UMT

99 Impreza Outback Sport. So, I pulled the codes this morning and got a 420 Fuel Tank Pressure Control Solenoid High Input and 440 Fuel Tank Pressure Control Solenoid Low Input Where are the above? Thanks, UMT

Ha. Thanks, my friend! UMT

Been looking at replacing front/rear struts on Ye Olde 99 Subaru Impreza Outback with 210,000 glorious miles and ran across 'strut tower braces' in my search for parts. What's up with a 'strut tower brace?' Is this simply a racing deal or would it be beneficial to add to 'the beast?' Thanks, UMT

I've had pretty good luck with giving rust spots a slight sanding,, hitting them with naval jelly, letting it dry, primering and then I have a can of forest green paint. I just brush it on and then maybe wet sand a little. You just can't get a perfect match. Having said that,, the last time I did the above has lasted about 1 1/2 years without any major spread but rust is returning so I'm going to give this POR 15 stuff that yous guys are talking about a try... UMT PS: what the hell is 'naval jelly' anyway?

I didn't know that Bondo was basically fiberglass. Sure as hell didn't know about the 'pinhole' filler. Thanks for the heads up! I'm old and about dead from everything else going on in this society, but I didn't know about pinhole filler. Screw it. I'll put some naval jelly on it and let it rust. Ha. Thanks, UMT

High School Trig? Ha. I'm 58 years old!.... I was talking to an 'old boy' mechanic the other day and I asked him how they did it in the old days before the fancy machines and he old me that they would rotate and 'scribe' the tires (Usually a nail put into a vise) and then use a tape measure to make sure front and rear of tires were the same distance. (I had a friend/neighbor who was an engineer did the same) I asked him how they moved the tires while adjusting the tie rod ends and he said: 'just put a little sand under the tire. They'll move.' Camber??? I suppose its about the same but I realize that the tires need a certain 'degree' of camber.... Oh well, off to the shop I go! Ha.... UMT

Ok, 99 Impreza Outback Sport. Getting all the typical Wisconsin salt on the roads rust spots. Mostly in the rear wheel well areas. School me on the use of fiberglass to repair..... Searched for threads and guys talk about it but not how to do it. Somewhat familiar with doing body work but have never tried to fiberglass anything... Seems better than 'ye olde Bondo treatment?????' Don't expect it to last forever..... Thanks, UMT

Please elaborate on the 'string method' for us who aren't familiar. Also curious about the 'arctan' process. Thanks, UMT

That is correct, sir. My Standard Poodle had to dodge the first one! BUT, he's really quick and no damage done. Ha.

My car, a 99 Impreza Outback Sport has rear drum brakes. And if I had followed my usual routine of rotating tires at 6K miles, I probably wouldn't have had any problem at all. My front disk brake tires had little to no problem and didn't need 'the sledge.' I still greased them up anyway at the contact points. Certainly can't hurt. I wouldn't consider hitting a rim with anything. Either way, I learned something.

Well, I gave it 2 wacks (not real hard ones) on the TIRE,,,, not the rim with the sledge and it popped right off. Took everybody's suggestion and did some wiring brushing and greased the contact area's, lug nuts... That's the end of this story. Thanks to all for the help, advice and laughs. (Now what am I going to do with all this KY Jelly? Ha)

Hey, I suppose that's good to know! Ha....

Some guy just told me that KY Jelly (Y'know, the sex stuff!) works the best! Whatever, I just don't want to have this problem again. (And I suppose I could find a use for the left over KY stuff! Ha. ) Thanks, guys. (and/or gals)! UNT

I'm joking around a bit here. I'm going to try the sledge hammer deal first and we'll see what happens. I'll let yous guys know! Ha. UMT

I put the boot to the front one and it took a bit but off it came off but I've never experienced anything like this rear one.. It's going to take a day or two for me to get back to it again so,, stay tuned..

By the way, do you guys (gals?) want to hear how it turns out? If the sledge/wood splitter (Ha) doesn't work out, I'm going to put the lug nuts on finger tight and go weaving around, hitting every bump I can... Does anybody know what worked? UMT

So, I go over to my buddies house tonite to borrow a sledgehammer and all he has is a sledge/wood splitter on the other end and he says:"Make sure you don't use the wood splitter end!" Ha. In 10 + years of being a Subby fanatic, doing all my work on my cars, I've never had this problem. A Old Timer Mech told me today: "it' always a good idea to put some axle grease where the wheel rim hits the axle/drum...." So, thanks everybody. This is the best bunch of people in SubbyLand that I know!

So, I've been trying to pinpoint the source of my suspension problems and decided to rotate the tires today and see if I can get a better look at the suspension at the same time. Now, I freely admit that I'm a little late in rotating these tires but I'm only going to get a couple months use out of them before switching to snow tires for the winter and buying new tires in the spring. Anyway, take lug nuts off front drivers tires and the wheel doesn't want to come off! (?????) But, I play around a bit and off she comes. Go the the drivers side back tire, remove lug nuts and that TIRE WILL NOT COME OFF. ???????? I've never had this problem as long as I've had this car and used to rotate the tires religiously! Anyone else ever have this problem? Any idea on the best way to get it off without ruining something? Thanks, UMT

Yeah, I'm aware of that one. Thanks!

Looked at those and looks like they (like everything else under there) maybe need replacing but don't think that's the problem. Any other ideas? Right now, I think I'm going to start with the struts and take it from there. Thanks, UMT

99 Impreza Outback Sport. Ok, guys.. Been meaning to replace the struts on this car anyway but have developed at 'knock' noise at times when hitting a bump on rough roads. I thought it was maybe due for ball joints also but jacked up front end and put a small pry bar on the ball joints to check for looseness but they seem tight. Checked everything I could under the car, and can't find anything loose anywhere. Any ideas what else I could check for? 206k miles on the car. Thanks, UMT

Thanks, I'll be sure to take a good look at those springs. I would also routinely check everything else for wear/tear while I'm doing the job. My goal is to get 300K out of this wonderful car. I bought it for 5K in 2005 with 105K miles on it. Had a newer Forester before and although I really liked it, the Impreza Outback Sport has really surprised me. Thanks, UMT

AHA! Now I see what has to be done! EZ-PZ! I can do this... Thanks for the help/tips, guys. Any more? Keep 'em coming. Thanks, UMT

Ye Olde 99 Impreza Outback Sport with 205K starting to ride a little rough. What's required to make her ride smooth again? Struts, front and rear? Big job? Don't know nothing about it yet but then again, I didn't know nothing about all the other stuff I've done either before I started. Thanks, UMT

Well, I bought my factory cruise control from a dealer trying to clear out his inventory.. 85.00!!! Installed it myself at about 140,000 miles. Car now has 205,000 miles and runs like a champ but my cruise control light went out! I'm having nightmares about this! I have to push the button and check every time I put the cruise control on ti see if it's working!!!!! Is this an easy fix or am I wasting my time? Thanks, UMT