sanec7

thanks for this detailed reply. we're having a lot of rain right now, so it will take me time to get to all this. we just got all our yardwork cleaned up from last fall, so now all we have is regular mowings, so i can look into other projects. i recently solved the horn not working on my 1987 toyota pickup--one of the relays near the battery was pinched and shorting the battery; also the horn plate ring was not connecting to the lead that plugged into it from the steering wheel, but it was just the right day to solve that problem. being on disability with a wife on disability, i have to work on things when i can. any how thanks again!

thanks, i'll definetly look into this in the next few days--we've got a lot of rain coming and we don't HAVE to use the subaru, but many others are saying "start here" and then move on to valve seals, head gaskets , etc. i really appreciate all this independent advice, not being able to just throw a whole bunch of $$$ at it & then that might not even work.

we've hardly used the car in the less than two months we've had it. never over 40 miles one way and hardly ever that (to chillicothe VA). and i drive slow & gentle. the white smoke has been seen just since we put an extra load/ push on it.

you'll have to give me a few days to check these things out. but thanks for replying & i'll try to let you know what i find.

thanks for all the advice on PCV valve, but it's not the problem. the spark plug wires were all dried up around the plugs--i don't think the 90 year old lady who had this for almost 35,000 miles did much in the way of maintainence--supposedly she just drove it up & down the hill to the mail box. they had to take the battery out & tell her the vehilce was unfixable because she was driving down a busy 4 lane the wrong way. under the hood & all over it looks pretty original except it has a burning oil smell AND now the white smoke when we tried to drive a steady 55mph for about 20 miles. a few days before that with my wife, her older sister & myself (total around 650 lbs.) it just didn't like it and was getting very hot (temp. guage) and blew a little white smoke for a few hundred feet. (on a 21 mile trip).

have recently put new PCV valve in. hoses looked clean. lots of oil/greasy around valve cover gaskets(have new ones to put in) and around oil pan. i already got the clue about the clogged PCV valve from Ultimate Subaru Nation a few weeks ago. it's a good running, sharp looking wagon, but we had a head gasket & head go out a few years ago on 1986 pontiac sunbird that we had invested a lot 0f $$$ in, and i'm kind a very wary this time.

may5th (friday) was the only time it really smoked & then i slowed down to 45mph & it stopped & we nursed it back home from the VA in chillicothe--took flatter roads--we made it but i'm probably not ever taking it except in town--less than i mile or so--for short trips. we can send pictures--what's it worth??--would take an an automatic trans, carbureted "beater" in exchange doesn't have to be Subaru--just not Ford--something with no major mechanical defects.the '85 GL wagon's VIN# is JF2AN53B7FF432432 manufactured 12/84. it's metallic black/ dark grey. hood and roof need paint attention. little rust. nice white repainted wheel rims. can send pictures. manual windows door locks/ manual steering/ starts right up all the time.

hey you all, i'm new to this site--at least for posting. we traded our mercury tracer even-even for this wagon- a 1985 GL 4WD automatic with a little over 68000 original miles--not quite two months ago. anyhow we are not heavy users--most of the time i drive UNDER the speed limit. anyhow the vehicle has only had two local owners since it was made. i have the original dealer prep papers, key ring, etc. anyhow it's never had much power and a fair oil-burning smell. i've put new spark plugs, wires, cap & rotor, new PCV valve, new air filter. it's got four mismatched P185/80R13 tires with very good tread, the original donut (dif. size-never been used). radio, with cassette. fairly good interior, hatchback, carbureted, EA82 engine (a local dealer service manager said it probably needs a complete rebuild on the engine to stop oil burning--"these engines were noted for that"). i've never rebuilt an engine, altho i'd like to try. but on our fixed income, it seems it would be prohibative. anyway to rescue the head gasket without a rebuild? or anybody interested in a project--i can't drive it far, unless somebody knows a temporary fix. email: polackhlbly@yahoo.com phone: (740) 384-1840