efseiler

I have a 2.2L '98 engine...there are three lines that are fastened by a clip attached to the fuel filter. Two of them obviously are for gas but the third one seems to be part of some sort of vacuum system. It's got a gash in it and I was wondering what it was for and the kinds of problems it could be potentially causing..... Thanks! --Damien

Hello all, I spent a grueling 2 hours in the sun today...just to properly fasten a few clamps on my Subaru's air intake system. One of the clamps was very loose... Well, now the engine runs much more smoothly and the backfire problem I previously alluded to has pretty much been eliminated completely. So the moral here is ----> a properly aspirated Subaru is key to its smooth operation. (But you experts already knew that....right?) --Damien

That's one expensive fart....

Well the solution is to pour the stuff directly into the PCV inlet but I'm too weary to 'do it again'. The Seafoam stuff really works...I used just a tiny bit for my lawnmower and it perked it right up. My nose caught a whiff of jet fuel exhaust...so the secret may be therein. --Damien

geez...for all that the average driver would seem better off forking up the $139.95 at the McBealership. --Damien ---- "If you do not have a gravity torque compression hex assembly controller module...a simple screwdriver will do."

I'm thinking about recharging the A/C in my Outback but there seem to be many pitfalls and caveats associated with doing just that... Does the refrigerant used have to be of a special kind? I understand that it is supposed to have a lubricant pre-mixed in... Also, is moisture buildup a problem in those A/C systems? If so, is it a simple matter to purge from the system? What else could go wrong...? Thanks for your replies. --Damien

Nipper....are you real...or are you one of those dragons that lives in a computer....? See...I told you...Kitt was deadly....Karr was deadlier. :-P --Damien

Sounds like a good recommendation....more reasonably priced than I thought...thanks! --Damien

Yeah...figures either way it's gonna cost me.... :-\

I found a fluid change like that to definitely alleviate TB and other binding issues like that in a 4EAT. Also try some of that Lucas stuff...with the one I used to own (high miles) the more of that stuff the merrier.... --Damien

Feels like it's coming from the clutch. Maybe when the plates get hot like that the friction coefficient goes through the roof... Could also be a new clutch for all I know... I haven't owned a vehicle with a modern clutch like that...they use brake fluid in it? How does that work? I'm used to slowing a vehicle down like that by downshifting...giving the brakes...you know...a break. --Damien

After driving a 4EAT for nearly 100,000 miles now I'm back to a standard transmission. One thing I noticed about my '98 outback is 2nd gear seems to be have some kind of special ratio associated with it. When I downshift from, say, 3rd gear it does shudder quite a lot...is this normal? Should I even be downshifting like that? I'm guessing that gear design had something to do with the AWD...to make torque transfer more even when winter driving....does that make sense? Thank you for your thoughts and input. --Damien

'98 standard 15" wheels

Hi Subaru folks, Can anybody recommend tires for an Outback? One thing I noticed when I put my old tires on my new Subaru is when driving around tight curves I hear some squealing/ screeching from the brakes. This is most likely due to the stresses/strains that are being put upon the wheels due to the centripetal acceleration. I've put a lot of money into calipers for my previous Subaru because they had a tendency to fail like only after 10-15k miles and I'm thinking that the tires may have a lot to do with it. Any thoughts? --Damien

I noticed that the part of the air intake assy (the tube with the MAF sensor) was not properly clamped to the filter housing so that may have been a contributing factor. I put in a new Subaru filter anyway... could be dirty valves...I guess I'll have to drive it for a few more thousand miles with the fuel additives in the tank and see if that reduces the possible carbon buildup on the valves. I'll let ya know. --Damien

great...figured it out. Oh...BTW...I strongly recommend using a Subaru filter instead of those you'd find at auto parts stores. K&N filters seems 'iffy' to me but may work well....supposedly you'd get a couple of HP out of them... Thanks! --Damien

yeah, maybe...it's more prevalent if there's an increased weight load on the vehicly. I'll listen more closely as I rarely get a look at the undercarriage.... You lucky guys with shops'n'lifts'n'tools... *sigh* --Damien

well then I'm hoping it's just carbon scoring...a dose of 'Seafoam' in the tank may be the solution....(or maybe the trickier pouring a quantity down the PCV inlet). What are symptoms of an improperly aligned timing belt? Cheers! --Damien

I'm the new owner.....

I have a '98 Outback and I'm trying to get the air filter out for inspection....the housing differs from the '96 models...there's only two latches instead of 4. What's the trick to getting the air filter out? Thanks... --Damien

there's no CEL light on...

well I suppose it could be the timing belt....maybe a tooth or two off. I suppose it could also be carbon buildup on the valves.... whaddyathink? --Damien

Hi all, I'm in line for my next outback...my other one pretty much completely spent after 100,000 miles with serious torque bind and completely shot struts/ shocks. It's headed for the boneyard to get pieced out to build other subies for worthy drivers. I test drove the new one...a '98 standard with about 125,000 miles on it. It sounded fine except for a mild backfire/sputter when letting of the gas to shift gears (especially from the lowest gears when RPM is the highest). Is this something I should be concerned about? I'm thinking plugs/wires...maybe fuel or air filter? Thanks for your input, Damien

so I've heard....the Bar's stuff was the same stuff the dealership put in those that developed the radiator leak (not the major HG one). Looks just like tobacco juice in one of them spittoons (oddly enough)... :-) --Damien

That's vehicle's got too many miles on it already for further repairs...tranny's got serious case of 'torque bunch', anyway...I think's it's headed to the boneyard soon. It'll be interesting to see what that Bar's stuff'll do...:-) Over and out, Damien