[98 forester 5spd has sloppy shifter]

I'll check it out. Thanx!

[98 forester 5spd has sloppy shifter]

The shifter sort of bonelessly flops around. Works if ya know where to find the gears, but kinda embarrassing when ya pass someone loudly and quickly, and do a 1st drop instead of a 3rd shift... not to mention the tranny probably doesn't appreciate it either. What part # or linkage centers up the shifter and makes it springy, and able to find the gears?

[Part throttle hesitation]

I think it is the TPS sensor. That or the Idle Air Solenoid. Many vehicles I've owned had TPS go bad that way. My YJ jeep is pretty bad about it. Water does not help.

[1998 forester death rattle]

JEEZ, that is alot of awesomeness. I forgot these are not typical 4 cylinders lol. the valve cover gaskets are hella recent, they are still blue and the engine is clean as a bell, I am guessing the HG's were replaced and everyone here is correct in thinking the hgs have been done. that is just my best guess

 

Are the valve cover gaskets blue cuz the gaskets are blue, or did someone use an excessive amount of ultra blue silicone gasket sealer? A bunch of that squeezed into the engine will surely make it knock when it plugs up the oil channels and the pickup screen. (had an old escort do that...)

[Ej25 to ej22]

I put a 99 2.5 sohc forester engine in a 98 forester which came factory with 2.5 dohc, but had 2.2 in it when I bought it. Dropped motor in to find out the plugs wouldnt connect between engine and car. Popped pins outta connecters and swapped them from the 2.2 harness- wires stretched tight everywhere cuz 2.2 smaller, but the car runs. Doesn't idle good (surges between 750 and 1500rpms constantly) This is due to the 99 engine regulating its Idle Air Solenoid circuit solely thru its computer, whereas on the other engine, half the idling is controlled thru vacuum somehow on the intake manifold. (got like 4 or 5 wires on I.A.S. plug on 99 harness, as opposed to 2 or 3 on 98s harness. Tracing out the wiring, and drilling out intake for a vac port and using diaphragm from other setup might work, but for now I've been driving for 1 year like it is and gotten sorta used to the surging takeoffs...(I am seeking a 98 2.5 DOHC near WV or pay 2 ship)...1roughneck@gmail.com