JazzBass

Fantastic! OK, that is a little more clearer. Yeah, I'm doing the passenger floor disconnect. I'm not going to play with the control panel anymore. I thought I read to tie some wire or something to the cable to help route it back into position, so I'll definitely do that. Thanks for the links and advice! JB

Hi all, I'm going to replace my bulbs in the climate control panel. While I was able to get the cable off the CC panel when I was inspecting it a few days ago, I don't want to risk breaking anything up there. I read that it's easier to take off the cable at the heater box by the passenger left foot. I see where the cable connects to, but for the life of me, cannot figure out how to get it off the white shaft. Can anyone help me out with some directions? Thanks! JB

Hey gang! Thanks for the additional help! It is greatly appreciated! Well, I think I found something that is kinda holding me back (Literally). My hill-holder seems to be adjusted a little too tight in some situations. Today was horrible. Not much of an incline, but I realized I had quite a bit of pressure on the break pedal. When the light turned green, she didn't want to go at all; Parking break effect. Tried playing with the pedals, so that I could at least roll back some, but I just wound up revving the engine higher than I normally do to get going. I really need to loosen that up. My Haynes manual shows what the parts look like, but doesn't show where those parts are under the hood . I found the valve with the spring part but I didn't see the correct section where you adjust the cable with the adjustment nut and lock nut. I'll have to look for it more closely. I'll ask my B-I-L to give me some lessons. He's really good driver and is a good, patient teacher. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who took some adjusting to a new clutch. That makes me feel better about this whole thing. One question: Is it normal to smell a faint smell (like heated brakes, but I'm pretty sure it's the clutch) when you finish a trip? Maybe it's just the newbie trying to learn? Thanks again! JB

Everyone, Fantastic information! It's been extremely frustrating for me, but your advice is helping me see it will take a little while until it becomes second nature. So I guess I'll just keep on trying and being patient with myself. It's hard, but I know it'll take some time. I'll need to try and get the car going without gas by letting the clutch out slowly. I have a tendency now to start letting it out and when it starts to grab, I push the clutch pedal in again for the engine to recover then let the clutch out again. I need to get it down. Thanks very much for the great responses and confidence boost! I greatly appreciate it! JB

Thanks guys! Makes sense. So to try and launch without throttle, am I allowed to push the clutch in and out until I get going or are we talking about just letting out slowly once I hit the engagement point? Like I said, I'm totally new and only have a little bit of knowledge to go by. Thanks again! JB

Hi all, I just got the clutch replaced in my '95 Legacy L wagon and it made a HUGE difference in how it drives. The problem is... This is my first manual transmission car and I know enough about driving one to be dangerous. I drove it fine as the clutch was pretty well gone, but now, I'm having a hard time starting from a stop. So I'm swallowing my pride and asking for help from the expects. How do you drive your manual transmission soob so that you don't toast the clutch and not upset people by stalling at lights. What helps me is giving the engine some gas, then slowing releasing the clutch. I thought I've read this is backwards and can put un-necessary wear on the clutch. So I'm at your mercy. Please help! Thanks ever so much! JB

Hey gang! First of all, sorry for not responding back soon. Been a crazy week or so & just getting back in the swing of things! Thanks for the congrats and great stories shared! I really think I did good and got a nice car. I had the timing belt/one idler done (water pump looked like it was new - according to my mechanic and said it didn't need to be replaced) and got a new clutch put in. Whoa, momma! Did that clutch make a difference! The car just wants to drive it self on the highway. It's crazy the difference! It's fantastic! Now, I'm having to teach myself to drive the car all over again and it's getting a little frustrating. It's either stall or take off like a crazy person with bucking thrown in. I may start another thread where appropriate to ask for some pointers. I know enough about manual transmission cars to be dangerous and I want to learn more and how to drive it correctly so I can prolong the life of the clutch. If anyone wants to post here, please do. I need the help. Update: I did start a new thread, so if you have any suggestions, please post there. Thanks! New Thread Another thing that was fixed. The ignition. It was the key, thankfully that was really worn. We needed another one so we went to the local dealer and had a new one made and it works just fine! Thanks again all and I'm here permanently! JB

Thanks everyone for the advice and help! Well, it's official. My wife and I are happy new owners of a '95 Subaru L Wagon. Still getting used to driving a manual transmission, but I like it. Got a nice deal on it and other than the loose shifter, it seems to be in pretty good shape. I'll do some reading about doing the water pump and timing belt as I think that's a great idea at this point. I think it'll need a clutch as well sooner rather than later so I'll read about that too. Bought a Haynes manual at the local Advance Auto so I'll read up on the car that way as well. Had a really hard time getting the key out of the ignition. The key would not turn out of the ACC position and get it to Lock to remove. Looks like it could the ignition switch or something up with the key. I'm quite happy with the car, considering the age and the cost. I hope to have this for another lifetime of the car. Thanks ever so much for the help and welcome guys! JB

Thanks guys for the info! Good deal. Well, it looks like it may be a done deal. I do have a question for you guys. The dealer I'm getting it from is a small mom/pop place and he disclosed to me that he does not have the title as he just bought the car a few days ago. He said he would get all the paperwork to me and when the title became available, I would get it. Is this common or should I look elsewhere? Will contact my DMV and ask them as well. Went to my DMV and said there are situations where that will happen. I don't feel so bad anymore. I hope this all works out. Thanks! JB

Hi all, Well, I found another one ('95 Legacy Wagon w/ 165k) and it drove nice and sounded nice. The fluids looked fine as well. It's the price I can pay for and looks good. I will ask for a carfax tomorrow as I spaced to do it today. The shifter was really wobbly. Basically it was limp. It shifted fine, but had a hard time finding 3rd. Is that something that is easily fixed (maybe a few bolts or screws that need to be tightened? Actually, after doing some reading, it sounds like it could be a broken return spring. Can I get this part at local auto parts place? Thanks! JB

Thanks Mike! Good info given. I've found a few other ones I want to look at so I think it's only a matter of time before we'll get one. Thanks again Mike and to all! JB

Everyone, Thanks so very much for the good words and advice! I forgot to mention that the smell was pretty much only evident when the car was warming up/idling and not when we were driving it. I hope it's just some oil that got on the exhaust at some point. I didn't hear any clicking on turns, but at the same time, I didn't make any tight ones, so I'll make sure to listen to that in the future. I figured the squealing could be the belt(s) are old and need to be replaced or the tensioner is a little warn. But I was just wondering if that could be related to the smell. It seems maybe not. The car is a '96 legacy (non-Outback) so it may be ok with the head gaskets. It is also a 5sp, so I'm covered there. I guess if it's still there next week, I'll go back and check out it again more thoroughly and make an offer. If anyone wants to add anything, please do! I'm totally in the dark when it comes to these cars, but I want to learn. Thanks again all! JB

Hello there! I just signed up as my wife and i think our next car may be Subaru. We were looking at one that is a '96 with 171k miles on it and it drove great. Only nagging issues was that the serp belt was squealing when it was first started (may have been my fault as I accidentally had my foot on the accelerator rather than the brake ) and right after that, there was a burning smell coming in from the vents. Not sure if it was an oil or rubber smell. We couldn't smell anything on our drive. What can I look for if I go back and checkout the car again? Could it be a serp belt going out (or bearing on a pulley?). Any other words of help would greatly appreciate it! Thanks, JB