What did you do to your subaru today?

Finished my new condenser install and charged up my AC system; blowing ~43degF air out of the vents and no funny noises. Bonus, the new condenser is black and looks way better, so it was all worth it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

When I registered my 4Runner as a collector (~10 years ago), I had to sign a very vaguely worded (i.e. unenforceable) form that said it would only be driven for testing, or to/from automotive events/shows, etc. At the time, my neighbor drove on collector plates year round, his beater pickup in the winter, and Grand Torino in the summer, his wife's DD had regular plates, but was in his name. Never heard a word.

I registered my Celica for collector plates this April (still don't have the plates...), and I had to sign no such form. We had to look up the plate number for another car in my name, and that's it. I don't drive it when there's salt on the road, but in the 4 months when that's not a problem, I drive it like crazy, drove it to Ojibwe Forests Rally last weekend.

 

Stock light configuration on my '04 Outback, has a dual-filament bulb on the bottom to function as running and turn lights, and top one just as turn. Whenever I see these cars, I'm not a fan that the headlight is the top light, and the running light is the bottom one, just looks a little weird.


20180828_193222 by Numbchux, on Flickr


Also, this spring I found myself in a campground wishing I had just enough light to navigate slowly without turning on the headlights and lighting up other peoples' tents. Bright switchback running lights seemed like the answer.


So, I stopped at UPull and got some extra dual-filament sockets/pigtails, only took a moment with the dremel to open up one notch in the housing to get the socket to fit. Then splice the 3 wires in, install switchback bulbs.

Now my running lights look like this:

20180828_195314 by Numbchux, on Flickr

And turns like this:

20180828_195329 by Numbchux, on Flickr

 

Brakes, oil and air filter on the wife's 11 outback. And while I was at it she scrubbed and shined the wheels.

 

This happened today

 

Got new KYB struts on all 4 corners and the steering rack replaced on my 06 2.5i. I guess it is 12 years old and just over 235k miles. But drives like new now! Look out highway 35w!

 

oh well, this will divulge non-flattering things about me...but i finally got around to
replacing the fuel filter on my 99 OB after purchasing it (filter) at least two years ago
i quickly remembered why i didn't finish the job then--durn those old lines didn't want
to come off! after struggling a good bit i looked online and discovered that pouring boiling
hot water on them was recommended...worked like a charm now i just hope that helps
my low idle issue...

 

We're out in Pennsylvania visiting my brother, his wife and their little 6mo old.
He had some ISC coilovers sitting around waiting for a home so we gave them one. Now all he needs is to fix his rims, mount some tires and it'll be one good looking outback.

 

I got this wrecked SVX this summer, primarily for the rear suspension. Pulled the engine and transmission a few weeks ago. Pulled the one good body panel (passenger door) and a couple other little things this weekend, and last night I hooked up a strap to my 4Runner and pulled the SVX up onto it's side to work on the underside.

20181001_185102 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20181002_180450 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20181002_180831 by Numbchux, on Flickr

When I went to unbolt the driveshaft, I figured out why the rear axles were cut/disconnected, the diff is seized solid. Couldn't get to the 4th bolt, dropped the diff with the shaft still attached. Got the exhaust, rear diff, and driveshaft off completely, and got a bunch of the subframe bolts to crack loose. Then applied copious amounts of BG penetrating oil.

 

Took off the "Brotiforms" and put the stock winter set back on the Legacy today. Had to do it a little earlier than planned because of this giant piece of shrapnel my wife picked up somewhere. Haven't pulled it out yet so I might be able to plug it but worst case I have until spring to replace it I guess...

 

Ask @MrBlue about plugging tires. This should be no problem...

 

HaHa, 2 stiches of bailing wire and 14 plugs.... still holding pressure like a new tire!!!

 

Was planning to come on here tonight posting another "halp!" thread but instead get to share a success story instead. Yay!

Plan was to meet the wife's parents in Cambridge for dinner. Wife calls to say we're leaving the house, they're in Blaine yet and the car's running like crap I guess (somewhat recently inherited an 08 Legacy). CEL and cruise light both on. I turn around and get the scan tool, just in case.

Fast forward to after dinner. Go run the codes. Car running super rough at idle.
-p0301
-p0302
-p0420
-p0026
-p0028

Damn... So not really sure where to go from there. For s's & g's I pop the hood while it's running, thinking I'd maybe look for some obvious signs of head gasket failure or something. Nothing. But hey, what's that clicking sound? Oh that? That's just the spark plug wires arcing back to the coil pack. Grabbed it back a ways and pulled it as far away as I could get it (to stop the arc), idle smoothed right out.

Long story long, get some new plug wires at O'Reilly's across town. Put them in in the parking lot and thing purrs like a kitty. Hooray for tool-less repairs!

 

One more quick story.

I pick the kid (18 months now) up from daycare on Mondays. Daycare lady's house is a townhouse. Walk in to the entry way, you can see the living room straight ahead, and then kitchen is out of view around the corner.

Anywho, this week I walk in to get him. As soon as the door closes he yells "dada!". I can't see him, nor him me. She gets him out of his seat and he comes running around to the door. She follows a little behind, laughing. I ask "how did he know...?"

"It's the car. All the kids know."

This kid's got potential!

 

Ha! I picked up my son (2 years old) from daycare the other day and he told me "I Papa's car, down the street" Which translates to: "I heard Papa's car coming from down the street".

 

I got a rental for the past couple days, first day i pick up my son in rental he says, "this car is so relaxing". I'm guessing he likes the quietness for once. lol Nearly broke my heart. I just have a simple stg 2 on an 04 wrx, 3" non catted to a perrin twin tip.

 

My cats know when I get home because of the rumbles. The girlfriend says they come running from wherever they are, right to the front door! That's another reason she calls my car "big kitty" lol

 

I rolled 180k on the Subie this week! I have conflicting emotions about it. Super happy I'm at 180k without anything major breaking, but also bummed that it has 180k. Oh well.

 

Congratulations. My stepdaughter was over last night with our old 2002 Outback...she's now at 249,xxx miles.

 

Five year anniversary and he takes a picture of his car....

 

Do we want to know what the other reason is?

 

Lol she thinks it sounds like a cat purring when idling. Sorry, nothing dirty there

 

Installed the Seibon Carbon wing on the WRX. It is a copy of the OEM 2015+ WRX standard low trunk wing....but ever so slightly larger.
It is too expensive in my opinion (around $375 shipped) but I have to say it is a flawless piece and looks great on the car. Very nice carbon weave and thick clear coat.
Entire install takes maybe 20 minutes.
Better pictures on the way. Bottom one got rotated and I have no idea how.

 

Had an opportunity to take a nice picture when I got out of the grocery store this morning........then snow happened. Wing is white with snow. Sheesh. Still on summer tires. Switching at the end of October.

 

Thanks Blu! Sooooo. Exactly how bad are the summer tires? I was going to wait but now I may do it today. Not bad in rain so far but I think the cold is here to stay.

 

Supposed to be sunny and warm ish for the next several days. You'll be fine. Plus you have awd, where the Blu man is running rear only these days.

 

You were either driving too fast or too furious... Maybe both?!

 

Got my brand new R2's mounted up this weekend. Also picked up some 15" steelies a while back so I finally got around to mounting these Pirelli rally tires that I was gifted by one rad sir @Navar Hren some time ago.



My goal was to put the rally tires on the WRX for when I get to the Cedar Lake spectator drags again, but ain't nobody got time (aka money) to get some Method race wheels that clear the brakes, so I settled on some $20 steelies and they're now busting trails out in the back woods.

 

I have a feeling I'd be in the same boat if it snowed randomly right now. Pretty sure I'm down to the wear bars...

 

Oh f*** yeah! Glad to see those finally mounted up and getting used. Kick the crap out of them, but expect very few miles if you track any pavement.

 

I drove them on the road in front of our place and damn do they howl. Only got into 3rd briefly so maybe 40 mph. Just laughing the whole time. Needless to say they'll probably never leave the yard.

 

Couldn't take the dash rattle anymore. It was driving me insane and was worst at cruising RPMs. So ripped apart the dash to try to find the source.



After 40 minutes of trying to locate this stupid f*cking rattle I decided to expand my search to the A-pillars. Nothing. Defrost vent trim. Nothing. Took the wipers off, no dice. Started taking the shroud off between windshield and hood, no change.

Decided to take my search to the engine bay and lo and behold, the source of my madness was these two lines above the intercooler. I zipped tied them together and zip tied some gasket material where it was rubbing and my sanity has returned.

 

I also only had 1 screw leftover when putting the dash back together, which I believe is a personal best.

 

Wow, I would have never guessed it could wear through. That would be miserable. I may get some foam in there also, but for now the gasket is doing its job. I'll just have to keep an eye on it so that doesn't wear through as well.

Next up is the rear spoiler rattle/squeak.

Mmmmm... beer.