02 Legacy Qs?

[news]

Hi,

We just picked up an 02 Legacy L Wagon with 77k on it.
So far, so good, but I do have a couple of questions:

The only thing that lights up on the driver's door is the power window
switch that says "AUTO" - should the mirror controls light up? They
look like they do - but I'm no rush to tear the door panel off if I
don't need to.

Timing chain or belt on the 2.5? If it's a belt, what's the replacement
schedule? (The owner's manual didn't say) And how much of a production
is it to change? (I'm a diy-er but don't yet have a shop manual.)

The check engine light came on when I went to pick it up - I cleared the
codes myself with my autotap (p0130 & p0171) - am I looking at fixing
something or is this just bad luck? (My Trans Am has had a failing O2
sensor for three years, I clear the code once a summer...)

What commonly breaks on these cars? For better or for worse, it has a
new clutch... when we test drove it the first time it was totally
smoked... so I wonder if the previous owner just sucked or ???

This is my first Subaru, so be gentle.
(I really wanted a WRX but I need room for two baby seats...)

Ray
02 Subaru Legacy Wagon
01 Trans Am Ram Air

 

[Funkadyleik Spynwhanker]

2001 Outback, so take model differences with grain of salt...

Hi,

We just picked up an 02 Legacy L Wagon with 77k on it.
So far, so good, but I do have a couple of questions:

The only thing that lights up on the driver's door is the power window
switch that says "AUTO" - should the mirror controls light up? They look
like they do - but I'm no rush to tear the door panel off if I don't need
to.

No. There is one light there, its the "heat the mirrors" light. Do you see
ports for lighting that never light? Those things are often not worth the
time and effort to fix, even if they go wrong. (unless it's the whole
function, in which case check your fuses.)

Timing chain or belt on the 2.5? If it's a belt, what's the replacement
schedule? (The owner's manual didn't say) And how much of a production
is it to change? (I'm a diy-er but don't yet have a shop manual.)

If it hasn't been done, it's time. It's a belt. From what I hear, it's a
pain to do yourself.

The check engine light came on when I went to pick it up - I cleared the
codes myself with my autotap (p0130 & p0171) - am I looking at fixing
something or is this just bad luck? (My Trans Am has had a failing O2
sensor for three years, I clear the code once a summer...)

Your O2 sensor is probably going bad, they do that frequently at that age.
If it hasn't been replaced, it's time anyway. At some point, it will make
the car difficult to drive (loss of power, bad shifting points, smoking,
rough idle, etc.)

What commonly breaks on these cars? For better or for worse, it has a new
clutch... when we test drove it the first time it was totally smoked... so
I wonder if the previous owner just sucked or ???

Aside from the O2 sensor, you should get the coolant conditioner to avoid
head gasket leaking problems. The dealer can get you that, or if you look
in google groups for archives of this usegroup, you can find stuff you can
add yourself. (The dealer will probably add it for you as a recall/warranty
item for free.)

Otherwise, it's worth lurking here for advice on tires, air presure, torque
bind, etc. Not all of the stuff the dealer wants to do is worthwhile (in my
opinion) but some of it is.

Have fun this winter. _NOBODY_ can beat me across an intersection in slush.
(Aside from those young punks in newer scoobs.) AWD helps you GO. Doesn't
help you STOP. Learn that good.

 

[news]

2001 Outback, so take model differences with grain of salt...

thanks.

No. There is one light there, its the "heat the mirrors" light. Do you see
ports for lighting that never light? Those things are often not worth the
time and effort to fix, even if they go wrong. (unless it's the whole
function, in which case check your fuses.)

The heat the mirrors light comes on - it just looked like the switches
could have backlighting in them.

If it hasn't been done, it's time. It's a belt. From what I hear, it's a
pain to do yourself.

the car only has 77,000km on it. I thought the replacement interval
would be about 60,000miles/100,000km.

Your O2 sensor is probably going bad, they do that frequently at that age.
If it hasn't been replaced, it's time anyway. At some point, it will make
the car difficult to drive (loss of power, bad shifting points, smoking,
rough idle, etc.)

Thanks. I did notice the idle when warm seemed to dip a bit, that would
explain it.

Aside from the O2 sensor, you should get the coolant conditioner to avoid
head gasket leaking problems. The dealer can get you that, or if you look
in google groups for archives of this usegroup, you can find stuff you can
add yourself. (The dealer will probably add it for you as a recall/warranty
item for free.)

Thanks. I was going to call the dealer to see if there was any factory
warranty left on it and/or any recalls for it.

Have fun this winter. _NOBODY_ can beat me across an intersection in slush.
(Aside from those young punks in newer scoobs.) AWD helps you GO. Doesn't
help you STOP. Learn that good.

This is my first Subaru, but not my first 4wd. My old Jimmy could go
through 2 feet of snow... I don't expect that of my Legacy, just
reliable family transportation that doesn't have fwd.


Ray

 

[Blair Baucom]

Maintenance schedule is at address below for 2002, follow links at bottom.

http://www.subaru.com/owners/schedules/index.jsp?navid=SCHEDULE_2002

It says 105,000 miles or 168,000 km or 105 months for timing belt, whichever
occurs first.

Blair

 

[ray]

Maintenance schedule is at address below for 2002, follow links at bottom.

http://www.subaru.com/owners/schedules/index.jsp?navid=SCHEDULE_2002

It says 105,000 miles or 168,000 km or 105 months for timing belt, whichever
occurs first.

thanks.
So far, so good. Not used to adjusting valves though. That'll be a new
one for me...

Ray

 

[Kurt Krueger]

Maintenance schedule is at address below for 2002, follow links at bottom.

http://www.subaru.com/owners/schedules/index.jsp?navid=SCHEDULE_2002

It says 105,000 miles or 168,000 km or 105 months for timing belt, whichever
occurs first.

Most belts get replaced at 60K miles, but it appears that Subaru makes an
extra strong belt. I asked the dealer about belt replacement on our
02 WRX and they said they had no problems with the 100K mile interval.

I haven't done one yet, but the factory manual has good instructions.
The only parts that look harder than normal is the retraction of the
tensioner and the lining up of each cylinder bank (you can't just
set the engine/cams in a single position and put on the belt). But
none of this should pose any problem to someone who knows their way
around engines.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Most belts get replaced at 60K miles, but it appears that Subaru makes an
extra strong belt. I asked the dealer about belt replacement on our
02 WRX and they said they had no problems with the 100K mile interval.

I haven't done one yet, but the factory manual has good instructions.
The only parts that look harder than normal is the retraction of the
tensioner and the lining up of each cylinder bank (you can't just
set the engine/cams in a single position and put on the belt). But
none of this should pose any problem to someone who knows their way
around engines.

Good post.
Be aware some aftermarket books list an incorrectly low value for
torqueing the crank pulley bolt. Someone here will know it - but some
folks have head mwobble loose and cause some destruction. Also, this may
apply only to books for the older soobs.
just something I recall reading about.

Carl

 

[ray]

Good post.
Be aware some aftermarket books list an incorrectly low value for
torqueing the crank pulley bolt. Someone here will know it - but some
folks have head mwobble loose and cause some destruction. Also, this may
apply only to books for the older soobs.
just something I recall reading about.

Carl

as long as it's not the 500 foot-pounds we needed to remove the bolt on
my buddy's Acura.

Ray

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

as long as it's not the 500 foot-pounds we needed to remove the bolt on
my buddy's Acura.

Ray

Yeah, taking them off can sometimes be a Herculean task. I've read of
guys that wedge a cheater bar from the wrench handle to the floor or
frame and use the starter!

scary

Carl