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That sounds like a job for Next Weekend Man. Is it as complicated to remove as it looks at first glance, or is it just because there's a bunch of hoses and wires and stuff?

I just did a couple of squirts. It worried me a bit when the engine sputtered, so I stopped. Off I go...

I did take off that hose, and yes, the noise is still there. I used a mirror to take a picture down in there, does this look real gunky? I made a video so you can hear the noise. When I put the hose back on the noise is pointed right at the camera so it really sticks out. I took it on and off a couple of times so you can hear the difference. The noise I'm worried about is the consistent, unwavering harmonic sound. The chattering doesn't concern me much right now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY1JkbmUn0A

Well, when I plug it with my thumb (at idle, butterfly closed) the engine dies, so I'm guessing this is the idle air control hose. I'll try it out.

The noise is coming from this hose, which looks like it connects to the bottom of the throttle body. It's a weird harmoinic noise like something's vibrating or rubbing, the same sort of note you get when you rub a wet finger around a wine glass. I sprayed throttle body cleaner in there and scrubbed it out. That doesn't seem like it could be causing this, does it?

argh.... no didn't touch the rear one. Is it possible that a bad rear o2 sensor could cause lousy gas mileage?

This doesn't seem to be my day. After monkeying around with things for a few hours I decided to go run some errands. Now the engine produces this weird harmonic noise that sounds like low frequency feedback in a PA system. It's not the fans, I checked that. The noise is present as long as the engine is turning and stops when the engine stops moving. Here's what I did today: - Removed MAF housing from intake, sprayed it with MAF cleaner (didn't touch the sensor), and reinstalled it. - Removed intake air box, cleaned throttle body, replaced box. - Installed new horn. - Drilled a hole in a heat shield and inserted a sheet metal screw to keep it from rattling. (Something is still rattling, don't know if it's that one or not.) Any ideas? I don't think anything I did would cause this, but the noise wasn't present before. I don't like weird noises.

I meant that I visually inspected the knock sensor. On mine I couldh't even see it uness I stuck a wrench down there to push the hose and wires from another circuit to the side, I couldn't really get my hand down there either. I went to run some errands and got a CEL with a code (P0141) O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2). Cleared the code and it didn't come back. Sound like a bad O2 sensor, or maybe just coincidence since I was mucking around down there?

Found it just before you posted. Thanks though How the heck would you get that off? Do you have to remove the hose to the throttle body and mayb use a wobbler extension? I inspected it visually and it looks good. I suppose I could replace it and see if that helps, but I hate just swapping parts to see what works. Do these things have life expectancies? I aw that the o2 sensor should be replaced every 100,000 miles, is it similar for the knock sensor? Or do you just wait for them to go bad?

I figured that I was working on the car today anyway, I might as well get one and do it while I'm dirty. Besides, Subaru doesn't make the part, they buy it from Bosch or someone else, so I'd rather save some $$ and go direct to the source if I can. But moving on from that, where's the knock sensor? Chiltons says very vaguely it's on the top left of the cylinder block. I didn't see much there except the injectors, plugs, and intake manifold.

Who makes the OEM sensors? My local parts place carries the Bosch 02 sensor, and if I'm gonna take it off to inspect it I might as well replace it since I'm coming up on its replacement interval anyway. I used CRC's MAF cleaner on the MAF and their throttle body cleaner on the throttle body. Pretty ingenious of me, huh?

So what's your total ground clearance now? That looks pretty cool. Too bad the wheel wells aren't bigger so you can fit some really big tires in it.

Perfect! Won't worry about. Thanks

Donkeywongle is as technical of a term as I could think of. What are these, and what do they do? My '95 didn't have them. And what does this big plastic box do except look like it's probably expensive if you drop your 5 lb mallet on it and crack it?

When cleaning the throttle body I noticed that this hose was all cracked up. It's soft foam, not a traditional hose, so I'm wondering what it is and if I need to worry about it? '98 Impreza L 2.2L As always, thanks for helping out a newbie!

Is this it?

Lewis, thanks for the lead. I'm on my way out to look at it now. Believe me, I know it! I used to work for the company that acquired Chilton. You know how they get most of their procedures? They give two guys a car and tell them to have at it. One does most of the note taking, picture taking, and writing, and the other one does most of the work. No real error checking, fact checking, or double checking to make sure they aren't screwing anything up. Haynes is about the same and there is some top secret arrangement between the two that only the FBI knows the real details of. I suspect J. Edgar Hoover had a secret VP position at both of them.

Cleaned the MAF and the throttle body. The throttle body was really pretty clean but I scrubbed it with a soft toothbrush anyway. I don't know how to tell if the MAF is dirty, but I squirted it pretty good with the MAF cleaner. Couldn't figure out where the main 02 sensor was. I guess I was looking for a big yellow highway sign saying "O2 sensor here!-->" I think I found the 2nd one when I was underneath the other day. Can anyone point me in the right direction for that 02 sensor?

I think $2500 is a steal, $3000 is fair, and I wouldn't pay over $3500. I'd only pay that much if it were the only game in town.

That's pretty danged good price if it's a quality product! The OEM flywheel from Jason was in the neighborhood of $250, and the local NAPA supplier was $180.

That is awesome! You're my new hero.

The main one on a 98 Impreza 2.2L. The chilton's book is no help at all, and the CD I ordered hasn't arrived yet :-\ Thanks!

Sealant on the bolt itself? Are you sure it's not just blue locktite to keep it from loosening?

How much are they asking? A car like that up here in Albany would probably be tagged for about $4k and sell for $3k - $3500.

Hey, buddy! Good to hear from another local too. I envy and admire you going after the clutch job on your own. If I had a helper (and another car to drive and all the tools) while I did this I would have tried it in a second, but I'm a little short on all those things. I've had good luck with the Midas near Westgate too, but they're a little expensive as well. The only down side with Di Carlo's is that I probably won't be working in Schenectady much longer, so they're WAY out of the way. If I'm available when you try your clutch job and want an extra pair of hands, I'm happy to come help.