john in KY

Any chance this model has that roll-over kill switch that kills the fuel pump?

The coil bracket has to be grounded. Remove/clean/replace and see if that solves the problem.

Never change just one spring.

Just a wag but does kerosine contain lead? May have a damaged/clogged cat convertor.

yes.

Fairly sure CV axles from a 1st ben FWD Impreza are the way to go.

If all 4 corners are down, fair chance the compressor is worn out. Not too difficult to inflate the struts individually if you understand how that solenoid works for each strut. Use compressed air, inflate and watch to see if the strut stays inflated. Very rare, almost unheard of for all 4 struts to leak down. Standard AWD Legacy struts are a direct swap but the air suspension is very nice when it works.

Custom, read expensive, struts and springs always works. Owner in Canada recently lowered the front by heating the coil springs. He reported he is happy with the results.

When I hear shaking engine I think misfires.

That module uses the coil bracket for its ground. Won't work if not grounded. Make sure the bracket has a ground before replacing that part which is actually part of the coil bracket. Finding a used one should be ultra easy as that part just never fails. Also check for a broken timing belt.

I don't believe what you overheard. Crate engines eg can sit for years without coolant before being sold.

Is the oil pan dented?

OK, now I understand. Don't know about your locale but around here Subaru differentials are a dime a dozen.

Just curious. You found chunks of metal but no mention of leaking differential fluid. Wondering how the chunks, if they originated from inside the differential, ended up outside the case without cracking the case.

Almost sounds like a FPR problem. Pull the vacuum line and check for fuel.

My 08 takes 6 quarts. I use the synthetic stuff.

May want to contact this person: edian727. He just posted about an 89 XT in his local pull-a-part yard. The EA82 series used 3 revised cylinder heads. You currently have the worst of the 3. Subaru reworked the heads because of the cracking problem. See if the above person is willing to pull the 89 XT cylinder heads, the best version. If the block you now have has been rebuilt, you could always run double head gaskets. All kinds of folks will probably yell "are you crazy?" We'll, back in the early 1970s I ran double head gaskets on a 430HP 427 Chevy, the L88, to lower the stock 12.5:1 compression. Never had a failure. "so there's a 89 xt in the north spokane pull and save. it's a ea82 and auto, but my engine wiring is fine, its just headlights and the fog lights, and probably the power steering but im going to ignore that for now. it seems if i pull out the engine stuff i could replace the dash and headlight/fog light harness with the one out of the 4-cyl xt. I looked at the fsm and it seems possible but a big pain to do. what do you guys think? any experience with this? also the trip comp is gone from my car so no worries there."

I'd focus on the no-spark problem first and then the fuel pump. Pull the distributor cap and see if the rotor turns when the engine is cranked. Also check the rotor isn't spinning free on the shaft.

I think the problem is in the instrument cluster. Leave the cable attached to the instrument panel, use a drill the spin the other end of the cable and note if the speedometer moves.

Yeah, just swap the entire steering column. Thinking a total of 3 bolts. Plus I'll wager another complete steering column will cost less than a new ignition switch. Or just buy a used switch. thinking the switch has 2 headless bolts that have to come out. Cut a rough slot in them and they'll just screw out.

The point made about the radiator is valid. I won't trust the radiator now in the car and would just replace it with a new one. Far as I know, no other radiator is a direct bolt in.

I'd buy it having owned 2 turbo wagons. Lots of folks slam them but have never owned one. The 88 will have the 4EAT transmission, not the 3-speed. Foolish to swap it out for a manual. Edit: My 90 turbo wagon ran 12 lbs of boost for over 100K miles. Sold it around 250K miles and it was still running strong enough the new owner was able to rip the front differential out of it doing burn outs.

Rod and crankshaft bearings are now history. Engine is junk. Sorry.

I would just visit a local wrecking yard with a few Subarus and see with my own eyes how whatever is plugged in.

Several years ago some builder in Canada spent a ton of money on modifying I think a 4-door RX. Recall it was white in color and basically all STi under the sheet metal. Need to find that thread.