NocturneVoyager

A couple of the lights on the dash for the instrument cluster are fading out, and I had given thought to replacing them to keep my dash well lit. Is it a real pain in the pa-tootie to replace those, or is it a pretty simple job? This is on a 1986 XT GL, as reference.

I can't believe it took me five years to replace my wiper blade, and in the end, if I would have looked at the mounting for it closer, I probably could have fixed it a lot sooner. I was concentrating at the point where the blade sits on the pivot, and it looks like it's pop-riveted together. Well, come to find out, that's not where you take it off - it's the two screws on the arm that hold the whole thing on. Tricky part? Where to find a replacement bayonet-style blade replacement. Turns out in this neck of the woods, there is only one place - the Subaru parts place, and it still had to be ordered in, but.........$24.95 later, and I at last have a brand-spanking-new wiper blade to wipe the rain away while driving in the rain! The old one still worked - just nowhere near as well. Glad the search is over. Like I said........a SMALL victory.......but one nonetheless.

I guess I'm already one jump ahead, because the radio in mine is after-market and is not put into a bracket (yes I know I need to find one), so it just slides out. So there is just a cavity behind it, but removing a center console.......uhhhh.....that may take some time for me to do. I'll just wait to get the dash reupholstered first before I tackle that step. I appreciate the info though!

I read on another thread that if you want to replace the bezel on an XT, you have to get the radio out, then you can get the bezel out, but not sure how it comes off on the other side. I'm planning on having my upper dash pad reupholstered and then I have a brand new bezel to replace it with, but just not sure how they go on and I don't want to screw it up, because they take a while to come in by mail and I don't have $70 to throw away every day on one so I want to do it right. Any tips are highly appreciated! :-)

Problem is no one around here has seats from any XT model - hence my dilemma.

I'm in a bit of bad shape...... My XT was rear-ended the other week, and the one thing that makes it to where I can't drive it is that the front driver's seat is now bent all the way back to where it won't sit upright locked anymore. I called the salvage yards here in Billings, and no one has anything of that vintage. Is there anyone anywhere near Billings, MT who has a driver's seat they are looking to sell? Please let me know. My little wedge and I will thank you greatly.

I've noticed an odd quirk in my XT when going on the highway - above 45, and the speedometer sometimes sticks up there until I slow back down, then it gets a clue an drops. Would that be the speedometer itself, the cable, or a combo of both?

One thing I've noticed on my recent roadtrip is that when I get above 65, the temp runs on the higher side of normal and stays there. It doesn't overheat into the "hot" zone, but it got scarily close. Is this a stuck thermostat or something else I should be looking into? This is on my '86 Xt - 1.8 engine

I had a feeling it would be fragile, so I already have a replacement for it. I'm thinking I might wait until I can replace the main dash piece first though since there's a HUGE sun-crack on the top. I know I need a stereo bracket too, so once all the parts are lined up, then I can just do the whole thing. Thanks for the tips on how to get to the screws though. Aside from the dash looking a bit beat, it's in surprisingly good shape for the year. Then again, maybe I shouldn't be surprised, knowing the number of good finds people seem to happen upon here.

Sometimes I think these were designed a little TOO cleanly if you know what I mean. I'm trying to figure out how the front plastic piece comes off from the dash so I can replace it, but there appear to be no screw covers or clips holding it in place. Is there another secret place I should be looking to allow this to pop off?

Nice find! I don't think $1000 is too much to pay for someting in fine shape. Newer cars seem to be more thinly made than some of the older (even 80's) cars. I paid $1300 for my 86 XT and I feel I'm getting my money's worth. They're great little pod cars (escape pod! ) and as long as you don't abuse the temp, you should have no problems.

158K and she still looks that good? Nice find indeed! I can see ya burnin' around the area in no time with that wedge!

Stronger than BONDO!

Rhino-lined.....on the OUTSIDE? That's a new use for that stuff. I would think it would reinforce the body some. Heck yeah.....would be nice for off-roading.

It's ALIVE! ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! Oh that was awesome! Almost brought a tear to me eye. Congrats on your success after so many trials!

Don't forget to spin the muffler bearings and check the blinker fluid! EDIT: Oh yeah...you did spin those bearings..........

So only a dealer T-stat? Stant ones are crud or what? Is the price difference that much?

I think that may be the problem with my XT as well, so it's off to get a radiator and thermostat for it. I just hope that solves the issue.

Looks like it's in FINE shape from here. Good luck with it!

I too like the clean and simple lines of that Brat - almost Tonka-esque in appearance. VERY sharp! Love it!

FlyBOy.....you weren't in Billings shopping at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago, were you? I saw someone who also had a nice white XT in the parking lot - well, I only saw the car, but not the owner.

How did you run the wire for the front speakers, so they don't show?

Mine runs pretty warm (not overheating) after a while, so I'm gonna try 2 things that have been suggested here before. Check the aux fan and thermostat to see if either one is bad.

I'm not too worried about breaking the piece, as I have a replacement I'm planning on putting in (the current one is cracked/broken anyway). I'll check around for those screws you mentioned, since they're probably pretty-well camouflaged. I guess when those engineers were working on making everything aesthetically tight, they forgot "easy access".

Since it's the consensus here and from others that it might be the heat shield, I'll have that checked first. Geez....I'm such a n00b when it comes to Soobs.....time to get that manual. LOL Thanks for the help!