Smpol19

Lowest dealer quote i got in the DC metro area for that service was $950, I think he got a great deal.

I've heard this before and don't understand it compleatly. The Cartalk guys got upset about this a couple years ago too. Looking at a side by side comparison of the 2004 and 2005 outback wagon they have the exact same gas millage according to www.fueleconomy.gov. The 2005 also has somewhat lower green house gas emissions.

Could it be the 49 state version...as opposed to the CA version???

Change your PCV valve, costs $15, takes 10 mins. and if you aren't leaking oil I'd put money on it solving your problem.

Go to your favorite hardware store and get $.75 cents worth of metel and pay about $.75 cents for it. Bend it a bit and paint it black if you'd like and you're set. I had my sirius attached using this method in the pic bellow...switched to XM a while back and just need to drill a couple more holes. Been working great for 2 years. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=10219&cat=500&ppuser=3750

Not sure about the spline count, but I have been able to replace axels on an 01 impreza 2.2 MT by just removing the strut bolts. Make sure you pull the transmission side out first, slide that toward the back of the car, then pull it out of the hub. No need to pull the ball joint.

For most things with my Subaru's that I don't feel like doing I take them to KC automotive in the Citgo gas station on Burke Road in Burke. I've been dealing with them for about 5 years now and have been happy with their work. Like I said they aren't always the cheapest in the area but they tend to be fair, honest, and good at explaing what you do and don't need.

I went from an 89 wagon to an 01 impreza and this drove me crazy at first also. Finaly added a keyless entry unit from Crutchfield, it was less then $80 and an afternoons work installing and it didn't take 3 steaps to let passangers into the car anymore. The unit I used

Congrats on the 100k. It is general wisdom to also replace the water pump and all the seals on the front end of the engine when doing this job as it is unlikely they will make it to 210k. I had all the seals done and the water pump and all the belts for just under $1,000 at a local non-dealer shop (they are never the cheapest in the area, but I know their work well). I also live in the D.C. Suburbs where just about everything is expensive so prices will vary depending on region and whether you have a dealer or garage to the work.

I don't think a year of storage would be much of a problem, I've heard tires have a calendar life of around 10 years. Though I used the 17 year old spare that spent its life on top of an EA 82 once, for many miles without problems. I would think the most important thing in lengthening their life would be to keep the sun off of them. I believe UV rays probably do the most damage to rubber; this is why you often see RV-er's cover their tires when they are parked. It would probably also help to have them in a somewhat temperature controlled environment but for just a year I wouldn't worry too much about them.

also the fan would run continously even with the engine off if the A/C were set to on or if the fan control knob were set to defrost

I have no idea about the answer to your question, but have you tried changeing your O2 sensors, usualy changing the front sensor solves the problem some times the back one needs to be changed to. It seems very odd for a 2002 to need a new cat. I have an 01 with over 125k on it, it threw the P00420 code at around 105k and a new front O2 sensor solved the problem.

Very true, I didn't say it made economic sense. but as much as I enjoy working on cars, I'd rather be forced to do so as little as possible so its usualy worth a little more to me to know I won't have to do a job again for a long time.

wow, that was the first time browsing this foum has made my head hurt so much....

I have never seen a subaru axel that has only lasted 50k miles, mine have usualy gone somewhere closer to 120k. Also I find the subaru brand remanufactured axels to be of much better quality then the parts store brand, so if you don't have the time to replace them and don't mind paying for some quality ones I'd go with these, usualy about $200usd each.

I've towed more then my Outback Sport is rated for (1850 lbs rated for 1500 lbs)for short distances before, mine is a 5 speed and it gets going just fine. Only thing is you have to plan ahead for stoping, I'm always on very rural roads and I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable on major highways if I had to make a quick stop. On the otherhand if you have trailer breaks it may be a very diffrent situation. Overall these cars seem to make very good towing vehicles. There used to be an article online about a guy in europe who uses his 2000 Outback to deliver campers and has over 500,000 miles on the original engine and tranny.

The Impreza's had the 2.2 until 2001...

I had something similar happen with the single disk CD player on my Impreza. I took it out, took it compleatly apart, cleaned everything with air, put it back together, has worked ever since. Maybe I just got lucky but its worth a try before buying a new one.

I've driven well over 10k miles on a torn boot before replaceing it and it never made a sound, so you've got plenty of time to save up some cash for a new one. As for whether to go dealer or parts store for it, my experience has been you can go to the parts store get one for less then $70 w/ a life time warenty but you are going to be using that warenty every 10-15k because they are poorley remanufactured. You could also go to the dealer and pay somewhere around $200 for one that will last well over 100k and not worry about it anymore. I usualy go the dealer route, but there are definitly advantages to the autoparts place way.

I would work on the timing belt as soon as you have the $. The 98 2.2 is an interference engine meaning if the belt brakes there is a good possibility the valves will hit the pistons and your engine is gone. I'm not sure whether the 98 had a 60k interval or the 105k but either way its due for it especially if you don't have the history for the car.

I believe all the nesscery parts are under $500. Prices for labor vary a lot. I live outside DC and when I end up paying people to do work it ends up being a lot more then many people on here talk about. Let us know how it works out. I may be needing this done sometime myself, every so often I get a little binding when turning slowly but then I don't feel it for a while.

Hey I live in NOVA too. I usually don't like Merchants but they have deal where you pay about $150 for 3 years of alignments. All the Alignments you want at any of their locations. So you do stupid stuff with your car, or drive somewhere like NJ where they don't believe in paving roads you just get it aligned again. Basically pays for it self if you use it twice. That being said I don't like the work those guys do or their sales tactics so I would turn down anything else they offer you.

I live in the good old 703, I wouldn't worry too much about rust or salt. They usualy put salt down 3-4 times a year here like someone above said. I've never had major rust issues on a car. I see plenty of older cars driving around without major rust issues. Its not going to look like a car from AZ or something but I'd worry more about all the other used car things then rust.

I've got one routed from just above the hatch through the edge of the headliner, down to the floor by the passanger seat belt, up to under the glove box and in behind the radio. This is a 2001 Impreza. I'll see if I can put some pics up some time tomorrow if you haven't found a good way yet.

Where is this dealer???? I paid over $900 at an independent place for that job. Dealer wanted over $1000.