I can't seem to find any vendors online that sell replacement fuel level senders for the 3rd gen Subes.....I want to replace mine, as the thermister (for low level light) is shot and, after testing the potentiometer I believe the whole unit is on it's way out.

used

post in the parts wanted forum here or look www.car-part.com

 

call Subaru

 

sometimes ebay has subaru parts available.

I have found them online now! After getting finished with a rather uncomfortable phone conversation with my local Subaru dealer parts department, I got the part number, and their price---$247!!!! F that.

 

A Googling of "Subaru fuel level sending unit 85111GA153" nets many hits, all in the comfortable price range of $40-$60. New. 

 

Also asked about the R-12 to R-134a retrofit kit......they have it. But forget about it. $319, for basically o-rings and a receiver/drier. I'll do it myself for about $60, thank you very much. Conclusion: Subaru dealer parts dept. is only good for helping you find OEM part numbers. I don't think the parts guy was too happy, as I let him know that, on both parts.

great, good find.  some parts are reasonable from the dealer, many parts are not.  that's the norm in the automotive business.

 

the A/C conversion is easy and cheap to do it yourself.  it's easily done without even changing any parts, that's how i always did EA/ER vehicles.

 

the parts guys know that some parts are exorbitant and some parts aren't, the ones i've talked to have always been very helpful in that regard.  they get it.  he wasn't happy most likely because of your approach, if you "let him know that, on both parts", most people do get annoyed if someone complains about something that's not in their control or their issue/problem.

I love my Subaru parts gal.  She is always very helpful when finding me the parts I need.  Even though she knows I usually source my parts elsewhere because of price issues.    Nearest Subie dealer is 90 miles away.... but I'm ordering parts within minutes with a simple telephone call and they usually show up in 2 days.  

And... It doesn't hurt to send them (her) a package with some Tillamook cheese and Tillamook jerky every now and then.   You wouldn't believe the discounts I get.

  Remember ....  It's all about the love.   Where do you think Subaru got that line?

Ease up there... little buddy.   Your car is nearly 30 years old - parts are not getting any cheaper.

If your doing the A/C conversion, don't forget there are some seals inside the box under the dashboard (depending on the model)

Not on mine. Final connections are at tje firewall, engine side.

My personal experience with dealer parts people from dealers in jersey, Manhattan, and Staten island has all been the same. Very pleasant to begin with, but as soon as they find out I'm looking for parts for a car they've never heard of, and there is no information in the computer, and they have to go find, dig up, and look through a big old dusty book (wtf is a book?) ... That's when they put on their pissy pants. Every. Time.

Yeah, it took about ten minutes on and off of "hold" for him to even find the part number. Went through the whole "your VIN number isn't valid" exercise with him three times until the dim bulb in his head clicked that this was (as I stated several times) a pre-1990 car, and I had been telling him to try looking it up under 90-94 Loyale.

oh right, over the phone.  i've had much better luck in person than over the phone.

Edited April 30, 201411 yr by grossgary

Oh yes, Gary. Back in Colorado Springs, I could go in to Heuberger Subaru and look for parts with the guy, and he would make sure by turning the monitor around so we could both look at the pictures. Here, it's a forty mile round trip to the dealer.

My personal experience with dealer parts people from dealers in jersey, Manhattan, and Staten island has all been the same. Very pleasant to begin with, but as soon as they find out I'm looking for parts for a car they've never heard of, and there is no information in the computer, and they have to go find, dig up, and look through a big old dusty book (wtf is a book?) ... That's when they put on their pissy pants. Every. Time.

Should have seen these guys when I came in to order my lighted key, they literally turned into a jerky blank:) they are always like man nobody has an 87 anymore, and I'm like well I got 65 k on it so get used to it.....

Do you have a part number for that lighted key? You're talking about the black head key with the little green light right? Mine broke!

OMG, yes, I want that part number too.