I just got a pre-loved 97 Legacy Brighton. I also picked up an old 1985-96 Chilton's Subaru repair manual for next to nothing. I'm hoping this will still be some help? (Very generally) how much changed between the 96 and 97 Legacies? I'm just looking to get a better understanding of the inner workings of the vehicle for future maintenance purposes.

 

My apologies for the general newb-type question. It's hard to figure out where to start on these things.

not much. You may have the 2.2 or 2.5 engine, I think you have the 2.2.

I have the 2.2. Does this make the manual more relevant?

There is also a 91-98 (that's the one I use) one that would be at least a bit more relevant. I suspect the one you have might be weighted more toward the EA engines than towards the EJ ones.

Even new, they're not very expensive.

I have the 2.2. Does this make the manual more relevant?

 

Unfortunately, no. The 2.2 went through some design changes for MY '97--for one thing it became an interference type engine, which means you'll have to be religious about timing belt changes.

 

The manual will probably be helpful in general but expect some differences as you look around under the hood. Keep searching and studying here in the forums and you'll learn a lot, but it will take some digging!

 

At any rate, good luck.

Really? I could have sworn that the 97 2.2 engines were non-interference? Didn't they change when they went to 2.5? Luckily the belt was just changed.

 

Cheers.