rweddy

I am not sure about the price, check in your area. That would be a good price here in Colorado. 97 have a 2.5 that have head gasket issues. This mileage is around where they tend to go. Unless you can do the work yourself be ready to pay $1500ish to have them replaced. They can last 200k or I have seen them go as early as 60k. I really depends on maintenance, climate, luck, etc. Is it an auto or stick? The automatic trannys can have some issues if they are not properly maintained. Also it will be very hard to re-sell the vehicle with a Salvaged title, many buyers will not buy one. Also check with you insurance company, sometimes they will not fully insure a salvaged vehicle. But overall you will love the vehicle; they are great riding, great in snow. And compared to other AWD vehicles, inexpensive to fix and mostly dependable besides the listed issues.

It is there becuase there is not way to leave the lights on without the keys in the car.

Dealerships are parts swappers, if you have a know issue that needs to be fixed then they are ok. I have several friends who are factory trained techs and they will tell you this themselves. Dealerships make $$ from parts. So they will tend to throw parts at an issue rather than trouble shooting the issue. There is also a huge disconnect from the service writers to the technicians. So even if you give them a full description of the issue, this might ever get to the person fixing you vehicle. We have very lucky here in Colorado, there are a lot of very good Subaru only shops here.

I have owned 10 Subaru’s and never had one that has had rust issues? Maybe we are lucky here in Colorado? But this is a good idea; I blast this area with the high pressure wash when I clean my car.

Look for a local shop that specializes in Subaru’s, they will generally do a much better job than a dealership. IMO

SOHC second generation 2.5 Was your 96 OBW a 2.5 or a 2.2?

Best option is for thule, get 415 feet, which replace the week factory cross bars and a box will load right up. I do not have a box, I have a basket. I see boxes on outbacks all the time here in Colorado.

OK here is the link. The part in question is actually a Nissan part!! The reason this goes good and back when cold, it the arm contracts when it is cold, gets smaller and the contacts work good until it gets hot again. http://www.rweddysolutions.com/Subaru96fix

I miss read the orginal post, I though he said the noise when away when the clutch was dis-engaged. So the noise is there when the clutch is not engaged?

OK found the issue, I am fixing mine right now, I will post pictures and how to fix later.

Yep, that is my vote also.

There is a contact issue, when it is cold the wires contract and you have a good contact, when hot they expand and the contacts do not touch. I think it is the power door module it self, the part in the drivers door. I am going to take it out, put in the fridge/freezer for a bit, and test the theory. Wish me luck!

I do not think anyone on this list will say that newer subarus are as dead reliable as the old ones. But by the same token the old subarus leaked oil from the factory, got terrible gas mileage considering their size, were under powered, are death traps in wrecks….. Remember new cars have think all new cars with new technology, computers system, electronic management systems, heated seats, power everything, etc and they are going to have more issues. But if you compare them to other vehicles in the same class or type you will see they all are having issues. Nissan has gone from 2-3 in initial quality to below GM with issues. The only other AWD wagons you can get from other makers are VW, Audi or Volvo. And look at their discussion groups and see the issues they have with their vehicles. Compared to the competition Subaru is relatively trouble free when compared to them. All manufactures have their quirks, and you have to take into account the price of replacement parts and services. Don’t get me wrong, I love old Subarus, look at my signature and see how many I have owned over the years. Now was Subaru wrong for not having a recall on the phase I 2.5 motors? I think they should have stepped up and claims responsibility for the problems. Another issue is it seams that many members on the forum take their Subaru to the dealership for repair. I have several friends that are factory trained technicians and they will tell you that most if not all dealership are much more set up for parts swapping than diagnostics. They tend to throw parts at issues rather than take the time to properly diagnose the issue. You will get much better service at a shop that specializes in Subarus than you will at a dealership. This can be an issue depending on where you live, but here in Colorado there are multitudes of very good independent shops. I think the new features, safety, size, power, etc makes up for the fact that they have some issues. My father-in-law was a 03 outback and has had no issues with it. And the 05 are awesome. Just my 2 cents!

I think if might just be the float of the calipers. Most newer style brakes are floating style so after driving a bit, they tend to move up ever so much, making a single click now and then.

Yea the motors tend to lose power over time, try lube and you might also clean the contacts on the power leads.

I agree, you might also try to burp the system to get all the air out.

Take some advice from someone that has been there done that, got the t-shirt. You are going to look back at your college years when you are paying your students loans. Over the next 10-20 years and think to yourself, damm I am still paying off that Baja and Wheels and I graduated back in 20xx. Save you money, use the money for school so you will get out of school and not have huge monthly payments. Fancy new cars are way overrated, I hate driving my wife’s new Honda. Way to much pressure to park far away so no door dings and such. In the famous worlds of Tyler Durden “ The things you own, end up owning you”

Good idea about parking in the dirt!! I like it!! I agree about damaging a line when pad were done, could be the issue.

Ok I have check all conections still cannot find the issue? Anyone else ever see this issue on thiers??

Did you bleed the entire system, starting with the wheel farthest from the Master Cylinder?

I have been using a C clamp and pressing them back in for years on many abs and not abs vehicles, I have never had an issue.

Has anyone ever been to this page? http://hometown.aol.com/_ht_a/nv1z/subaruhi.html I think we should add some kind of high mileage section to this forum if possible? We could also come up with some stickers or badges like Volvo does. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7918116636&category=33643 Thoughts?

I would like to see that myslef!!

Is this true of the 5spds also?

I love the 1st generation emblems!!