1 Lucky Texan

if it fires with the fluid - points to fueling problem, something making the ECU inhibit injector firing , or no fuel pressure, 'maybe' bad fuel? etc. nothing wrong with checking cam/crank timing. scan for codes too.

will it fire if you spray starting fluid in the intake? fuel pump cap/o-ring problem?

if you can get to it, maybe some kind of shim behind the lower hinge plate?

didn't know that!

if those wheels are 'upsized' in width, that also needs to be calculated into the issue. roughly, you want 1/2 the difference in width subtracted from the offset, so, if you are going from 6.5" 48 offset, a 7" 40 offset isn't crazy - BUT, that means the inside and outside of the rim are ~ 1/4" closer to suspension parts or wheel liners.

oh yeah - he's right - there isn't ENOUGH offset so, more likely to be rubbing on the fender. duh. Spacer will make things worse I think!

no, I think you first analysis is right on, hiring someone else to do the work? - much better to have them source the part, or at least, buy it locally so returns are easier. Even more important if you don't have a spare vehicle.

trouble-shooting to clear a code isn't always as easy as replacing w'ever sensor/part is mentioned in the DTC's definition. if he has little/no trouble removing them, labor should minimal - but those parts are kinda pricey to replace unless you are certain they are the cause of poor emissions/perfomance. call 2-3 shops and ask - they do enough that they will likely be within 10% of actual charges.

could be a bad rad cap - the system is supposed to hold - - what - 13-15 lbs w'ever. Maybe the cap is bad. you can buy (maybe borrow from the tool collection at the parts store) a cooling system pressure testing kit - shoul include a way to test the cap too. I've seen kits for sale at Amazon, never asked if the parts store had them to loan.

yeah, I changed 'em at 62k or so, looked like they could go another 20k .

NGK 'double platinum' as it came from the factory - maybe mentioned in the owner's manual and possibly on a sticker under the hood. There is an iridium plug from NGK that works too. no other brand is recommended as much and some are known to cause problems.

anything that says it's backwards compatible to one of the Dexron fluids should be fine. valvoline MaxLife Synthetic is what I used I think. so, Dex II, Dex III, Dex VI (?) not sure I've seen the one you mentioned. (trivia; Dexron I , except they didn't know it was 'I' at the time, anyway the first Dexron had a small percentage of whale oil in it!)

if you discovered someone has rolled-back the odometer and mismatched or otherwise fouled up some repair with the struts, how can that be Subaru's fault? your complaunt about wind noise may be deserved, there's a very well-known problem with the 'gusset' at the front of the front windows (near the mirror) http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/4377-drivers-window-wind-noise-fix/ http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/57446-wind-noise/?hl=+wind++noise&do=findComment&comment=463928 http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/251217-wind-noise.html http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/247657-excessive-wind-noise-highway-speeds.html http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/297977-another-wind-noise-solution-cheap-easy.html

possible cap/o-ring problem on fuel pump. http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/41182-symptoms-fuel-pump-o-ring-problem.html

get the nose up and fill/cycle the cooling system - there's been a coupla thread recently that 'seem' to indicate the car can be hard to purge air from.

check the 'sticky' threads here; http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/ put a small clamp or a coupla small zip ties on the coolant o'flow hose at the radiator nipple. the car may need it's 3rd set of spark plugs - tricky job so, stay with OEM double platinum for 60K+ miles of use. I love my wife's 03 H6 - awesome highway cruiser.

yikes - that's quite a gap. hope she can locate a different mechanic local to her when she gets back. glad it was kinda simple to fix.

I'm sure there's info somewhere on minimum thread engagement (w'ever) but I dunno what it is. Maybe some info over at tirerack.com ?

seems like an offset problem so, maybe try a few mm spacer(. Make CERTAIN your lugnuts; A. engage enough threads , B. have the correct seat profile for the new rims , C. are deep enough not to 'bottom-out' on the stud's end is the offset stamped on the new rims anywhere?

a little off-topic, but, Subaru long life 'required' or is there a Zerex or NAPA, etc. alternative?

t'stat was changed with last coolant but, yeah, I planned on changing it.

honestly I think coolant has been changed only once or twice so 4-6 years or so. Coolant 'looks' great.

well, I asked to try to get some data points. I'm now leaning towards doing all the big hoses and the oil cooler and WP bypass hoses next April. But I'm not gonna panic if they slide a year after that. aren't there throttle body and IACV and maybe other hoses as well? what about those? It may depend on the next travel plans outta State.

I saw that - cool. do we get a Certificate of Participation or ?????