lmdew

Great!

It does happen, and more likely if the engine has been overheated. Fix the coolant leak and make sure the system is properly filled and burped. If you are still loosing coolant you should see it in the exhaust or bubbles in the overflow.

Have a 99 2.5 DOHC running, but a slight valve tick (bent valve) About 195K on it. $150+shipping from 80916

What did you pay for the Engine?

Depends what you mean by Flush! Some shops do a power flush where fluid is cycled back and forth under pressure to break deposits loose. This is almost always a bad idea! Flush = change the fluid. Lot's of threads on this. Drain and fill 3 times with short drives or allow the trans to pump out the old fluid by disconnecting a trans cooler line. Good idea, keeping the fluid new.

Most likely stuff in the track. You have to drop the headliner to get the sun shade back on the tracks. Time consuming but not too bad. Don't try pulling all the plastic trim when it's cold, they break more often.

I'd take the time to pull the timing covers and make sure the T-belt or gears are not the problem. www.car-part.com is another good source. $200-$300 for shipping is what I've paid in the past.

You pull and pay 2.2 $300 New T-belt, seals, plugs, valve cover gaskets $200 So for about $500 and your time you are going down the road for Years!

Make sure the noise is not a timing part that's loose. Does your better half's car go down the road at the speed limit? If so just be happy with the 2.2, so easy to work on, Reliable. I have the same 98 Outback 5sp with 2.2. I tow dolly's with Subarus in tow, The 2.2 gets the job done!

Make sure you check the coolant level in the radiator when cold Drop a used 95 2.2 with matching EGR configuration in and be done with it when it starts overheating.

Congrats!

Look in the Meet and Greet for a Subaru Shop in your area. Use a Subaru Shop that has a good rep!

You are on the right track. I can usually get stuck ones off by putting 2 large straight slot screw drivers behind and using them to apply a little force to move the gear out. - DO NOT PUT THE SCREW DRIVER BEHIND THE TRIGGER TEETH - Go Easy the Crank Seal is right behind the gear. If it moves out and stops, hit it with pb blaster and then use a rubber hammer and move it back in. Repeat!

Use the Subaru Trans Fluid! Pretty low mileage for a flush. I would not do a power flush. Drain and Fill, if you want flush it out pull the cooler hose off the radiator and allow some of the old fluid to pump out or drain and fill 3 times. I flush older Subarus 95-99 with the coolant hose, Drain > Fill > PULL THE HOSE Start the car and let about 3/4 gal pump out. Turn off, fill do it again. It usually takes me about 3 gallons to do the complete job.

I've flushed and bleed several, all got better. My son's improved with a new hose.

All checked by a voltage drop check.

Yep, check the voltage drop at the Starter. Load Pro leads will help you out! http://brighterideas.com/portfolio/starter-voltage-drop/

Great Training http://brighterideas.com/dan-sullivan-training-videos/

Been on the USMB for a long time. Love working on rust free CO Subarus. I hit the Junk yards often. My full time job is a Maintenance Instructor for SkyWest Airlines, so I travel a lot. If you need help, let me know. Larry

SkyWest Airlines, whom I teach maintenance classes for is building a Hangar there. If I get up there to teach, we could get together for a cold one.

If you ever get up to the USA, Colorado Springs, CO let me know. I have a spare you can drive and plenty of extra room.

Did you find what you needed? Welcome!

25% off online parts orders are nice! Sorry Ryan left parts, he was Great. Posting older Subaru's or ones that need some work here before they go to auction would be Supper! Thanks, Larry

How many miles on the car? What codes were causing the CEL? A dent in the exhaust wold not cause the piston problem.

I've used a couple and they work fine.