Hey there everybody. Great site you guys have rocking for the soobies! took me about 2 weeks to read lotsa info on the grandpa site. I am new to the Subaru world. I've owned Volvo's and after the last one $et me back, I picked up a 4Runner.

 

I do most of my own wrenching and have adopted the care of my GF's 97 White Legaycy L Wagon. She got it about 47k on the odo and since then I have put Mobile1 synthetic and spent about 13 hours detailing the int/ext. She is at 58k miles and is need of the 60k service. I don't like dealers (but put up with them) and have trouble trusting mechanics. I've gotten the haynes for the ride and have figured I can perform the following maint:

• replace some vacuum lines (w/silicone)
  
• needs new wiper blades
  
• inspect/replace pads/rotors
  
• replace fuel filter
  
• plugs (recomendations??)
  
• replace PCV
  
• clean EGR/TB
  
• new (Amsoil) airfilter
  

The things I was going to have the dealer perform:

• 
   
  
• check wheel bearings
  
• brake, coolant, transmission flush
  
• replace diff. fluids
  
• timing belt (water pump??)
  
• idle speed adjustment
  

My questions. . .

[*]Where is a good place to get OEM parts online? I remember paying $21 for two oil filter at the dealer. Purolator, I know now :/

[*]What parts are going to sneak up on me? ie TB gaskets, unreuseable gaskets etc.

[*]What should I replace with aftermkt parts and what brand?

[*]What did I leave offa my to do list and what else should the dealer do?

[/list=1]

 

Anyone know anything about an airbag sensor light that comes and goes? I like my girlfriends face and would like the bag to deploy when she needs it

 

Last. . .I promise. How much of a PIA is it to replace the gasket around the oil pan, which seems to be leaking?

 

Really really sorry so long. Like I said, I've been reading for a while and still had these questions so I decided to kill 'em all with one stone. Thanks for the 3.5 hours it took to read this post :D

 

-Stu.

Good place to get O.E.M. Subaru parts is Litha Subaru in Or. Toll free number is 866-717-2512. I live in Tx. and I can get my parts next day with express mail. Or you can get them in one to three days with priority mail. On many things they are cheaper than auto zone and it is O.E.M. parts.

Stu:

 

You might want to consider doing the differential oils yourself, it's easy. Is her car an automatic or 5-speed? The auto has a separate front diff, the diff in the manual tranny shares fluid with the transmission. I did my front one this weekend (auto) and I have very little mechanical experience. This site will help you out a lot.

 

Front: Remove drain plug, drain, replace plug, refill with 80W90 GL-5 (if it's an automatic). Rear: remove top fill plug, remove lower drain plug, allow to drain, replace drain plug, fill through top hole until it won't take any more, replace fill plug.

 

Steve

i've had good luck with 1stsubaruparts.com. good service, great prices. and the diffs are pretty easy to change the fluid. if you have the 2.5 motor, the timing belt interval isn't until 105k, but it is 60k if you have the 2.2.

distributor cap and rotor condition

 

upper and lower radiator hoses, belts

 

air filter

 

At 80,K miles, replace O2 sensor

 

Pull codes on it

Thanks for all the responses people. The differential fluids do look easy enough, thanks for pointing that out outback_97. Answers to my questions have left me with more questions

 

• How do I know the condition of the Cap and Rotor? I've always owned distributorless ignition systems.
  
• Assuming a water pump is a logical replacement in the timing belt service, how much dollars should I expect from an indy?
  
• What plugs are recomended for this engine? I searched and got about 490 replies. Brand/Model/Gap?
  

 

Once again, thanks for the help. Now I ust have to find the time. Is anyone ever interested in tech write-ups for these services I am going to do? It might be a way of directly contributing to the board??

 

-Stu.

if it has the 2.5, it doesn't have a distributor. i think the same goes for the 97 2.2. just follow the spark plug wires. if you see something that looks like a transformer on the top of the intake, then it is electronic. nothing to replace.

 

as for plugs, the general recommendation for normal everyday driving tends to be the oem ngk's.

gracias.

 

-Stu.

we normally suggest doing water pump and front crank seal when you do the t-belt--- concensus says that the pump lasts about 105000, not quite long enough to make it to 2nd t-belt change.

 

The labor getting to the t-belt is what costs. the belt is $35 and the pump ~60, but you'll fork over $350 in labor. The seal costs ~$7.

 

Some also suggest pulling the oil pump (sits "around" the crank shaft) and tightening its casing and replacing its prone-to-leak o-ring.

 

stock ngk plugs. Little-to-no gains by going platinum. Note, expect plug wires to start failing after 70,000 miles or so. Slppy acceleration/missing under load is the first symptom.

 

Mike

forgot.

 

the 2.2 is a bulletproof motor, until like all AL motors, it overheats.

 

Make sure the cooling system is in good shape--- new coolant, flush the system and make sure the hoses are happy and it'll last a long time.

 

 

also, suck out the PS fluid with a turkey baster and add new. start car, turn the wheel a few times, car off, repeat. cheap maintenance on the steering. Dexron III atf works great, synth if you can find it.