Olnick

Suggest you use NGK plugs--basic coppers are just fine and very reasonably priced. Also suggest you change the plug wires too--use Subaru OEM, may be a bit pricey but well worth the investment. Do you still have the front end opened up? Be a great time to check the condition of your idlers and tensioner, re-seal the oil pump and maybe even install new cam & crank seals. And then there's always the water pump too!!! Anyway, good going and good luck.

Be sure to talk it through with him before any work is done. In fact put whatever is agreed to on paper (even if it's hand written on the back of an envelope) and have him sign it. Good luck. Hope it works out well in your favor.

Code 12 is the "starter switch" according to Haynes. Is that what's called the "ignition switch" attached to the key lock cylinder?

Sorry about your bad luck, lone. Did you look under the dash or under the steering column? They might have messed around there trying to hotwire it (although I have no idea what wires you'd use to hotwire a car!) Good luck. Hope something obvious jumps out at you.

Yeah, looks like you're gonna need a new harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley) and probably a new crank sprocket. Might be able to find decent ones at a pull-and-pay or salvage yard. A new woodruff key too. Bigger question is what's the condition of the crankshaft snout. Is the keyway hogged out there? You might try a search on here, there've been a lot of helpful posts and good discussions in the past. Good luck. And hey, welcome to USMB!

My wife was born on Friday the 13th. It's always been good luck . . . for her!

Good catch, blaze! And thanks for posting this as a helpful warning for everyone. Always check those idlers, especially the cogged one. Here's one more banana for you!

Good luck, Fairtax. Hope it goes well for you.

Oh man, what a terrible situation to be in. Where is the dealership you're at? Only suggestions I can think of are: 1) Demand to sit down with the manager and/or owner of the dealership. Keep your cool but be firm in your complaint with them. 2) Contact SOA and ask to talk with a Regional Manager for the area. 3) File a complaint with the local BBB. 4) File a complaint with the state's Office of Consumer Affairs or Ombudsman or whatever they have. Good luck--hope all goes well for you.

Well congrats to you. Enjoy your trip!!!

USMB is a good place, a happy place, a helpful place . . . it's where you are right now (Ultimate Subaru Message Board)!!!

Yeah, I think you're right about the cam/crank sensors. And yes, you can test start it before you button it up. Yes to the fan removal. You don't have to take the radiator out but it's not that difficult and it's nice to have the extra room to work. If you leave it in be sure to protect it with cardboard or plywood. While you're in there check your idlers for sure. Most common one to fail is the cogged one next to the waterpump. Check your oil pump for leakage. Cam & crank seals are relatively cheap and easy to do too. Good luck, hope all goes well and do keep us posted.

I fill the oil filter before screwing it on then pour 4 full quarts into the fill tube. After that I start the engine and let it idle for 20 or 30 seconds to circulate the oil, shut it off and let it drain down into the crankcase for a half-hour, then check the dipstick and top up as necessary. Usually get pretty accurate readings that way.

Lookin' gooood! Way to go, Jawn.

The white marks mean nothing at this point. Once you install a belt and run the engine those marks will only line up every umpteenth revolution (can't remember the number--someone posted it on here once!) Only way to be sure on the timing is to go ahead and open up the front end. And if you do that you might as well put on a new belt and do the entire front end service. I suppose the non-start situation could be any number of things, but I'm wondering if the cam and/or crank sensors are bad? Good luck.

Does that mean you got the a/c going?

Before you panic about the head gaskets . . . Are you sure that's oil in it? Or could "murky, dark" be old, old antifreeze that has never been changed? Of course, if it's nipper's "oily brown yucky stuff" then, yes, that's probably head gaskets. I'd start by tracking that down. Could be radiator or hose or water pump. If it is the radiator don't mess around with stop-leak gunk. Put in a new radiator. They can be found for a reasonable price--shop around,, maybe even try a Radiator Barn type place. BTW replacing a radiator is no big deal. You could do it yourself. Good luck.

Just looked it up--'96 was the last year for FWD on a Legacy.

Your friend is wrong. Subaru made FWD (Front Wheel Drive) cars into at least the early '90s. Go to Joe Spitz's website, cars101, and look in the archives, the features will be described by model year. Look under your car again--if there's no driveshaft from the back of the transmission to a little pumpkin (the rear differential) between the rear wheels, then your car's FWD.

By "spinning" do you mean the rear wheels are getting power? Is the fuse you put in the FWD holder good? Or could this be caused by a bad duty c solenoid? Just some thoughts.

Welcome, papalobster. I'm sorry about your problem too. Did you use Subaru OEM head gaskets? Follow the torque sequence carefully? Maybe the guy who sold you the car had totally toasted the engine! If you haven't already, try the search function at the top of the page--EJ25 head gaskets have been one of the most "popular" topics on here for years. You ought to post your problems on the New Gen forum. More people will see it there, more chance of helpful responses. Good luck.

Welcome aboard, jgrote!

Aw, shucks! Mahalo nui loa.

No, I live in Hawaii (see the "HI" after the city in my ID? BTW, it would be good for you to add "PR" after "Mayaguez" so people know where you are.) Good for you--keep reading and learning about your car! Haynes is a handy reference to have available. Another fantastic resource is the "Search" function here on the USMB--learn how to use "Advanced Search" you can find practically anything with it. And of course, ask questions when you need to. Don't wait 'til you have engine problems to learn about it. Good preventive maintenance can keep most problems from ever happening! Good luck, the early Legacies are wonderful machines!

Mountains, beaches--sounds a lot like where I live!!! The great thing about your older Subie is that it has one of the best engines Subaru ever built, the EJ22. And it's laid out so nicely under the hood that they're relatively easy to work on. If you get into it a bit you won't even need a mechanic!