ghageysh

1996 Subaru Outback, 2.5L Automatic, drives fine - however it will sometimes vibrate when I'm holding down the brake pedal. The annoying thing is that it doesn't happen all the time, sometimes it's really loud. The car doesn't vibrate or shimmy whlle I'm driving. The previous owner replaced the brakes (rotors, pads, control module). The engine sounds good. It stops when I put the car in Neutral (of course). It seems it's more likely to be the brakes than anything but it being intermittent is weird.

yeah, the 2.5 engine is still good, I just know it's up at the second time around for the belts and all that goes with them.

I have been digging around our local Craigslist and a guy has a rebuilt 2.2l for $600. Is that too low? like held together with duct tape and chewing gum low? should I bother contacting the guy? He's a mechanic at an import specialist and would drop it in as well. Would this be a better idea that shelling out $$ for a timing belt job on a 2.5L with 198K miles on it? I'm waiting for the official Subaru dealership in town to get me the quote on the timing belts /pullys/water pump and etc. I am a pest I realize this. There a couple of things about the timing belt replacement that are scaring me away from doing it myself...

I forgot to thank you for these.

somewhere around South Bend, In. There's a dealership, a few Import Specialists. Every Mechanic around here list Subaru as a car they work on. Which is fine, but 'work on' and 'really know their stuff' are two different things. I do have a coupon for basic maint (oil change, etc) that includes a multipoint inspection for $54 at the dealership. Thinking I could take advantage of that and then get an even longer list of things I need to do. I had a very basic check done just to make sure there were not any big obvious issues. A dealer should be able to tell me if the timing belt, pulleys, idler and water pump had been replaced recetly...maybe...

I *just* started staring at them -

LOL thanks, at some point I'll calm down. Right now I'm compiling lists of things I have to do -

Now I'm just worried about getting the timing belt and all that goes with it replaced. I don't think I can do it myself and from what I'm calculating it'd be somewhere around what I paid for the car to get it done at the dealership. I know I need to, asap since i have no idea when it was done last. My problem is that I love to take things apart. It's the putting back together that gets me.

I know it's SUPPOSED to be a 2.5L based on my check of the VIN, the man who sold it to me kept saying it was the 2.2L it's old enough that a swap was a possibility. I was only trying to determine if it had been swapped. I've since determined that it hadn't (got back in and saw the very rectangular valve covers). The only real reason I was hoping a 2.2L had been swapped in was I'd rather deal with an non-interference engine - now I know I *have* to get timing belt/tensioners and such replaced right away or risk damaging the engine. I've never done a timing belt myself - not enough confidence. I'm sorry if I sounded rude up there didn't mean to be. The little metal plate on the driver's side of the car says it came with 2.5L engine, just was holding out hope it'd been swapped for a 2.2L that's all.

I need better lighting, my flouresents in the garage don't like the cold. I think 2.5 though. Little disappointed but I'll deal with it . since it looks like I'll be replacing the alternator I can check, but still betting 2.5

Yep. Found rebuilt alternator at Subaru dealer for $78, but there's a pull for $25 I think I might head out, pull the one for $25 grab the tensioner bracket too.

so I came home from work, started up my Outback lifted hood and heard a jingling noise. Turned engine off, grabbed phone and took a picture of where the noise was coming from. Look in the red circle...that bolt shouldn't be free swinging, it's hitting the pulley causing the jingle. I think I need to replace some things.

Just for fun a photo of the engine. Kind of crappy, my lighting is not good so it was primarily lit by the flash. Update on the battery/alternator issue. Heh. Under hte bright light of a good flashlight I did see corrosion UNDER the connectors. Cleaned them. THe car started right up this morning after sitting in the cold garage. It started up tonight after work, again after sitting in a cold garage. as far as the engine goes...I can't tell. Thanks for the advice, I think it'd be easier to eyeball if I'd ever seen BOTH engines in the wild because the valve covers look pretty humpy to me.. I'm sorry if I'm annoying.

YES! local dealership has them for $78.

Yep, been scouring for one. I am anxious to get home now. Thanks for the information. I am setting aside the time tonight to really check it over. I haven't had it long and life keeps getting in the way of me playing with it.

Thanks for the information on the rebuilt alternator. I'll check the dealership in town. After work I'll do the battery voltage testing and check possible causes for the whining. This engine is so quiet otherwise. I'm wondering if the previous owner replaced the cap/plugs/wires/battery because he thought that's where the problem was but it turned out to be the alternator all along. We'll see. The other bit of investigating that I have not done yet is confirm that it's the stock 2.5L engine and has not had a 2.2 swapped in. Just because the seller kept saying it WAS a 2.2L which is not possible unless there was a swap since it's an automatic. It's been very cold the last few nights and I have not been able to crawl around it to see. I've looked at the battery and it's contacts and ...that's about it so far. Yes. Not certain what engine is in it yet bought it anyway....no regrets. Would be awesome if someone HAD swapped in a 2.2L though. I think the whine could be the power steering, now that I think about it - very familiar noise.

I really wanted a manual, but no, it's an automatic with the 2.5L. Our Autozone has an alternator for $123 which seems high, but - it's an older car...

Thanks! I will prove to be a pest that's for certain. Completely 100% new to Subarus, but I really do love this car.

It was an awesome drive I've wanted one since college, but they are in high demand here - snowy winters, FINALLY I got one. Very excited. Little electrical problem discovered at the grocery store, will get onto fixing it ASAP. Fortunately I have another vehicle I can drive in the meantime. She is very pretty, no? You can't see it in the photos but there is a bit of rust right above where the metal body meets the plastic bumper. Not any more than my '05 Taurus. These are really good cars aren't they? I was torn between a Subaru Outback and a Jeep Cherokee. Well, we have a Jeep Cherokee and I honestly am not crazy about the stiff suspension, so I started looking for Outbacks. People think I'm nuts for buying an 18 year old car, but what can I say?

Thanks! Have many things to check tomorrow. Hope I am snowed in so I can work on car rather than go to work

Next question - the engine runs at 1000 RPM when idling - is this OK? I have two vehicles idle higher than this - a 99 Jeep Cherokee and an '05 ford Taurus. both seem to idle too high. Also there is a noticeable whine, which wasn't there before the issue at the store.

Battery posts are spotless, my jeep did have that problem earlier this winter. Was it dumb to buy a '96? She is so much fun to drive, I love the mix of car/SUV so much more than the stiff handling of the Jeep and the boxer is so quiet compared to the inline 6 of the Cherokee. I'm not kidding when I say that I drove her for two hours straight last night just for fun through drifting snow.

Ok. So I will check voltage tomorrow AM, provided she starts. I suppose I could do the alternator and starter. She's almost 20 years old.

I have not checked the voltage, I will need to dig out the voltimeter. I just LOve. This. Car. The voltimeter will be tomorrow. I can replace the alternator and go from there. There was no brake light just the standard 'oh you turned hte key' lights and then click click click when I tried to turn it over. Headlights were bright AFTER the jump. But I keep thinking they were dim before. I'd driven it about 15 miles prior to the stop at the store

Oh! yes the headlights were bright after the jump AND I had all accessories - so maybe it IS the starter?