Ask the Car People.SM


Subaru Legacy/Outback Wagons Maintenance & Repair

8644 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 4:04 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Wagon

Messages Page 694 of 865

#6924 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [paisan] by lilengineerboy

Apr 05, 2007 (11:18 am)

Replying to: paisan (Apr 05, 2007 10:10 am)
I dunno, I guess I'm looking at $160 as being easy, cheap and will help the car run better in the long run, unless you have just done them.
 
Thats totally cool I can appreciate that. In my mind, preventative maintenance is different then repair, and I don't like spending money on repair parts unless I know its going to fix my problem. $160 is pretty easy and cheap, but if you are out that cash and you still have the issue, it starts to not look like such a bargain.
It also comes down to how sure someone is that its the problem. On the Honda, I dropped $60 on the main relay when it wouldn't start after sitting in the sun because I was 85% sure it was the problem, so if this is a similar case, then its very valid.

#6925 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [paisan] by xwesx

Apr 05, 2007 (11:20 am)

Replying to: paisan (Apr 05, 2007 10:10 am)
I agree with that - but only for the plugs.... if you are going to pull them, just replace them and be done with it. For the wires, sure, might as well esp. if they are originals. Coil pack, though.... I would wait on that one to see if it is necessary. Still, $160 is cheap preventative maintenance.
 
If you have the service records, find out if the timing belt was replaced, fuel filter, fluids, etc. It might be a good time just to give it a good flush to set the ticker back to zero.
 
I was going to look at buying a replacement '96 yesterday (green, just like my old one!), but was too slow in contacting the seller.

#6926 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [xwesx] by paisan

Apr 05, 2007 (11:52 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Apr 05, 2007 11:20 am)
I had a problem with my boat last summer, and in the process of trying to hunt down the problem replaced the cap and rotor, which turned out to not be the problem, however was an excellent opportunity to get the maintenance done on em. I also replaced the batteries in the boat too, which I'm not sure was the problem. In the end, I sold the boat before having a definitive answer on what the problem was.
 
-mike

#6927 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [paisan] by ateixeira

Apr 05, 2007 (12:30 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Apr 05, 2007 10:10 am)
I'm with mike on this one.
 
Plugs are a pain on the Forester, as there is no clearance on the heads. Same with wires.
 
Once I'm in there, I'm changing them, no question.
 
To remove them, gap the plugs, wash my hands, clean the plugs, then reinstall would take a lot of extra time.
 
I may waste more $ and parts but you're wasting a lot more time and human energy.
 
I guess those are the trade-offs, and neither strategy is perfect.

#6928 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [paisan] by xwesx

Apr 05, 2007 (12:43 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Apr 05, 2007 11:52 am)
Sometimes that is the best solution!

#6929 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [ateixeira] by lilengineerboy

Apr 05, 2007 (1:07 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 05, 2007 12:30 pm)
I concur, but how likely is it the plugs are the problem? I have never had a vehicle problem that was cured by replacing the plugs. I have had spark plug wires go bad (some it was obvious because a rat ate them, some I did the water misting/arcing trick), so I can understand the wires contributing.
I would probably check the wires before doing anything at all with the plugs.

#6930 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [lilengineerboy] by ateixeira

Apr 05, 2007 (1:16 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Apr 05, 2007 1:07 pm)
Well, keep in mind a single misfire will trigger a MIL. It could run fun 99.9% of the time and you'll still get a light.
 
I've removed some pretty worn spark plugs after 30k miles of duty.

#6931 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [ateixeira] by xwesx

Apr 05, 2007 (2:25 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 05, 2007 1:16 pm)
Same here. My Subaru's plugs always looked good after 30K, but hard to say how long those have been in there unless there is a service record of replacement.
 
I have had bad plugs on my '69 pickup before. Changing them was like buying a new truck! It was all my fault though - just was not using it much and lost track of how long they had been in there!

#6932 of 8644 Re: 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback.. New to me! [paisan] by jfl

Apr 05, 2007 (10:13 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Apr 05, 2007 10:10 am)
NGK copper plugs run about $2 a piece...

#6933 of 8644 Clunking noise by izzy3

Apr 09, 2007 (11:43 am)

i'm new to this forum. I have a 1999 outback and makes a clunking sound every time i turn the corner. The sound only happens when the car has warmed up. It has 78000 miles. I had the cv assembly replaced on both sides and still makes the noise. It is a manual transmission. I need help. thanks

Messages Page 694 of 865

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement