Subarule

How does one know if a head gasket is bad if looking to buy a 2001 Legacy GT?

That's what I've been hearing. I don't want to retrofit anything, want stock all the way.

The AC place I went to was going to use R12 in mine. I'm getting very confused. LOL I don't mind buying a new receiver/dryer. I want to get as close to stock and factory new condition as I can, but not pay more than the car is worth to do so. Do I need a receiver/dryer/accumulator or just the r/d? I already have brand new hoses (installed).

Just an FYI - I got a thermostat from this outfit last summer. Plus assorted other parts. They seem to be good. overnightautoparts Parts Ordered 1972 - 1989 Subaru GL Beck Arnley Thermostat Thermostat Price: $17.82 Qty: 1 Part #: 143-0686 I did hours and hours (and hours) of 'net research looking for parts & suppliers.

Wow, that's great offer. IM me and we'll discuss.

bump

I live in the Longview/Kelso area. I can drive to meet someone, say up to 75, maybe even 100 miles, one way.

Yes, I am interested. If I can get the parts that another forumite is pulling out of his turbo. Chehalis is pretty close to me. IM me your email address, if you wouldn't mind. Thanks.

Thank you for that offer. I'm definitely up for it but we live far apart. If I could get it w/out the transportation of the parts not costing a lot, I'll take it. Is the receiver/dryer included? Anyone with some ideas of how to get this stuff to me? Or close to me?

So I was told by the best vehicle AC specialists in town that my compressor is dead. I went to my own auto shop that I trust a lot and they said that the specialist is indeed the best and if they are telling me that then it's true. Plus that is where they take their own personal cars for AC work. Specialist wants around $1000 to replace. $78 an hr. labor + plus the compressor kit (compressor, receiver-drier, various parts) & freon. I don't have $1000 to spend on this car and even if I did, the car isn't worth much more than that, I imagine. I plan to keep the car forever, as my only vehicle. So do I just go on from here w/out AC or can someone help me out as far as getting the AC parts replaced, filled with freon and back to top performance again? There is zero freon in it right now, it was all drained out. I can pay but since I am retired & on Social Security it would not be near what the AC shop is asking. Can anyone in SW WA or the Portland OR area help me? Thank you

http://www.stockinteriors.com/headlinercarpetcolors.asp You buy it by the yard. You can have them send you carpet samples if you're not sure of the color. http://www.stockinteriors.com/headlinercarpetcolors.asp

I keep a bicycle pump in mine, just for emergency tire inflations, since I don't own a bicycle.

I never trust mechanic shops' 'conclusions' who don't work on old Subarus fairly often, especially when their bottom line is that it will take an expensive part to replace what's allegedly wrong. As for the compressor, I was running it regularly last summer (and every summer before) and everything seemed to be working OK except the cooled air through the vents was becoming less & less cool. Very typical of finally using up the supply of freon that came with the car when I bought it in '86. When they said the compressor is bad I thought "What the _%_*_#_@_?" :-\ I'll get a 2nd opinion from a shop I use all the time (the AC had been looked at by specialty shop, not my regular). When it comes to diagnosing cars my philosophy is to always start with the least expensive fixes and work up from there.

Thank you for that input. I was thinking I should (and will) get a 2nd opinion. I'm going to take it to the mechanic shop I've used for years and have them test it out. And since you are "an epa certified HVAC/R technician" would you mid coming here and installing two new window A/C units for me? I need to get them out of my car, they're taking up too much space.

Supposedly it was tested with one of those ampmeter thingies and found to be dead. I don't know. It was in an electrical shop that does everything to things that have engines. Very good rep here in town. There was no refrigerant left in the system (after 23 years I'd expect not) and they tested the compressor before adding R-12 and said it was dead. Looking at compressors online for my year & model/engine/blah-di-blah, there are 3 types that are always listed: 1 groove, 2 groove, and Sanden. I'm ASSuming that refers to the A/C pulley/belt tensioner or something like that???

I still have my originals on my '86 GL wagon. They have always been in the car, covered with rubber mats, so they still look new.

'86 GL wagon, 5-spd., 1.8, non-turbo, carbureted, base 5 engine, on-demand 4WD. Not modified in any way. Need to replace the compressor. Is the compressor for this year & model a 1-groove, 2-groove or Sanden type?

'86 4WD Loyale 5-spd. wagon Love my hill holder! My car spent it's first few years in Colorado so plenty of hilly streets & roads that it was very handy for. I have need for & use it occasionally now. Just had it adjusted a few months ago.

What about us girls?

OK, thanks Doug. Can't beat the price you posted either.

When I was under the car at McCormack Tire, I saw the sway bar. And that's not what I want. I want the straighter bar that sits near the sway bar. It sits more to the center of the car (but not much) and slightly behind the sway bar. They are not connected to each other in any way that I could see.

OK, good idea. I'll check with my auto shop and see if those were replaced when I got the front end done.

If that goes through the strut(s) then it's not what I need. What I'm looking for has nothing to do with the suspension.

I need to know the exact, industry-understood name for the part I'm seeking when I'm trying to find one to buy on the Internet. I have a whole new front end, everything replaced with new, except for these. It's not obvious to the naked eye that one of both need replacing. As far as I can tell, it takes a sophisticated alignment machine to figure out that one is bent just enough to prevent 100% true alignment.

I'm 65 year old woman, semi-disabled (bad back) and I don't work on cars. By the time I paid someone to do alll the labor - the pulling, pounding & replacing - I could have just bought a new one & had it put on. There are no wrecking yards w/in 45 miles of me that have older Subaru parts of any kind.