hilux_1990

I can't remember what the ignition/steering column was like on my EA81, but here's what I did on my EA82: I'd picked up a tilt steering column to replace the basic one and naturally it required a different key. I went down to my closest Subaru dealer and showed them my registration details and he was able to give me my vehicles key code. Then I took the steering column assembly to a good locksmith who punched my vehicles key code into his expensive computer program and was then able to re-key the ignition barrel using new, adjustable pins. You can also have the barrel keyed to suit one of your existing, worn keys, but the brand new keys are best.

Hi I've got a 1991 EA82 carby wagon. I'm swapping in the entire dash (including dash wire loom) from an EFI sedan that had all the bells and whistles. The sedan didn't have the trip computer, but it has a 6pin plug to the display (normal clock only uses a 4pin plug). Does anyone know what components make up the trip computer? ie buttons, display, control box? Some photos would be nice too? I've never seen one in an EA82 before... Thanks, David.

I had an 83 Touring Wagon with a digital dash... at some point the speedo display started to work intermittently, ie. the two digits were dead (black), or it was working perfectly! Everything else worked fine. Eventually it was replaced with another cluster on which some of the trip computer fuctions weren't working correctly. Seeing as someone has also mentioned Fords and GMs, apparently Nissan's digital dash was problematic too. Similarly the fix was to re-solder some dry joints on the circuit board.

As mentioned, I've used the IPF headlight upgrade (90w/145w). I can't comment on lower wattage globes, but when I tried operating both the low and high beam elements in a single globe it blew! I'm sure 145w x 4 is enough anyway... :bday:

Even if you upgrade the wiring though, could the housing take a 100w or 130w globe without melting?

Thanks GD. This is my first L-series so I haven't looked into what workshop manuals are available... would anyone know where I could source the wiring diagrams for the Touring Wagon?

Thanks Trogdor... Not to worry, but all the 86+ basic wagons that I've seen have the big single lights. I'll have a chat to my local sooby 'dismantler' and see if he has seen them...

Thanks, yeah I guess I thought this board was more busy... :bday:

I'm still confused as to what models you can get these parts from? all the wagons after about '86 that I've seen have a single headlight reflector on either side of the grill? trogdor: I can see on this page http://fourdoorser.tripod.com/kanga.html you have done the conversion to Kanga :-)

Sorry for spoiling any possible joke, but I think that "HID lights" was referring to those High Intencity Discharge lights... :bday:

I did a search here and elsewhere and couldn't find anything so my apologies if you're all aware of this already... Here in Australia the L-series DL and GL station wagons didn't get a tachometer in the guage cluster, whereas the Touring Wagon model did. I'm thinking that physically both clusters are the same size, but the more basic cluster has some blanking plates with the speedo and car-picture-thing more in the center. I figure I should be able to just bolt in the entire tacho-cluster assembly, but a wrecker has informed me it would require a completely different wiring loom to operate. Therefore in order to manually connect the tacho gauge I have thought of 3 possibilities: 1. the tacho is electrical and would need to be wired into the ignition 2. the tacho operates on a separate mechanical link to the transmission 3. the tachno is mechanically linked to the speedo/odo inside the guage cluster itself That's where I'm at so far... hopefully someone else has done this already? Thanks.

Hi everyone. Sorry if this question is obvious or anything, but I've never had the different Sooby generations side by side to compare... I had an 83 Touring wagon in the past with the quad sealed-beam headlights. Now I've got a 90 GL wagon with these sort of 12" wide flashy, built-in headlights. Are the quad headlights somehow a direct swap in? How about these round headlights you mention Adam? ....at present I have 4x IPF rectangle sealed-beam upgrades that seem somewhat superseded.

In my mind, the Turbos are a whole different animal, and probably more suited to 2wd anyway. But if you can find a 4wd Turbo wagon with a D/R, forget all the rest of this advice - buy it on the spot!! I thought this warranted a separate post... check this out: 1992 Subaru L Series Turbo Wagon 1.8 Litre Fuel Injected DOHC Turbo dual range 4WD programmable engine management Turbosmart BOV turbo timer boost guage filter, sports wheel, sound system, 3inch exhaust remote keyless entry with alarm & immobiliser air conditioning, sola roof racks, towbar Apparently no body rust, although vehicle is currently on the coast of Tasmania (ya know, that little island territory! ) Vehicle has done 200,000km plus BUT the previous owner was a Subaru mechanic who imported a turbo engine from Japan. Motor had 80,000km when dropped in, aparently done another 30-50,000km since, but there is obviously no way to check Most likely it's on the original tranny still too... Any thoughts?? thanks for anyone who read this far

thealleyboy: I'm assuming that you have the same models and trim lines as the US market. If this is not the case, some of this information may not be accurate. The Touring Wagon (sometimes called GL model) was the top-of-the-line model. Electric everything, everything standard, nice interior.... they also had the high roof with the "touring wagon" decals. Unfortunately the DL model, due to our ailing economy at the time, looks rather 'cheap' by comparison. Vinyl floors - no carpet. Speedo but no tachometer. No electrics, manual everything... No power steering. Single radio speaker in dash, no 4 speaker luxury. Cloth seats, no velour. Subaru Australia also brought out a sports pack (or 'sportswagon') which simply comprised of a brushguard, towbar, roof racks, sunraysia wheels and fancy decals. ...the 88/89's being the best of the lot. Why do you say this? what about the 90-93 models? I agree and disagree with what your mechanic says about the 85-87's... I think this mechanic guy was comparing the models that had the EA82 engine with the older EA81 models. I would assume the newer engine brings more power. I have 'test driven' both some standard EA82's and one MPFI EA82-E vehicle and let me just say the fuel injected model definately has some grunt to it. Unless I was daydreaming I'm pretty sure I could hear the engine sucking in through the air intake as I took her past 4000rpms

Thanks for all your replies everyone. I've been busy researching during the weekend so you might be interested to know what I have discovered about the different models. 85-86 all were carb'd except the turbos. Wagon and sedan used EA82, Hatch and Brat(brumby) used EA81 Apparently Australia got NO turbo L-series vehicles. Any EA82-T engine that is in Australia will have been imported from Japan. 87- introduced the SPFI, still some carb'd I can't remember that exact months, but late 88 to early 1990 was the ONLY period the Australian L-series vehicles were fuel injected. Essentially though around half the 1989 wagons here will have Multi-Point Fuel Injection, the rest have a carby. This also means EA82-E engines are hard to find at wreckers and replacements are also often imported from Japan. 88(EA82 cars)-No more carbs. all are SPFI, MPFI and turbo.. I really don't know the specs of the EA81 cars too well.. besides you guys in OZ had the brumby until 94(?) As mentioned, 1989 was the only year for fuel injection. No turbos at all. The Touring Wagon or GL model (top of the line model) unfortunately ended in 1989! this was the year they brought out the Liberty wagon as a replacement. The GL model or Sportswagon (sports = bumper and roof racks) was the cheapo line which went through till 94/95. As you say, I believe the Brumby went until about 94/95 too. ....Also, 88 was the last year for th D/R 5 spd tranny All 4WD Touring Wagons and Sportswagons here have a dual range tranny. The automatic models unfortunately have pushbutton 4WD which is only single range.

bushbasher: thanks for your reply. I got my current 1983 wagon in 1997, and I vaguely remember someone saying the 85-87 models were a step down from the 83 I was looking at. Sometimes, in passing, people make similar comments about those models but don't say why *shrugs* According to the Australian RedBook there was a 1.8i engine in the 88-90 wagons - is that the fuel injected engine? I definately need dual range 4wd - was the 89 wagon the absolute last to have dual range? I assume the the full-time 4wd wagons (or AWD) wouldn't have a dual range transmission... Hopefully I haven't bombarded you with toooo many questions... I've been searching the Internet all day for information but there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the different wagon models

Hello everyone. I just signed up to this forum today and it's my first post... hopefully someone may be able to help with some purchasing advice. I did some searches but couldn't find anything about buying a used vehicle. I appreciate anyone reading this longish post :-) I've had a 1983 Subaru 1800 touring wagon for about 6 years now. It's been 'everywhere', even half way around Australia. Unfortunately it had an untimely meeting with a tree and suspension/steering damage plus radiator support damage means it will be a definate insurance write-off. :boohoo: Time prevents me restoring this one myself. Having decided to end this particular chapter of my life I am now looking for a similar vehicle. Ideally it would be great to pick up an 1983/84 4wd wagon but unfortunately most are going to be pretty tired by now. To be brutal about my own 83 wagon, the interior was tired, it was on its 2nd engine, it needed carby work, possible exhaust work... A Subaru mechanic has told me the 1985/86/87 Subaru wagons are supposedly 'gutless' in the performance department, so I don't really know what that means? I have decided that looking for a vehicle that is 6 years newer would be a better idea, meaning a 1988/89 thru to around 1993 4wd wagon. It would be great to find one with some goodies like bullbar/nudgebar, sunraysia wheels, lift kit (I had none of these on mine) but this may mean the vehicle has been off road. I don't really know what was available in terms of models/engines, but I need a 4wd and it must be a wagon. If anyone has any thoughts on buying such a vehicle it would be a great help? Thanks in advance, David.