rweddy

A while back someone posted that they do window tinting on the side for cash? Still around?

This is the same reason subaru used to have the spare tires under the hood!

Nope, besides the occasional HG issue these cars are Rock solid.

All of them. 96-99 are phase I they leak internally, 00-04 Phase II these leak externally. This really is a hit or miss type thing. My freinds 98 has 160k no hg issues, my father in laws 03 blew at 35k. Cost for repair is around 2k, so just be aware of the issue incase your blow but I belive it is something around 20% failure rate.

What shop is this? My co-worker blew his 2.5 ( oil leak issue, then ran it dry) and S-Wings put in a ccr motor and including labor it only cost him 2500.

The reason you do not want a jiffy lube or cheap place to do it is they use cheap machines that push way to much pressure through your tranny and can damage it. I rear shop uses the cars own tranny pump to flush it. I would never let the morons at jiffy lube even check my spare tires air pressure, let alone change oil or flush a tranny!!

I have owned very few auto tranny subarus. What is the best way to flush the tranny of my brothers roo? Is it best to drain and add, then repeat? Or is there another(better) way?

I agree, this seems pretty excessive to me. My 91 with 150k looses,burns none between changes.

Look at this post

Because Chilton and Hayes manuals are crap. Get a factory service manual on ebay, they cover everything.

Get a dead blow hammer and whack it on either side back and forth. This will lossen it up.

Great, this is a pretty strait forward fix.

You are correct, Audis have issue. Subaru’s are perfect, there are no HG issues, torque bind, wheel bearings failures, etc. Just wait until you 96 airbags blow up on you like mine and many others have for no reason. I am not saying they are perfect cars but are they crap as you have stated? No, is consumer reports a survey only based company with little or no scientific basis on their reviews? Yes How many Subaru’s have you owned? This is my 11th, starting with a 76 4x4 wagon. Don’t get me wrong I love these cars but I am not drinking the cool-aid either. Every make and model of vehicle have issues and quirks, some more than others.

My Jetta diesle has had 0 issues, and several of my friends have driven them to 150k with nothing more than tires and brakes. Not to mention 50+ mpg. To prove they are solid check this car Don't get me wrong I love subarus, I am on number 11, but VW/Audi are very well built cars. They are way more solid than Subaru, but they are more expensive to buy and parts are more.

SIA?

Actually the 5spd are much harder to find, I have been looking for another one after I sold my other ls 5spd about 3 years ago.

Sounds like you love the 03 models!! Also be sure you have a warranty on the HG my fathers blew on his 03 at 34k.

Yes 95 still had the hill holder.

As I recall that is about right, my 96 Legacy Outback was about there. My current LS wagon is about 500 rpm lower than the outback was. So at 60 I am at 2300 rpms.

No you cannot unless the car has been modified from its stock form.

Stick with a normal 2.2, you have the best combo of engine and tranny ever offered in an outback. Putting in an ej22t would cost lots and you would have to convert from your obdII to an obdI, this would be a huge job.

If you use the starter method (have done this many times) just be sure you have a good breaker bar and socket. I have tried the 5th gear, parking brake with little success.

Yea I did the same, bulbs are like 2 dollars at radio shack.

You do not really need this tool, you can break the bolt loose using the breaker bar and the starter.

Besides the HG issues, these are very solid cars.