OK. The P/O of my wagon hacked a 'new ignition switch' into the car, and starting and turning it off is akin to the old 'tinfoil on the rabbit ears' trick for the really distant UHF stations. Sunday, I thought I was going to have to try and push it home, I was doinking with the key for literally 15 minutes before it finally clicked over.

 

From Subaruparts.com, I ordered what I thought was the trick, but turns out to be the actual switch, not the lock cylinder. I can't seem to find a new lock cylinder, what advice to you chaps/chappettes have? Is 1984 old enough that I'm not going to be facing a bunch of weird anti-theft things (like bolts with round heads)? Should I just take out the lock, the lock on the passenger's door, and hie off to ye olde locke smithy?

Pull the whole lock mechanism and take it to the locksmith. It will be cheaper than a new one if the dealer even still has them.

 

You might have a switch problem as well.....

 

GD

Thanks GD, I figured it would be something like that. I have the electric switch as well, so it will all be new. Price isn't entirely the issue here, I want the little bugger to work, and not be some rig, so if the lock is bad I will be looking either at wrecks or the dealer for a completely new lock.

Or, I could use a good hosing down of 2+2 and then some graphite lock lube, and the lock suddenly works like magic. I swear, I did go to college. Hell, I even graduated. I swear, I've rebuilt a dozen different kinds of engines. Hell, most of 'em even ran right after I was done.

 

Jeeze.

 

Boy, that horn fuse snaps easy though, don't it?

 

Funny enough, the rear cargo mat from my old 03 Forester fits with very little side-to-side overhang. I'm considering removing the carpet and taking it to a laundromat and putting it on 'greaser' cycle and seeing if it comes out blue or not.

 

On to the next project.

Excelent - glad you solved it. Graphite does wonders for locks.

 

The horn fuse does blow easily if you short it. Same with radio fuses that in later fuel injected engines also happen to supply power to the ignition system while not being labeled as such .

 

GD