powderhound

A sad day indeed...and I would want some interest on the 849 if you don't use it. Might be greedy but its the finance major in me.

I wouldn't worry about towing small loads at all. I have towed heavy loads (4X8 trailer full of firewood) with my legacy virtually every weekend every summer for 6 years with no adverse effects as of yet...knock on wood.

Yeah that would be the way to go if we could just get an H6 with a manual transmission. That engine would be so sweet if I was in control of it. I don't know about you but in the snow I need to be able to apply torque instantly when I want it. I owned an All-Trac Camry with an auto and it was always a mystery if I was gonna get to power slide or just push like FWD into a curb. Any ideas if ever this might happen (H6 w/ 5MT)? Hello SOA do you hear me?

The grease should help...but whats the cause right? You may want to have your alternator checked to see if it is operating correctly. Chip and I have had our factory batteries since 98 in rough climates. (check the 103,300 original brake pads thread) So I doubt its the battery...although there's always a bad apple. Good Luck.

I'm not sure that it is leaking. I don't think anyone has ever added any in 6 years. I am watching it daily though now to see if ther is a leak.

Chip--since it appears we have the same car (save your 2.5 and body molding) my squeak is coming from the air conditioner. I can lift the hood and manually open the throttle until it kicks on and voila squeak cometh. Just a thought.

The fake wood is hideous isn't it. It looks so cheap. It is all the reason you need to stay away from 2.5s.

I've read others on this board with the exact same problem that got their transmissions replaced under warranty. Something to consider if you are still covered.

Chip--I still had life in em'. We probably coulda dueled it out for another 1000 or so. It is impressive though isn't it? As far as the battery goes...even more impressive is that this car lived at 7500 ft in southwest Montana for two years where I can remember starting it at minus 35F every morning for a week straight one winter. I don't know if our winters are any more harsh here in WI than ME but I bet our summers are much more hot, which can kill a battery too. Also my alternator had been overcharging for awhile and when we popped the covers on the battery she was bone dry. Must be one helluva factory battery. Cheers to us

Just checked my records and I got 103,718. Ha! Beat you by 418 miles.

I'm getting the creeping feeling I may have a headgasket issue with my 2.2. gasp. I recently had all the front seals, tbelt, oil pump, water pump, and tstat replaced. Ever since I got the car back I've noticed the sweet smell of coolant though it is not as strong as when I first got it back. I contributed this to a flousy mechanic that may have spilled some in the engine bay. I've been checking the coolant after driving and have noticed it is above the fill line on the resevoir...again thought the mechanic just overfilled it. BUT today I was checking PS fluid and looked at the coolant resevoir and it was right at the full line. Additionally the coolant in the resevoir is much darker than that which is visible in the radiator. Q1. Does the coolant resevoir overflow or just raise in volume with a headgasket leak? Q2. What are the chances that this could have been caused by the recent repair work? Q3. Do you think the oatmeal conditioner might fix the problem? Q4. Why do I hit 6 digits and the car falls apart? LOL.

Check Check on the PS fluid...all gone. What's with the little plastic container in there? I'll top her off today and all should be good. Is there any damage that could or could have occured from running so low?

Still haven't looked...I lied...it got dark before I could get out last night. God I hate not having a garage. I'll look this afternoon and post the results.

Interesting I too have a 98 and just replaced my original front pads at 103,000. Rears are getting down there though and will need to be done soon. Still have the original battery as you do too! Probably should get a new one before next winter.

Tried searching for this but couldn't find anything exactly like my current dilema. Today while turning around in a parking lot the steering wheel made a vibration accompanied with a low pitched rumble. The funny thing is the car wasn't even moving. I thought maybe I was turning the wheel on top of a rock or something but no. Then when I got home and was parking it did it again. There is no such vibration when the car is rolling...both times it happened the car was not moving. Any thoughts? I'm going out to check the power steering fluid level now. TIA.

Actually I think 5sp Subarus are more common than other manufacturers. Subaru owners tend to be drivers and drivers like manual transmissions. Frankly this is one of the reasons I was surprised the H6 didn't come with a manual. The salesperson said something like, "When you get into upscale cars (30K) you won't find any 5sps). I thought yeah right that's why you can get a 5series BMW with a manual. BTW, IMO all Subaru clutches are weird...mine has had a mysterious catch in the pedal stroke for the last 60K. And the oil smell...well we know what that is. 6500 seems like a nice price for a 2.2 with only 70K...must be a sedan?

My parent's 00 OBW has approx 60k no headgasket issues...yet. I've told them to sell it though. Are you the owner of the black gt wagon I see over by Hiestand park all the time?

Now that we've solved that problem we can examine this statement by skee: "The other reason is that I am fully capable of turning on headlights during the day if I so choose when conditions warrant." This is the whole point of DRLs. When you're coming in and out of a shadow on the road DRLs make you much more visible to oncoming traffic. However, are you really going to turn your headlights on and off for every shadow on the road? No. DRLs simply save lives. Just because you can see fine does not mean everyone else on the road can see you! BTW you can thank saab and volvo for DRLs on most cars today. The Swedes invented the concept and the law is strictly inforced there.

Hmmm...A saab story. I believe, but I may be wrong, all the lights turn off when you engage the parking brake. Would this work "in your line of work", or do you need to keep one foot on the gas for a speedy getaway?

Why would you hate daytime running lights? Personally I think it is one of the simplest things you can do to increase your personal safety on the road. I never turn my lights off on my 98...thankfully Subaru's turn the lights off with the key. The only thing I dislike about daytime runners is that they are not bright enough...when I drive my parents 01 OB I turn the lights on so they are brighter than the DTRs. Seriously, I want to know why you dislike them.

Using the word pedantic is pedantic.

My question is why doesn't the 5MT require a FWD "limp mode"? I have a tire that is out of the 1/4 inch parameters and wonder how concerned I need to be with a manual.

I recently had the pleasure of riding in my passenger seat (98 Legacy Wagon 5MT) and realized how worn out my driver seat is. Is it at all possible to swap the driver and passenger seats? The seats are not power adjustable.

Here's why you do the cam seals, crank seal, oil pump, etc. I had my Tbelt done at 80K and now at 103K I have an oil leak. So I have to get new seals, oil pump, etc. But the clincher is I need another new Tbelt because it is oil saturated. Had I done this stuff at 80K I could have saved some $$$. Just avoid future headaches and double paying labor and get it done right the first time.

Well we're at the end of the road. Took it into Phoenix today and the oil pump itself is cracked. I'm having them do the cam seals, crank seal, H20 pump, and oil pump, oh and I need yet another Tbelt because it's saturated with oil. Grand total just over $700. LESSON LEARNED!