rweddy

90-94 2.2 Japan built Legacies, imo.

Fit, Finish, motor, ect. I think overall it is much more upscale vehicle. No taking away from the Forester but they are pretty basic transportation compared to the Passat.

I am not saying it will not work, just will not be as good. If you convert you will see about 5-6 degree drop in cooling effectiveness. I know this because I have converted on of my cars and it works fine, but nowhere near as good as originally with r12. Most good shops here in Colorado will not convert because they know this also. Even today my 91 with r12 will cool way faster than any new car I rent while on the road.

Well a few years a go, pre 96 I would have told you hands down a Subaru is way better build quality, reliability, design, etc...... But in today world I would say that there is very little difference between the two vehicles in terms or reliability. VW/Audi has been making AWD for a long time. The Passat is a much nicer vehicle all around then the forester, but I believe it is also more $$$$.

Yep that would be my guess, axle grease will really stink it up when it hit the exhaust.

Ok talked to my shop today and after describing my ac issue they tell me I have a bad relay. This is the relay that stops the system from freezing up and is a pretty common problem I guess. It is behind the glove box, has anyone else had this issue and knows what the relay part number is? I have been surfing around and found 2 relays air conditioning cut relay Evaporator Thermo Switch The 1st one sounds right but..... Thanks

Yea I will try re-keying it myself if is that easy. What about JB welding the arm back on there?

Thanks for the info!! Can I just pull one from a bone yard since I am going to have to re-key it anyway??

Thanks for the volunteering of help!!! I have taken them off of my older Subaru's, and other vehicles but wanted to make sure there were no gotyas before I broke something! But now that I know I have a resource in the springs..... My parents and my wife's parents live down there. Btw any good bone yards in the springs for Legacy parts? All the pull yourself ones in Denver metro have no Legacys at all, good thing I guess but...

Thanks! Good note about rolling window up also!! Been there done that with another vehicle! Any special tools needed to get the door pannel off? Thanks

Coming back from lunch today the door lock seems to have broken on my subie. I can put the key in but it just spins around and around. Where do I get to this door lock to fix it? Do I have to take the skins of the inside of the door to do this? Thanks

If the newer Subaru's will go that many miles!! I wonder who has the most miles on the non-Japan built Subaru's? I hope they can last as long the old school Subaru's do. I have 114k on my 91 and drive 30k a years so do add up really quick!! My 86 had over 200k before it was hit, no major work done at all.

OK Just got off the phone with a local Subaru Shop here in Colorado. They say there is a relay behind the glove box that tends to go bad, anyone else have this issue on their subie? I have some service manuals coming from eBay in the next week but would like to get this fixed before that if anyone knows the part number. Or I will try to make it to the bone yard this weekend. Thanks

I am running 10-30 in mine w/no issues in my 91 with 114k. I have switched many vehicles with high mileage and have had no issues except for one vehicle. A 80 CJ7 but that is another very long story!!

No I did not look, I will go take a peak this am! Thanks

Well it just started doing this and when it does blow it is ice cold. It will run for a few minutes at a time. Then this clicking like a relay noice clicking on and off behind the glove box. So if the Freon was low I would assume the air would not blow cold???? ?

All the time, at all speeds and when idiling. When stoped you can see the ac comp cycling on and off and while driving you can feel the comp turing on/off. Any ideas? Thanks

My AC condensore is turning on and off and I hear a clicking from behind the glove box? Any ideas?

Yep could not agree more. I swiched at 110k and now getting 2 more miles per gallon. Stick with same weight, you will be fine.

Sorry I was talking Legacy only. :-p I forgot about imprezas. my bad

90-99 Started with Legacy, ended with base models b4 re-model.

Here is a good cheat I have used in Colorado to pass test. Run the gas down to about 1/4 tank, then put in 4-5 bottles of Heat, this is a winter gas line dryer. I have passed several cars that failed at 1st, then did nothing but this and they all have passed. These were in Colorado, so not sure if altitude may change, or if this will work for you but cheap easy try for a fix.

I agree, but this is why they make MT-90 which is a GL4 tranny fluid, which is not too slick for manual transmissions. I am just wondering if this would hurt the front differential running this fluid, since they tranny and diff share fluids??

Welcome to the newer Subaru’s. I also just recently joined the ranks of Legacies owners after 10 different 1976-1986 wagons. For your criteria I would stay with a 90-95 Legacy. If you go newer stay with the 2.2 motor, and avoid the 2.5 that was offered in 96 and up. I would try to get an AWD 5spd Wagon. If you do find a turbo they are not as problematic as the older GL-10s, but this adds the cost of repairs if there is a breakdown because of more parts to go bad. But they are very nice, but in a wagon they only come in automatic. I believe the automatics are better than the older styles automatics but someone else on the list will have to answer this one. You will love the Lecacy, esp if you are coming from a DL Wagon. The power, comfort, etc are great. I am also getting 30mpg with is just a bit less than my 89 was getting. And they are as reliable if not more reliable than the older wagons, imo. Plus the legacies do not stain the driveway like the older subarus do!! Happy Legacy Hunting