[Outback power tap]

We bought a pre-owned 2001 Outback wagon a couple months ago. After reading the owners manual, I see you're not supposed to use the cigarette lighter as a power tap for a CD palyer, etc. I also see in the manual there's power tap in the way back and another between the front seats in the upper part of the console. This part of our console has a coin holder instead. Does anyone know if the wiring for the power tap is aleady in the console and if I can replace the coin holder with the power tap?

 

Thanks

[hard to start after fueling]

Maybe check the fuel filler cap and make sure its sealing right.

[1991 Legacy runs jerky on highway]

I'd try the fuel filter.

[Serious Question, Why do dealers charge so much for service?]

I would add to shimonmor's excellent list of reasons the following: Taxes- Fica, Medicare, Unemployment, Workman's Compensation. These things are huge and must not only be paid, but also be administered, meaning someone has to be paid to get it all done. I sometimes wonder why anyone would go into business at all, given the crap that has to be dealt with.

 

 

Tom

 

You're right that all these expenses must be covered. But don't indi shops have these same expenese too? Maybe the training and cert exepenses and probably the tools, but the health care, and the rest are the same.

[Cleaning leather seats]

Thanks, I'll get it a try.

[Cleaning leather seats]

I have a 2001 Outback with leather covered seats. The lether is getting stiff and needs some reconditioning. Does anyone have any product suggestions for cleaning the seats. This is the first car I've owned with leather.

[Stuck wheel]

Just loosen the lug nuts while its on the ground and whack the tire with a good size whacking tool. My 93 Camery was notorious for stuck wheels. I'd hit the tire with a sledge hammer at top, bottom, left and right a few times and it would come loose. I carried the hammer in the trunk along with the jack and spare in case I had a flat.

[Piston slap and 6 cyl engines?]

Just a quick followup - The dealer's top Subaru tech turned out to be a good friend of a long time neighbor. He listened to the engine and said yes the car has a slight case of the slap, but he thought everything else sounded normal (01, with 31K). He then started up a '97 so I could hear what slapping really sounds like. It fit Setright's description of sounding like a diesel. I took it to the shop who works on my other cars and they confirmed what the dealer's tech said.

 

Anyway's we ended up buying the car the other night. I now realize this is the 4th Subaru we've owned - '78, '80 (new), '86 and now '01.

[Piston slap and 6 cyl engines?]

Hello, we're looking at used Outbacks and drove a couple yesterday. One was a 2001 with the 6 cyl engine in it. It sounded great and ran great. The other was a 2001 with a 2.5L 4 cyl engine. As soon as I started it it went tick, tick, tick ... for about 5 minutes, then sounded fine after that. From what I've read this didn't sound like the "slap" but I'm not sure, it sounded more like a lifter.

 

What I'd like to know is if Subaru fixed the slap problem in the 6 cyl engines and what does piston slap actually sound like?

 

Thanks, Steve