unverviking

got it back from the dealer today... they found 2 loose ("almost fallen out") on Cyl's 2 & 4, and one of them was full of carbon. They also said that my wires (because they were aftermarket) are bad and need to be replaced with OEM wires and new plugs. They quoted $250 to replace the plugs and wires for me. I declined and paid the diagnostic and bought an OEM set of wires for $125. The only reason I got those is because the box was compromised when I got it, so they COULD be bad. The bill also noted that washers were missing from the plugs, that's why they loosened up. I used NGK V-Power's from NAPA, is there a difference between the ones I buy at NAPA and those that the dealer puts in ?? I think not, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Checked those, I replaced them a month ago... Got NGK V-Power Plugs, only got about 6k on them. How are the ignition coils ?? Reliable ?? Does only 1 cylinder fail, or are they all-in-one or two-in-one, etc ?? Demonic presence... a distinct possibility

I've been driving my 93 Legacy AWD 2.2L this week, it's been snowing and wanted to take the advantage of my "Traction in Action" instead of my monster Dodge work van, that has been buried in my driveway in a snowbank... Anyway... I was at the point of no return (end of the on ramp) entering the expressway and it started missing something fierce. I couldn't get it past 45, if I gave it more gas, it would die out. If I dropped it into 4th it really didn't have the oomph to go anymore. :-\ I stopped at the next exit, parked it. It was shaking the car pretty bad at idle. Almost stalling at the end of the off ramp. Didn't want it to stall out, as it might not start up again... I shut it off and restarted it, and it almost didn't make it. It sounded as if it was not getting something (gas, spark, etc) I checked the wires, all tight, had a 1/2 tank of gas. I've had a "tick" for quite awhile, been writing it off as piston slap, but I noticed that it was not noticable while misifring. Would a bad valve cause the tick and the misfire if it failed ?? Called AAA, (they automatically said flatbed, when my wife said it was a Subaru) got it towed to the nearest dealer (still no good indie shop to be found). They'll call tomorrow with the results. I'll keep posted... What do the "experts" think... Thanks to all in advance...

WOW, that's a BIG car... They use those here as Police Cruisers (Ford Crown Vic) Probably do everywhere else too. Was it totalled too ??

Urban, I was a volunteer on the local Ambulance, I couldn't tell you how many folks weren't as lucky as you, even those driving more substantial vehicles (SUV's, Pickups, etc) Glad to hear that you're that you're still with us... Will you be buying another Subaru ???

It's going on 2 weeks now since the axle seal replacement, and no more smell of burning oil. I'd have to say that there are no more leaks... For how long ?? Who knows...

Linda, Check out this thread... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=31409

Correct, what I should have put was "Subaru Certified" Technician. There are a lot of certifications out there, but only dealers can claim "Subaru Certified" (I think) or can an indie shop send a tech to a "Subaru" class to get certified ???

My 93 has almost 202k on it. It is running like a champ. I have a work van (from my employer) and it breaks down frequently, so I have to drive my 93 a lot, but I wouldn't hesitate making it a daily commuter, even with all the miles already on it. I would do as someone mentioned before me, get to know a reliable mechanic, have it gone over compeltely, and with regular maintenence from the same mechanic, should get you as many miles as my 93 has and more... If you decide to keep it and in a couple of years, you decide to sell it, look me up, my 93 may be ready to be retired... Not really ready to get another just yet...

I'm not a "car mechanic", I'm a telephone technician, not the guys that climb poles, but a technician that works on Commercial Phone Systems (PBX's), so I go into businesses and install new systems or move existing phones, etc. I work for 1 of the largest phone companies, and I know that they are charging about $85 bucks an hour for me to be there with a 2 hour minimum for "MAC" work. Here's the reason from my perspective... I have to do training every year to stay "certified" on several product sets. All that costs the company some money. A week long class averages $3000, plus a hotel room (~$600) plus $50-$75 a day allowance for food, plus air fare. Now I imagine that a dealer has to pay those kind of bucks to have their "certified" technicians, and they, like me, need to stay up with the current changes on all the cars, etc... So, in essence, I guess what I am trying to say is that if we go to the dealer to have these "certified" technicians work on our cars, we have to pay the money to do it (Labor Rates). Rather than have any corner garage technician work on it, who may not know the car as well as the "certified" technician does. (should) Now their "sales" tactics, don't get me started...

Sorry can't help, I'm in Rochester NY, but I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan...

Had this happen to a friend of mine on his 92 Legacy Turbo Sedan. It was in and out of the dealer for months before they ripped it out and threw it away...

Maybe I should hang on to it... It's needing some work, and I was thinking about a 2nd gen model. We have an 01 OBW and I love driving it, and I love driving my 93... Still torn on what to do...

I'll trade you even up for my 93 AWD Legacy Wagon 5MT... I've been toying with the idea of a "newer" wagon...

Thanks for the rant, thought I was the only one that thought that way... Thanks too for the clarification on the 1.8l, I thought so, but wanted to make sure...

Hi all, found this on e-bay, a 1996 AWD Legacy Wagon. In the auction, it's stated more than once that it has a 1.8l engine. Is this right ?? I thought that only the 2.2l and 2.5 were available in 96. here's the link to it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4528312160&category=31869&sspagename=WDVW TIA to all those that help contribute to my Subaru eduation...

Come on up to Rochester NY. I'll sell my 93 Legacy Wagon AWD 5 MT with almost 202K on it for $3000.00 It's black, little rust. Runs great, gets about 27 MPG in the summer. Let me know if interested...

It mostly depends on the tech and their equipment. Most computerized equipment need to be calibrated frequently. I would mostly say that if a small inde shop has a rack, they tend to keep it calibrated, since it is a fairly large expense to have the rack in the first place, and they need to get their $$$ out of it by doing good alignments. The "BIG" tire stores, would have more "hands" on the equipment and could lose track of when it was last calibrated. When I was an apprentice, my journeyman (small inde shop owner) had an OLD Snap On rack. It was the best around because it used bubble levels, not computerized. He was in the process of training me on it when I decided to change career fields... (Darn Computers) My most recent 4 wheel alignment was done at a HD truck shop locally. They did a great job, rides true and only cost $69.95 + Uncle Sam's take... I would return there again.

I tow a pop up camper (~1200 lbs) loaded with all our gear and have had 2 adults and 3 kids (14, 9 & 3) in the car, and have never had any problems. In fact, going up a LARGE hill, with said load (and A/C) on Cruise Control, I didn't have to touch the pedals at all. I've camped with this car for the last 3 summers and haven't had any issues at all. In fact I love it because I can park the pop-up in some places that no one else can... BTW, this is with our 01 OBW with the 2.5L.

I replaced the V-Power plugs in my 93 last summer with the same V-Power plugs. The ones that I pulled out had about 85-90k on them and didn't look bad at all. There was a difference between the new and the old, but mostly just normal wear. I can remember pulling a set with about 90k on them from a Pontiac, not pretty. The thing wouldn't even run. All we had to do to get it going again was replace the plugs... The moral to my story, don't waste the extra $$$ on the others when the standard work fine (for me at least)

I plan on doing the dye if we still are smelling it by next week. I want to try it without first. They checked all over as well and they only saw the axle seal leak, but who knows it could also be some blow by from driving... We'll see Thanks for expaination on the dyeing. I've not heard of that technique yet. It makes sense on how it would work.

Here's the verdict... They found a bad axle seal on the passenger side. $200 to replace it... They also offered this... I've never heard of this and have questions on it for you good folks... They wanted to die the motor oil to see if there is any further leaks... I opted not to take it, not sure if any reprocussions... Plus I looked from top to bottom on that motor and I'd eat off of it... That's how clean it is/was returned from the VCG job.

My 93 Legacy Wagon (AWD, 5MT) has developed an intermittant creak and squeek from the front passenger side... The creak sound seems to be coming from the A-Arm ?? (the arm on the bottom on which the strut and spring are) It is creaking when hitting even the slightest bumps, etc. But this only happens intermittantly... Can I lube up the area in which it pivots with some Thrust, or White Lith grease ??? The squeek, sounds like fingers on a chalk board. It happens when I am almost stopped (brakes on). I have pulled the pads (Cheapy Auto Zone brand) and reapplied the stop squeek spray to the backs of them to no relief. The rotors are from Auto Zone also, is this sound just the cheapness coming out ?? I only have 10k on them, but they've been doing this noise intermittantly since summer. Now the clincher, are these 2 different sounding noises related ?? TIA to all.

Check the lower hose, it has the the t-stat on the motor side. Check the clamps on all the hoses to ensure a good seal... Check the radiator to make sure the bottom is not started rotting out from below. My mom's 99 Neon (crappo car) lost it this summer... Not even 5 years old...

http://www.autozone.com is fairly good too. If there is a store nearby, just as good. There's always NAPA. http://www.napaonline.com Buy a lot locally there, they are right around the corner...