. And yes, they did replace the TB then. I'll probably keep it, not sure what can I get for it as a trade-in... It may well be better to just keep it and run for a while. How do I get to the sunroof drains? -Michael

My 02' GT started disintegrating, it only has 125Kmiles on it. had to replace oil pump at 80K, Had to replace headgaskets only a month ago, and now transmission is acting up, dealer claims, that all AT fluid lines are rotten, and need complete replacement. Exhaust is rusty, but still OK, .... It started showing rust, and the dual sunroof seems to have a small leak... I like the car, and was hoping to keep it for few more years to get it up ti about 200Kmiles, but wonder if it is possible? What are the next repairs down the line? AWD system? CV joints? ...? What is the most miles on 02' Legacys, or its closest cousins (OBW) that people on this list have? I am wondering whether to keep mine, or start shopping for the newer ones? Coming from the old VOlvos - I am disappointed... Thanks for your inputs, -Michael 02' Legacy GT wagon - 125Kmiles 90' Volvo 740 GLE 201Kmiles 98' Volvo S90 113Kmiles...

Thanks for the advice, it worked out fine. Pushed hose with the dull side of the flat screwdriver off the filter connects, took some effort and twisting, but wasn't that bad. Car was sitting for a couple of days, very little pressure, if any at all, got about a glass of very dirty gas out of the filter. Got the new one connected in in a jiffy with just a little smear of WD-40.

I apologize if my questions seem trivial to most people, but I've never done it before, so any helpful advice from experienced would be greatly appreciated: 1) How to relieve fuel pressure? Where is the fuel pump relay? A manual I have points somewhere under the dash on the driver side. I glanced there from underneath - there are many different relay-looking thingys - which one is the fuel pump relay look? Is it marked in any way? Is there any other way to power the pump down? Any fuses in the more accessible locations. 2) Even if I do not relieve the pressure, it will probably not spill more than can be captured by a paper towel, or an old shirt, right? 3) If the system is under pressure - does it matter which side to disconnect first? In- or out- coming? 4) I just tried to disconnect it, I have released the clamp, but the hose would not budge out of the filter. Any tricks there, how to make it slide off? Or should I just pull it stronger? 5) When putting a new filter - any trick to make the rubber hose go easier on the filter connector? Grease it? Thanks, -Michael

Well doing 80 ft-lb you are definitely overtorquing them by more than 10ft-lb, if one should believe the 65ft-lb value from the manual... I have no air tools, :-( just a good old trusty $25 torque wrench from Sears. I have the fancy alloy wheels, that came with the car from the factory, perharps steelies are more forgiving? -Michael

I found pages from the factory manual, that I've downloaded from Subaru long ago, - it says 65 ft.-lb for both steel and alloy wheels. -Michael

I tried to search the forum, but di not find the answer - what is the torque spec for the lugnuts on the front and rear wheels for the above? Thanks, -Michael

happened already few times - after sitting in the rainy humid weather for a few days, it refuses to start, or starts very rough, stuttering, and shutting down. It is possible to get it going after few attempts to start, it feels like it purges itself, and everything is back to normal. It also starts fine if it is let to sit in the sunny dry weather for a day or two after the rains. I suspect - something is sucking moisture in, and then everythin gis fine, when it is dried out. What could it be besides the spark plug wires? Ignition coil? Any other ignition components? Some other electric pieces? -Michael 02' Legacy GT wagon - 120K

Auto. Does it make a difference for AWD? Does manual not care about the tire size differences?