I am sooo sick of going to my parts store and jumping through hoops! I know that there are many different configs for my 88 DL Wagon (non turbo) but it is so frusterating to try to buy a simple thing like a dist cap and them not being able to find it! Apparently an EA82 means something to US but not to anyone not familiar w/ Subs.

 

I went to order some parts for a tune up and it was like "there are three different configs for your car."

 

Is there an easy way to find out:

 

what disty I have

What motor number they will know

What the car is called when trying to look up a cv axle

 

I went through about 10 belts trying to find an ac belt before I got the right one!

Please help. I may kill the parts guy!

Be sure to tell them it's(EA82) the overhead CAM engine,not the overhead valve engine(EA81).

*sigh*

 

The only reliable way I've found to get parts for a Subaru is to take the old part in with me. Last time I did a tuneup, I took the cap & rotor off in the parking lot, took them in, told them what it was from, and said "It looks like this." Three or four caps later, we finally found the right one.

 

Subaru in the late 80s apparently used the "Part of the month" on their engines, and the parts database at every auto shop I've been to just has a big list of parts. The proper part will most likely be in the list, but good luck finding it without the old part.

 

I've started keeping part numbers in my glovebox for common things.

 

-=Russ=-

they will have listings by engine size.

 

you need to tell them 1800 OHC.

 

always handy to have the VIN with you too, along with the decoder for it.

 

and like Russ says... take the part in with you if you can...

around here they go by liters its a 1.8L, as for disty caps you need to just take it in with you since there are a cpl different types of distys that come in these motors. and as for axles i couldnt tell you since i havent had to replace any yet,

depends on the store too.

go to NAPA and ask for an XT6 distributor cap. it'll have 4 plug wires on it.

ha ha. that was like 5 years ago, maybe they have it right by now.

 

taking in the old part is the preferred method in my oppinion as well. i also like to watch them go through the screen selection process. sometimes it's easy to read the wrong line or number or click wrong.

Part of the problem is how generic the database is at most parts stores. Whoever wrote them didn't do a very good job breaking things down by year, model, 2wd vs 4wd and engine. Instead they just dumped the entire model run into one database with crappy filtering. In reality there are 2 maybe 3 different distributor caps used during the entire EA82 run and from about 88 on, only 1 cap was used since that's when they switch over to the crankangle type distributor.

For any 88+ EA82 parts from the parts store, the only way I have managed to get the right part every time is to tell them its a 90 loyale.

 

If its for an EA81 car I always tell them its an 84 wagon.

 

Has worked every time for me.

I have never had a problem with my 82?

 

That's a 1982

 

Ok, I'm not being helpful.

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer

84 GL Mad Max

01 Forester

So how do you find the carburator number for an 85 EA82? There are to different posibilities for that one too at the stores. Thanks..

I do exactly what calebz does....and funny you are talking about this.... I got parts for my impreza and my 83 2 weeks ago at the dealer. He asked what model car I had....I said gl. and he said no what model, and I said GL. He looks it up in the computer and says to me...its a Loyale. I laughed and said the loyale didn't exist for at least 5 or so years....

 

Taking the part with you has been golden. 83 rear brakes shoes at pepboys....not a problem when you have the old ones....

 

I also love when the dealer can't find a part b/c you don't have your vin handy....I once asked if they didn't know how to look it up any other way...

 

Even at the dealer asking: "do you have a clutch cable for an EA-81 car" (I did this b/c my 86 was a hatch) and the guy looked at me and went "HUH?"

 

ughhhh

"To Err is Human. To really screw things up requires a computer."

 

The heavy emphasis/reliance on "computerized" parts lookup is at the root of this, as everybody was in a hurry to get "online" and didn't worry whether or not it worked.

For any 88+ EA82 parts from the parts store, the only way I have managed to get the right part every time is to tell them its a 90 loyale.

 

If its for an EA81 car I always tell them its an 84 wagon.

 

Has worked every time for me.

Since EA81 and EA82 production/import overlapped, the parts person needs to be able to input the distinction into their computer terminal. But the computerized parts lookup at every store I have been to does NOT make a distinction. They do always ask if it is a 1600 or 1800, though. :-\

 

Calebz's advice is a good start. Or, tell them to forget the terminal and grab the books. And bring the part, too.

I've also have found it helpful to goto a dealer which has parts counter people who have been with subaru since the 70's

I know how you feel ckappler. I had to buy a different clutch then the normal one for a EA81 (I think because there was 2 or 3 different types for that engine) Then I had to get a totally different thrust bearing to go with it, because the one it came with was the same as the old one I had which wore the clutch fingers all wrong. But after all that. I have a wonderful clutch. At least my local shop knows what a EA81 and a EA82 is. And it is writen in there books as well as the car age and name. Maybe just keep trying... :-/

I have found that the most important things to tell them is the size of the engine, 1.8 1800, or 1.6 1600. Non Turbo as stated and Wagon. Often I cant bring in the old part because if I take it off my car wont run to the Auto parts Store or I lose the part. One important thing is to eyeball the situation and try to get the Manager or the guy that all the other clerks ask questions to. They have been hiring a lot of people her in town that only know FORD and Chevy. A good auto parts stor clerk knows Subaru.........and likes them.

I recently replaced the clutchin my 87 wagon.I bought the new one at NAPA.I tolg them it was for an 87 gl wagon 4wd ohc. I got an ea81 clutch kit.I took it back and they looked up a cluth kit for an ohv 1.8 and got the same part number.I asked them what they had listed in the computer,and there was no listing for a GL of any kind.There was a listing for an XT, so I had them order it and viola,I got the right clutch kit.

Subaru in the late 80s apparently used the "Part of the month" on their engines, and the parts database at every auto shop I've been to just has a big list of parts. The proper part will most likely be in the list, but good luck finding it without the old part.

 

I've started keeping part numbers in my glovebox for common things.

 

-=Russ=-

 

Running into a bit of the same problem my self. with my 86 wagon,

((85 production date 86 model)) apparently they changed alot betwine 85 and 87

 

Also I was suprised to find out there were so many differances in the drive train of a DL and a GL of the same year. everything from distributer caps to inner tie rods to springs and shocks and much more

 

Do like we do here in the South,, Go to the parts store early in the morning,,, park right in front of the store,,, put the car up on jack stands and dismantle the part right there in front of the Door,,, They love it when you do that, ,

 

Make sure some automotive fluid of some sort spills on to the pavement.

And say,,,, "the sooner you get me the right part the faster I will be gone "

 

Then wait for the tow truck

If you ever need aftermarket part numbers just send me an e-mail or give a ring, I work for a parts store a couple of hours a week and have more subie sense, not so much with all the other parts guys.

 

Things to know:

1800 OHC, tell him either vin code should work for tune up parts. Although getting your engine vin number would help.

 

What kind of disty do you have? There are I believe three for your engines; Hitachi thru 11/86, Hitachi from 12/86, and Nippondenso. Oh yeah you get four rotors to choose from! For the cap you need to know if you've got clips and a screw type. For the rotor you need to know if you've got an oval and more square one, and how high does it sit in the disty, is it an automatic?

 

Wires and plugs are all the same. The oil filter is the same for all 1.8's, the air is listed as the spfi 1.8.

 

Any other questions or if you need me to get you a part number just ask

JeremyWeaver@Softhome.net

my problem starts when i look up parts for my 88' GL-10 turbowagon and it asks which motor 1.8L sohc 4,sohc 5,or the 1.8L sohc 7,and i have to tell them what the hell are you talking about,4,5,7 HUH? ,all i know is its a EA82 1.8L 1800.4,5,7 dont mean crap to me,what the hell are they talking about,i even asked jim(86subaru)hes also clueless.