BrritSki said:
I am thinking of replacing my 99 Outback with a 2002 Outback 3.0 H6 with
50K miles. Any advice on things I should be looking out for ?
TIA
Look for all 4 tires to be the same brand/model with equal wear. Make
sure the FWD fuse is NOT in the fuse block under the hood and the FWD
light is off on the instrument cluster. THEN, do some slow, tight turns
or figure eights in a dry parking lot somewhere and try to sense any
'jerkiness' while maneuvering.
Take it on some clear highway - try to cruise at 75mph. Then stomp the
gas as if to pass. Try to feel for a very hard downshift. Ours has done
this since we bought it. It is only annoying on cross-country trips and
no mechanic seems to be able to duplicate it. Setting the cruise on 75
or 80 and going up a grade in southern Colarado will make it downshift
VERY hard - 'most' times. If you will be using the car in this way a lot
- make sure it doesn't exhibit this behavior.
If you hear wind noise - likely the 'gussets' near the mirror on the
doors need squeezing together. Lowere the windows and squeeze the rubber
together. There is some kind of TSB I think for internal
adjustment/rubber replacement - but if you squeeze them together
occasionally and train yourself to avoid pushing the galls when closing
the doors, they stay OK for a very long time.
Make sure the A/C is working. I think some bad hoses have been found
around that year model on the compressors (had my wife's 03 a/c hoses
replaced barely under warranty).
Consider paying a good mechanic $100 or so to inspect it "as if he were
buying it for his wife/daughter" if you have the slightest concerns.
Also, be aware that car is probably gonna run best on hi or maybe
mid-grade gasoline.
Carl