Hey guys I have had my 98 for a year now and it has been great. It has about 120k miles on it. Now I have a few questions:

 

1)can I get it to throw me a code when the CEL light is on without an OBDII code reader like I can with my neon? Or do I need a OBD reader?

2)Are front seals a common replaced item on these cars? I got under and the timing belt cover at the bottom on both sides has oil on the gasket there.

3) at the top left side of the engine right infront of the EJ25 stamp there is a sensor, what is it?

4) where can I get a FSM for this car?

Hey guys I have had my 98 for a year now and it has been great. It has about 120k miles on it. Now I have a few questions:

 

1)can I get it to throw me a code when the CEL light is on without an OBDII code reader like I can with my neon? Or do I need a OBD reader?

 

You need a reader.

 

2)Are front seals a common replaced item on these cars? I got under and the timing belt cover at the bottom on both sides has oil on the gasket there.

 

Seals fail - no engine is immune to it. Your engine is mostly known for it's propensity to eat head gaskets.

 

3) at the top left side of the engine right infront of the EJ25 stamp there is a sensor, what is it?

 

Someone will know - I can't think of what it would be off the top of my head. The better question is why are you asking? And a picture would help.

 

4) where can I get a FSM for this car?

 

Dealer, or maybe eBay. There isn't a single FSM - there is a set of books - buying the whole set is expensive.

 

GD

OBDII code readers are cheap. mine was $40 or less on ebay and is awesome. get one that tells you what the codes are and not just gives you a number.

 

sensor on the front of the engine is the cam angle sensor if you're talking about the drivers side. doubtful that's your CEL.

 

check engine light is usually cylinder misfire (spark plugs and wires - use Subaru only on wires), knock sensor (replace it), or oxygen sensor.

 

those seals should be replaced with the timing belt. if they're just seaping and wet it's not a big deal, a drop a month over time accumulates but doesn't mean much.

 

timing belt is a 100,000 mile item on that engine. interference engine, so do it right.

Is htat sensor really behind the harmonic balancer on the tip - if so it's the crank sensor. IIR the alternator makes it a bit tough to get to.

 

The cam sensor is more "at the corner" of the engine on the drivers side, the top corner by the oil dipstick.