1 Lucky Texan

******but i forget sometimes too******* lol!!!!

My guess is 4EAT - no. But, isn't the new auto different and maybe the clutches would be OK? you didn't say what car.

That is why some people don't like the laptop - based cables, just too much gear to be careful of. Now there IS a unit that has a wireless bluetooth connection to your laptop. Might work with a netbook and maybe a smartphone. like this; http://www.dealextreme.com/p/obdii-bluetooth-car-diagnostic-cable-black-blue-orange-dc-12v-42825 dunno how you get the disc data into a netbook or onto a phone though....

Yeah, I have a mdeium/cheap model and it's been great. Git it from Amazon. FreezeFrame, reads CANbus. - my boss'es $200 scanner couldn't connect to a co-worker's Mercedes, my several year old $90 Innova did. And it hasn't been connected to get updates since I bought it. (note to self, check for updates to your scanner) They are nice to have around, but I use it on my friends and kids cars more than my own.

If it's rebuilt, doesn't that mean the DOJ 'can' is Subaru?

Good post. As for the clunk, is it 'felt' as well as heard?. Is it more likely to happen when moving over a bump or dip, or when maneuvering tightly but on flat ground? Just throwing out some wild guesses here; torque bind, frozen U-joint, broken anti-sway bar, bad strut or strut mount.

In addition to your cars other fluids - it has been known for people to get plastic bags or other debris melted onto the exhaust. Anyway - hope you can narrow it down.

a thorough compression test might help you decide where to begin.

I think I'd start with the misfire in cyl 1, and maybe get an exhaust and intake system from a junkyard. not sure really. interesting path you've started down!

http://www.cgperformance.com/subaru_block.htm

And, on other cars, I've had oil filters and oil pressure sending units leak.

sometimes you need to actually get your hands on the rubber boots to find splits. Don't just glance in one area. Also, a replacement axle put on my WRX by Service King after a wreck started leaking grease out the end of the boot. It was never clear to me if it was 'over packed' or the band was loose - just another possible failure mode I guess.

hmmm, if you were really good at masking, you could scrape off ALL the original lines, and then create a 'custom' design for your defogger. maybe something that looks like this;

I dunno, experiment with one trace and see. I don't see how it could hurt. If it doesn't work, just scrape it off and fix it with the permatex stuff.

I haven't used it, but here's one; http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-15067-Window-Defogger-Repair/dp/B000HBI9YQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321335392&sr=8-1

seems like I ran across some Aussie sand rail guys that were filling in to make closed deck blocks. Dunno if they also were drilling out for coolant passages or exactly what.....

Get those axle nuts checked. They can be tightened in the air by sticking a big screwdriver in the rotor vent and using the brake caliper to 'backup' the socket torque. i just replaced an axle this way on the wife's Outback. Supposedly, tightening them on the ground can somehow mess up the bearing? And leaking valvecovers or powersteering lines or ??? could lead to odd smells if the fluid gets on the exhaust.

The wagner's were on sale at RockAuto. I don't recall any name like ThermoQuiet on the box or any other. They DID seem to be long-lasting(they probably had half their life left when I tossed them), but they were were MUCH less grippy than either the stockers or the Centrics on there now.

When was the last time the fluid was replaced? maybe time for new fluid too.

yep, least expensive is definitely most frightening!

Unless you are running high/max performance tires, I think the Stoptech SP pads might be a waste for daily drivers. Try the Centric PQ Ceramic. they are very grippy. Tires stop your car - brakes stop your wheels.

the OEM pads were fine on both my vehicles. The worst pads I tried were Wagner on the wife's outback. So far, VERY pleased with Centric PosiQuiet Ceramic on the Outback - as good or better than OEM, fine intial bite cold - fine modulation - never noticed fade but that car doesn't get any 'performance' use. No noise and doesn't seem to dust any worse than OEM. Running Stoptech Street Performance on the WRX (fronts right now) and they are awesome. They do dust more than OEM. I WILL continue with them. none of those were 'expensive' and I see no reason to change to anything else. got 'em from KNS online.

Got those done this morning. The old bearings felt rough but weren't wobbling. And the tensioner pulley's bolt seemed loose - well, not tight, as in, easily removed. weird. not as easy as an oil change, but much easier than struts!

yeah, definitely check the alt. voltage at higher rpms. I'd re-do every ground connection I could find as well. fuel pressure/volume too.

get/borrow one of those infrared thermometer 'gun'-looking deals and compare temps left-to-right side after a drive. Also, have someone pace the car on foot in a parking lot and listen to one side vs the other. I had bad front bearing after some insurance wreck repair work - there definitely was a coupla millimeters movement rocking the wheel after lifting the car - the other side was immovable. Uh, this was on the front.