minstrelnyc

Thanks all for your replies - hopefully this will close this string. Turns out one can buy the clips ($1 each) from a subaru dealer. Just happened to ask a new parts guys one day and he was like, "oh yeah, you can order those." Happy ending despite all the time spent thinking about a $1 part.

I've also got a 1999 with similar situation but a very knowledgeable person told me it is a specific situation with 1999's (not a problem) - there's a special governor inside the transmission that prevents engagement immediately as a protection against towing damage. It was installed in response to a great deal of destroyed transmissions (especially in tow-heavy cities like NYC) but discontinued by 2000 because it freaked owners out. I had my transmission checked and told it was fine. Any other 1999 OBW owners corroborate this story?

Thanks for the reply janeiaz - but no can do. It was a private purchase so no recourse. Also no luck on the parts board or eBay. Therefore I'm still hoping someone has a broken hood deflector with clips that they don't need...

The hood deflector is OEM and was installed at the time the car was originally purchased. I asked a couple of Subaru dealers about ordering the needed clip and that's where I was told (twice) that I would have to buy a whole new deflector.

I just purchased a 99 OBW that came with a bug guard / hood deflector. Small problem was that the guard had only one of the two clips still present. I thought it'd be easy to buy an extra clip through Subaru but no dice (have to buy whole new guard). I'm loathe to use tape on my 'new' car (yet). I've called around and posted to web salvage yards but no dice there either. Anybody know where I can get an extra clip (or two)?