JT95

I wouldn't imagine it would very expensive from the dealer, but just in case it is, I should have a replacement if you're interested in a used one. I've got a "spare" '99 OBS I've stripped.

I've got to replace a cracked timing cover on my '99 OBS. It has 71,000 miles on it. Since the radiator is already out of the car, I thought it'd make sense to put a new timing belt on it. Also, a new thermostat. I was wondering if I should do the water pump as well, or is 71k kind of early to replace the water pump? Is that something that should go more up to 150k? I'm buying Subaru thermostat and Subaru timing belt kit. Does aftermarket matter on the water pump, or is new factory Subaru the only way to go there? O'Reilly has a new

El Caminos SO friggin rock...

"Removing 100 pounds from your car can boost your mpg by 2%." That's an interesting stat. Not sure how much control we have over that, though, unless you pick up hitchhikers all the time...or have subwoofers boxed in your hatch...or wanna put a fiberglass front end on your car...or you need go on a diet...or you carry a ton of useless crap in your trunk...

I'm not sure what the Subaru dealership would charge for the job, but I had quotes of anywhere from $300 to $500 for local garages to do two sides--labor only. (I only needed one side though.) I did everything myself, except for the actual replacement of the hub, though. I had to pay a local mechanic $60 to press out my old bearings and press in the new one. I removed everything and took the hub to him. I have never done this before and it wasn't as bad as I thought. (I put it back on Saturday.) The install was MUCH quicker than the disassembly. I thought $60 was too high, but compared to paying someone for the whole job, that was a deal I guess. If you have a book and the tools, go for it. Let someone else do the press work, and save yourself some cash.

Hey--your insurance rates drop when you get married. Course if you choose wrong you might be making more than a car payment for many years to come...:-\

Are you wanting Subaru metal, or would you settle for Taiwan replacement parts? I rebuilt mt 95 LSi wagon a few years ago and getting new Taiwan replacement parts was cheaper than what the salvage yards wanted. No dings to work out. No need to prep a red fender and a green hood to be painted white to match the car. I wouldn't go that route for a new car, but I saw no point in putting Subaru OEM sheetmetal on an older car. Check some local shops and eBay and other online outlets for the best price. What all needs replaced, btw?

Actually, from the way things looked in the picture, as far a a front end crash, you had the best scenario for any sort of collision damage. No air bag deployment, no fenders to replace (at least they look good in the pics), and probably minimal damage to your rails compared to a corner impact w/ your front end. Physically, it looks like a pretty easy fix, but depending on the book value of the car and what labor charges will be, I guess they could total it. Sorry to hear about your accident. Side note regarding air bag deployment: I've noticed on several salvage cars that the air bags do not deploy when the car hits something like a tree or telephone pole right in the center of the front bumper.

Glad you passed on the STi. Being car poor is no fun. Thankfully, I've never been there, and I'm usually not tempted to go that route. However, I was recently tempted to consider buying a Baja and going into more debt that would be wise for me. I don't NEED a Baja. Beyond having safe, reliable transportation, if you have to balance and budget to get a car--you don't need it and can't truly afford it. One day I'll get a Baja. STi Subes are going to be on the market for a long time, so you can always get one in a year...or five...or seven. It's pretty normal for guys to get that longing for a new car. However, it usually passes, and it can always be easily appeased with choosing to invest a little in the car you have. A few years ago I decided to get a "new" car by taking my all-white LSi wagon and painting the bumpers, rocker panels, and wheel lips black. If you are feeling really itchy for a different ride, put some new wheels on yours, do something trick with the paint, change out the gauge facing, or something that makes it feel new to you. I love cars. Cars tend to age, however. Here is what I have always wanted to avoid: writing the same fat check for a four year old car that I was writing every month for a brand new car, paying $xxx.xx every month for a car with close to 100k, some wear in the interior, a few chips in the paint, and all the needed maintenance investment that is now becoming a requirement for it. I'll bet your LGT is something other people would drool over the way you looked at that 07 STI...

I was just trying to do the same on a 2000 Impreza this weekend. On it, there ia a 4th, not at all obvious nut hidden deeper on the upper outside corner of the tail light, as someone mentioned. You have to be looking for it to see it. I wasn't sure if they were glued in or not, so I left them alone, waiting for my service manual to come in the mail. But, now I know I'm not ripping any clips apart w/ some pressure, thanks to this thread. If you wanna wait until after this weekend, I'll take pics as I remove my Impresa tails and post them.

If you like the car and it's in overall good condition, keep it going, provided you are paying for work that is done by honest, competent mechanics. I have a '95 LSi wagon about to flip 226,000 and I still love driving the car, but, like you, I wonder how long it will go before something expensive goes kaput. I was looking at investing some bills into my wagon instead of car shopping (I hate dealing with used car lots). Bought this Sube with 156,000 on the odometer and have had no major issues w/ it. Honestly, I think the engine will go another 50k with no problem. Transmission might not inspire as much faith. You know the history of the car, which is worth a lot. Unless you buy a new car, most used cars require some maintenance dollars within the first year or two anyway. Of course, if you are getting seriously tired on the car or it has major rust issues or the interior has crapped out, you might consider upgrading. There reaches a point where you need to look at what it could potentially cost to keep a car going and what you'll have after that investment. If the car in dependable-running condition is worth that dollar amount to you, keep it. If investing that much into the car will leave you feeling trapped in a vehicle you don't really like that much, sell it now and get what you can for its current condition and invest that to the purchase of a different vehicle. (Honestly, I'd rather have a 222k EJ22 that was cared for than a 150k car that has questionable care/maintenance.) That being said, my first inclination was to keep taking care of my own '95 and driving it until it drops, but I travel from time to time in it and I have two kids, so I need dependability. My plans were to get a used, low mileage motor and trans and store in the garage until one or both needed replaced in the car. However, I ran across a 71,000 '99 Impreza that I'll have low bucks invested in and I couldn't pass it up, so the '95 wagon may turn into my parents' spare vehicle...

Hey--some people get real sensitive over strange things like that. Hehee I couldn't mutilate the wiring too much because I still have to be able to start this thing so I can drive it to Wal-Mart at least once.

Define "hack"... Why--you need something wire related?

Let me guess--this car was previously owned by some kid, huh? :-\ My dad taught me fun things in old Chevys when I was young like doing doughnuts and speed shifting, but there was a certain finesse he taught along with it. You can push a car w/o crapping it out. I'm amazed to see how some kids can totally rag out a new car. I know Subes can't be that fragile... Anyway, congrat on the car. Project cars are great. You always seem to care a little more for one when you have invested countless hours of sweat into getting them where they are. Keep us posted with how things progress.

"Dead pedal"? That's a new term for me. What is that--the little foot rest pad on the far left side of the floorboard? Yeah--I completely forgot about the brake pedal probably having a sensor. Thanks for the info, you two.

Wow--you have good eyes to notice that thing. Yeah, magnets are almost as much fun to play with as power tools. On the topic of speakers, here's what I did to gain better access for installing a new CD player and all-around speakers:

Do men ever need a reason to tear things apart??? (Nah--I'm rebuilding a car w/ front end damage and this one was stripped for parts...)

It was kind of tight in there for changing out the timing belt, so I acquired a little easier access to things...

I just had a new windshield installed today on my '99 Impreza OBS. $198. The guys did a very clean install--cleaner than the factory actually. I wish I could get an outdoor pic of it--the windshield they ordered for me looks great--has more tint at the top than factory. I think you find someone who has been doing it awhile and the job will be clean. I'd imagine this is a job where people who aren't very good don't last too long...

Have you replaced the O2 sensor? With 200k miles, it might be worth checking your sensors that affect air/fuel mixture, even if no check engine light has flashed.

I did both CV shafts on my 95 a few months back. The toughest part of that whole job was getting that freaking nut off to get the job started! I went to Lowe's and bought a 4' length of steel pipe and slid it over my breaker bar's handle like the pic on the previous page. I got it, but it still wasn't easy. I used two whole month's quota of cuss words on just one side...

OK--so I'm in the middle of this Impreza rebuild. The car I'm fixing does not have factory cruise control. The car I'm stripping does have factory cruise. At first I thought I'd stay away from swapping it over because I try not to mess too much with electrical things that can influence the engine. But, upon further investigation, I don't think it will be all that scary...if my assumptions play correct. As far as the physical swap, is all I need to change over is the actual CC unit and the dash button? (I'm already swapping steering wheels.) I looked in the non-cruise car, and it does have the wiring for the CC unit under the hood, just folded over and tucked away. I'm assuming the wiring is there under the dash as well for the control. Did Subaru use the same wiring harnesses in all Imprezas, regardless of actual installed options? Am I being niave in thinking this will be a "plug and play" operation? :-\ Thanks!

Well, the steering wheel in the donor car is in better condition than the one in my car (besides the blown airbag), so I want to swap the whole unit. Maybe that'll be a headache??

Sorry, Jamie. Didn't mean to exclude you there. Wow--what a perfect day: working on Subarus and watching my team be a part of NCAA history in Florida today. Go Hilltoppers!!!

Thanks a lot guys. Yeah, my donor car was hit in the side, so the air bags are all good. I went ahead a took off the sensors when I removed the passenger side airbag. I haven't read up on the proper method of removing the steering wheel, so haven't attempted that one yet. I'm gonna have to buy a special bit to get the module unattached. Is that special torx bit something I'll have to get from someplace specific, or will they have it at an AutoZone etc.? Trivial Info: I learned today that all the airbag wiring will be all that yellow casing running through your car. I've also learned that it is incredibly fun to take apart a car when you know you don't have to put anything back together...