Frink

How long should a brake job last on a commuter car, 12 miles to work on a 45 mph road? I just dumped $430 on a brake job last Feb ($90 pads, $125 rotors, $80 labor). 14K mile later, the fronts are gone again. Did bring it in to the asme shop a few months ago due to squealing. Said they are fine - metal pads will squeal. 40% pad life left. A few days ago the griding started. Today is another $500. Newly found shop states the calipers were not releasing and that caused the premature failure. Ultra reliable local shop this time and I trust thair judgment. Saved me > $1000 on my Caravan. Other (crap) shop wanted to do struts and strut bearings. One Swab bar link and bushings later - $200.

Wiper ground wire fixed me too.

Like the looks the this tire. However, as with everything else in life, looks can be worthless. Will spring for these next weekend. Good? Bad? 98 Impreza OBW

Sea#3 wins the cigar. Exactly what it was. And now....my AWD works perfectly! Thought it was a fluke that it worked in just the driveway. Nope. Drove 5 miles, hit a snow covered side road and went rally car mode. Perfect lock up. Why? TECU confused by the brake pedal being "on"? Tranny shift lock brain cramp? Thanks again, Frink

I'm going to start tracing it out today. I did change a bunch of light bulds just last Fall. I wonder.... -10F here so I'll let the garage warm up a bit. I'm going to start in the back and work forward. Stand by....

My Subaru started something strange about a month ago. Whenever I press the brake pedal the dash lights illuminate. This only occurs when the light are off. If the lights are on, all works as normal however, I can move the shifter from Park into Drive without pressing the brake pedal. Quirk #2. The third brake light over the rear window illuminates when i thurn the lights on. If I hit the brakes, the third light will become brighter like the brake lights. Normal? This may or may not have coincided with the intermittent AWD capability I'm working thru now. See thread http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=28198&highlight=Frink

I can't seem to find a manual (other than FSM). Can someone advise if there's a Chilton's or Haynes manual that covers my car? FSM would be nice but ouch, they're up there in price. Frink

What types of switches could have been installed in the dash just to the left and below the steering wheel in my 98 IOBW? I want to find a factory switch and cobb it up to make a AWD / FWD switch to solve my "no AWD" situation. Thanks Frink

Would a problem with my ABS contrbute to this? My brakes have always been a problem in the snow. Lock up, grind, rattle and slide in the slippery stuff. Seemed like from the info here that ABS is a separate beast from AWD system.

Follow up question to this great success story. MY 98 Impreza OBW is exhibiting intermitent AWD capability. I wonder if it's possible to reset the TCU? I've disconnected my battery for 2 hours, reconnected it and still get no AWD after a few minutes driving. Lot's of snow here in the Northeast now. Plenty of opportunity to test my AWD. I'm leaning toward the switch to control the DS #3 solenid myself.

I have ethe same issue with my 98 Impreza OBW. I'd love to do the switch. Can someone advise where to find this wire? I'd much rather have a switch that have the car tell me I need 4wd. Loved my 94 Loyale with the button in the shifter. BTW, when I press the brake pedal, the dash lights come on. Sign of something related?

Tires new last year. All essentially the same. On pavement, I can't tell what's going on. In the snow, I'm a flopping fish. Spin spin spin. Here's a tidbit. One I step on the brakes with the light offs, the dash lights illuminate along with the standard "click" of the transmission unlock. This smacks of a grouding/wire problem. ??

Whoops. $400 part? Roll connector inside the steering wheel. Ouch! Junk yard item in a few weeks.

Thanks for the feedback. Just had the tranny flushed. No help. Funny tho. It will stay engaged for 1/2 mile or so in the snow, then stop locking up. FWD only then. After it stops AWD forward, reverse will not work either. Stop and run an errand, come out and it will be AWD backing up and AWD for a short distance. This switch grounds the wire to the DS C solenoid? Runs power there? What could explain this intermittent behavior? I'm thinking if it works for a short time, then it's not mechanical. I'm crawling under later today to see if it's mechanical, like a wire, etc.

I did have the CE light pop on a few times in the last week or so. Then off for good. Two days later - ice storms hit. Clearly, AWD was not working. Just drained and filled the rear end diff to eliminate that possibility. No help. Disconnected the battery just now to clear the codes. Will see if that helps. Power light? Unclear what that is. All light come on, ABS on then off. Starts, all lights off (except for airbag light - I know...I have to get that fixed - $400 for the part). Thanks for the help. Great site.