1 Lucky Texan

doesn't seem like rod knock. also, doesn't seem like a weak TB tensioner but, I wouldn't ignore that possibility. you may want to skip ahead

there isn't going to be an easy solution. I dunno if sunglasses exist with circular polarization - if they do, may be worth a try. the LCD panels may have a 45* angle of polarization as a compromise since most polarized sunglasses have a vertical poraization. I suspect tilting your head one direction brightens the view while the other direction darkens it?

sure it isn't a wheel bearing? there's half a dozen ways Subaru wheel bearings can fail. worth checking for. Get the rear in the air, use a mechs stethoscope and listen to each side for comparison as you turn the wheel. Feel for vibration on the coil spring, lift/rock in the 12 -to-6 oclock direction too. should be no movement - not even 2mm. you could try FWD fuse , if that makes a difference, could be an issue with the wet clutch pack I guess. Any bucking/jerking in tight parking maneuvers?

many people do 3 drain/fill/drive-a-little procedures to DIY a fluid change. Because the torque converter holds a little over half the fluid that won't just won't drain out, 3 drain and fills gets you about 85% or so new fluid. Some folks who experience 'delayed engagement' or other trans problems might throw a bottle of Trans-X in on the last fill. there are other trickier ways to do fluid changes. one of these helps me with trans and front diff fluid changes;

you can only get about 40-50% of the trans fluid out. Doesn't seem like you drove very far....fill it and drive the car. ATF is the only fluid level you check while idling, move the shifter thru each gear when you approach full, check several times and sneak-up on the full level very slowly, there's only 1/3 pint or something tiny like that between low and full - NOT 1 quart like engine oil. you might check the front differential fluid too. a previous owner may have underfilled it. Or maybe it also needs servicing?

you may be able to use electronics cleaner to clear-out the oil. It is unlikely to be causing a problem but, I'd try to clean it. Or, try brake cleaner or WD-40, maybe followed by electronics cleaner? was there a wreck or work done before the the car became inoperable? Sometimes when the engine is worked on, the IACV's hose gets dislodged from under the intake tubing.

thanx!

you can search for KS threads here and there are several youtube videos.

the 2 things that come to mind first are; moisture on bad plug wires or the coil, or oil on the plug boots. Early morning dew/moisture can cause arcing/misfiring that goes away when engine heat drys the high voltage system. Some folks have used a plant 'mister' with water to look for the issue - while idling after warming up, spray the mister around unti the car begins stumbling. Doing this at night can sometimes allow you you see arcing. If there was oil on the wire boots, you need new valve cover gaskets. given that there may be a bad fuel issue, fuel filter may need changing now. you might scan the ECU even without a CEL on. There may be pending codes. One more idea, older soobs often have bad/cracked knock sensors. They are cheap and easy to replace and may not throw a code. you might try a search on the above issues and see if others have had success with similar symptoms.

if the 90 and 50 are on the same bank(1 & 3 ?), maybe bent valves on that head?

^^^ didn't know that about the 770 gaskets. good info

turbo is tempting in mountain country but, IMHO, most of them are too risky. wonder if it and the 2009 got their timing belt systems serviced properly?

our NA models have a fuel pump that can lose pressure due to a broken metal cap and/or ruptured o-ring.

the reason it runs well after a reset is likely due to a bad sensor - as fairtax mentioned - the car uses a factory rom 'map' to run the car with and then uses the sensors to modify a:f ratios in 'learning' mode. I'd suggest you may need a starter solenoid rebuild too. Wouldn't hurt to check the knock sensor.

Herman Melville, Moby-Di ck or,The Whale

("Momma makes us kids come inside when Daddy works on the car.") did you shed any blood? that seems to be the sacrifice I have to make when wrenching.

pull plugs in the morning to look for a wet one? leaking injector if found.

make sure none of the brackets/braces for the bars are cracked/broken.

if you turned the engine over with a wrench successfully before trying the starter - can't be locked due to interference. Some folks use the wrong crank sprocket mark to install the belt. check the connections at the starter. bad coincidence maybe that the starter needs a solenoid rebuild as mentioned above - contacts and new plunger are cheap. very common for older Denso starters.

maybe IACV hose dropped off the intake? (just drove thru there a few hours ago!)

I have never adjusted the handle on eoiher of my cars. I have the rear up on stands, I set the brake handle to the first click, I adjust each side until I 'jjuuuusssttt' can't spin the tire with one hand. Then, when I release the handle - it's free, but locks pretty good with just a few clicks.

maybe I'm still confused - stripped the points or the threads? (nut is spinning in place) ? I'd try heating it up and then spraying it with penetrant - as it cools, it may pull penetrant into the threads. the idea about using a slightly smaller socket is good - and try nudging it in the tighten direction and then loosening. I think even one of those butane crack pipe lighters would work on small/medium sized nuts so - maybe shiels sensitive stuff in the area with HD aluminum foil and heat that sucker for 20-30 seconds, spray with PB blaster or 50:50 mix of acetone/ATF. Uh, be careful about fumes/flames OK?

was there any oil on the plug wire boot?

nvermind - stripped, not 'stuck'. aren't there nut splitters? got room for that?

did my WRX at a little over 8 years - under 64K miles. Belt seemed OK - but 2 rollers were very 'loose' and on of those, the toothed idler, was a little wobbly. no regrets