nelstomlinson

The problem is that we don't do this every year, so we don't remember about the square mark versus the little arrow. We also just realized we forgot to pull the pin out of the tensioner, so we would have had to go back in there anyway! Oh, well, that's going to make redoing it way easier, so it's all working out.

This one is definitely not interference, we can bar the crank over with the cam in any position.

And my son just found a picture of the crank pulley properly lined up. We should have lined up the square mark, not the notch 90 degrees away from it. Oh, well, we'll do it again tomorrow.

We got the new timing belt in, and now when we try to crank it over it doesn't want to turn. We can bar it over by hand with no problem, if we take the spark plugs out it spins over quickly with the starter, but with the plugs in place it sounds as if the engine is kicking back against the starter. The Aisin waterpump kit was all made in Japan stuff except for the Mitsuboshi timing belt, which was from Thailand.

In the worst case, you're probably getting at least $300 worth of parts for the next one you buy.

The current water pump is an aftermarket already, we replaced that around '17 I think. I need to get the maintenance log out of the glovebox and re-read when we did what on this one. I think what you're seeing that looks wrong is the broken belt is bunched up above and left of the cam pulley. It does look a little like the toothed idler, I guess.

The kits I'm finding have GMB idlers, any good?

It was a mitsuboshi belt that broke. We took the toothed idler off, and that's definitely what broke the belt: it's seized up solid. Pretty sure that one was factory original.

Where is a good place to source a high quality complete kit with belt, tensioner, all the idlers and maybe a water pump too?

The timing belt was broken. I don't think we had even 40k miles on it. The toothed idler doesn't turn, so I suspect it seized up and snapped the belt. Anyway, we'll need to get a complete kit on the way.

We'll push it into the shop tonight and get in to the timing belt. It's really weird that it could just suddenly skip a few teeth, but that is looking likely now.

Should have added that we can clear the codes, try to start the engine and the P0340 comes back after a few seconds of cranking.

Just driving along and the engine shut down. The only stored code is P0340, cam position sensor. The P0170 fuel trim code was pending. We put in a CPS from an engine that ran when we parked it. Didn't fix it, so we checked continuity from the CPS connector to the B20 connector at the back end of the engine. Wires are good. We checked continuity from the B20 connector to the B84 connector on the ECU. Wires are good. What else should we check? We will have a new CPS from NAPA tomorrow, but new electrical parts are a crapshoot...

Subies are definitely more popular on the coast, where there's more snow and less cold.

A little update on this. I had bypassed the ignition switch, ran power from battery to starter solenoid through a momentary contact switch on the dash. We noticed that it only started hard if we turned the key to on, then cranked the engine. If we turn the key briefly to start, then let it go back to run, then push the starter button, it starts easily. Probably the computer is confused. With all the problems my old diesels have, they are still so much better than this.

Meanwhile some of my old diesels will burn a quart of lube oil in 50 miles. Check your oil regularly, add it when needed. It's pretty easy to add oil on these little Subies.

We think that the boots are cracking in the cold. Certainly the aftermarket axles have garbage boots. Preheating wouldn't do much, since they're exposed to the cold air as soon as we start driving.

Well, I went looking for OEM boots and found this: GSP NCV66037XD Xtreme Duty CV Axle. They claim it's good down to -50F, and it is rarely colder than that here, just a few days a year. We'll see, I guess. It's good to know that the '96 and '01 axles interchange, thanks.

We're replacing the front axles every year, because the cheapie boots crack in the cold. I remember I used to be able to get silicon boots for my VW axles 40 years ago, and they didn't crack at -60F. Do we have a source for cold weather boots that'll fit the '96 and '01 Legacy front axles?

If I unplug the o2 sensor, that would force it into open loop and make the problem go away, if that were the problem, right?

My fuel pressure gauge only goes up to 15psi, but there is definitely more than that. The scan tool reports engine coolant temps that are close to ambient, after it's sat all night.

It's turned cold again, and the old silver subie is starting hard again, so I took it to a pro. He's telling me that the aftermarket o2 sensor works when hot, but isn't working right when cold, so the computer floods the engine on a cold start. Sounds plausible, I guess. He's trying to source an OEM o2 sensor now.

We're seeing newer Subies advertising PZEV engines. That sounds like trouble - when did that start?

What's the dividing lines between generations 2, 3 and 4? I wasn't kidding about not knowing much about this century's vehicles.

She has a budget of $6k, wants something newer than ma and pa have, and wants to stay away from modern innovations like hybrids, continuously variable transmissions and variable valve timing. I know to avoid the early 2.5L DOHC, but I really know nothing about the Subies from this century. So, what's an age range that'll be a sweet spot between "old and odd and falling apart" and "too new and trendy to be reliable?" Are there models or features to avoid?