I've been looking for a beater Legacy that I can use as snow car and perhaps rehab into a DD (call it my midlife crisis project car). so, along comes a 93 auto wagon for $800. It has:

 

Has been a great running car, just developed a problem this week... sounds like a bearing on a pump or something like that

The particulars are dents and scratches, 202K, small hole in dash (dog) and testy starter. Now, the outside I'm not particularly concerned with the dents and scratches nor the hole in the dash as I can fix that with a trip to the pull apart (or a sticker). The starter I know I can do myself. The main concern is the bearing sound. My max budget is $1000 - $1200 so I realize that will involve some fixing usually and I have a DD so it doesn't need to be ready to go right away. I'm going to go see it later today and check for oil leaks, take a drive and look for stuff. I'm just trying to get some input about what possible things to look (and listen) for. Given my experience with my old EA82 wagon I'm thinking some likely culprits for the "sound" are wheel bearing, CV joint (or both) and water pump.

 

Any thoughts?

When does this bearing sound happen?

Sitting at idle in park, does it change with the engine speed?

Probably water pump or idler for the timing belt.

Driving? does it do it turning one way more than the other? etc... need more info on this...

 

 

Starter, replace contacts. $8 fix, starters rarely completely die.

I'll have more details after I see it. Supposedy it idles fine (according to owner). I'll report back with more details

It was the sound of a cylinder about to go. I've heard that one before. It also had a pretty significant oil leak. Still looking.

Keep checking Craigslist. You should be able to find someting fixable within your budget.

 

O.

Used engine from the junkyard and swap it in that one?