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Old 09-07-2003, 09:13 PM   #1
Wheeldog
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Default Comments on a 1990 Legacy wagon

Some friends of ours just picked up a 1990 Legacy wagon to replace one of their old cars that had gotten too expensive to be worth fixing. The car is interesting in that it only has about 63k miles on it. The inside looks pristine but the outside isn't so great - it's got rust holes that are just about big enough to put your hands through behind the front wheel wells and big surface rust spots in other places. Apparently the car runs well. I was just wondering what the known trouble areas are on this year Legacy.
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Old 09-07-2003, 09:21 PM   #2
Legacy777
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That's insanely low miles.

However yeah the rust issues suck.

May want to check out the legacycentral bbs www.bbs.legacycentral.org
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Old 09-08-2003, 02:38 PM   #3
d4d4d4d4
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Thumbs up Great buy!

That's really really low miles for that year and model. Make sure all the CV joints and brakes are intact. Regardless of the exterior, the engine is brand spankin new for a 2.2l Subie boxer. You should easily see another 150-200,000 problem free miles. Just remeber to ALWAYS!!!! and I really mean ALWAYS warm up your car before taking off. 5-15 minutes is ideal for a morning start. 1-2 minutes if the car is still somewhat warm. If your car is an Automatic, then I highly recommend driving without 1st gear. Activate the MANUAL button on the shifter, then shift it down into 2nd or 3rd gear. The transmission will lock into 2nd and never jump down to first gear. The car will pull just fine from a stand still when in 2nd gear just as long as you don't need a speedy jump into traffic, in which case just deactivate the MANUAL button and you'll instantly be back in 1 st gear.

It's more important to do the 2nd gear thing when the car is just warming up. Since the AWD tranny is so large for such a small engine, it takes a long time for it to reach an ideal temp. As we all know, Auto trannies don't like shifting when cold. The tansmission will slam into 2nd gear and cause unneeded stress when cold. So, drive around town in second (second is good for speeds between 0-60) for a while before using 1st.
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Old 09-08-2003, 04:13 PM   #4
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Is it even an AWD? Is it a 2.2? I believe it came in the 1.8L as well as the 2.2L then. I have a '94 with about twice the milage, and haven't had too many problems. CV joints once or twice, but nothing major. Then again, mine is FWD. It may be different on an AWD.
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Old 09-08-2003, 06:00 PM   #5
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Thanks for the comments guys. I didn't have time to look the car over very well, but I'm quite sure it is FWD. I don't know which engine it has, or even what the trim level is. I may take a look under the hood the next time we are over at their place.
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Old 09-08-2003, 08:02 PM   #6
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IronMonkeyL255: Not in the US.

Wheeldog: Thats really low mileage, Id be afraid that it was all short trips and city driving (meaning lots of wear and tear)
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Old 09-08-2003, 08:17 PM   #7
IronMonkeyL255
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Oh, well... I guess I was mistaken. When did they offer the 1.8L 'til, anyway?
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Old 09-09-2003, 11:07 AM   #8
SubaruImpreza_power
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Default Re: Great buy!

Quote:
Originally posted by d4d4d4d4
That's really really low miles for that year and model. Make sure all the CV joints and brakes are intact. Regardless of the exterior, the engine is brand spankin new for a 2.2l Subie boxer. You should easily see another 150-200,000 problem free miles. Just remeber to ALWAYS!!!! and I really mean ALWAYS warm up your car before taking off. 5-15 minutes is ideal for a morning start. 1-2 minutes if the car is still somewhat warm. If your car is an Automatic, then I highly recommend driving without 1st gear. Activate the MANUAL button on the shifter, then shift it down into 2nd or 3rd gear. The transmission will lock into 2nd and never jump down to first gear. The car will pull just fine from a stand still when in 2nd gear just as long as you don't need a speedy jump into traffic, in which case just deactivate the MANUAL button and you'll instantly be back in 1 st gear.

It's more important to do the 2nd gear thing when the car is just warming up. Since the AWD tranny is so large for such a small engine, it takes a long time for it to reach an ideal temp. As we all know, Auto trannies don't like shifting when cold. The tansmission will slam into 2nd gear and cause unneeded stress when cold. So, drive around town in second (second is good for speeds between 0-60) for a while before using 1st.
Really? What about the larger 2.5L AT and 1.8L AT (Fwd) it really bothers me when I see a person pull right off after starting.. I like to think of it as someone pouring cold water on a sleeping person making them get up and work right away. Sooner or later the engine says I Quit!
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Old 09-09-2003, 11:10 AM   #9
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If it's like the other Subie engines Check under the Alternator on the engine block the Engine Model should be Stamped on their right under it.. It will say like EJ18, EJ25...etc
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Old 09-09-2003, 12:01 PM   #10
Matt
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Quote:
Originally posted by IronMonkeyL255
Oh, well... I guess I was mistaken. When did they offer the 1.8L 'til, anyway?
USA market always had the 2.2, though in other markets, Europe, Asia, Japan, there were some 1.8 and 2.0 Legacies.

Legacies were also available in 2WD format until 1996, I believe.

I do miss my '93 Sedan...even if it was 2WD.
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Old 09-09-2003, 01:58 PM   #11
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IronMonkeyL255: Only the Impreza got the 1.8. Legacy had the 2.2 and 2.2 turbo.
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Old 09-09-2003, 06:55 PM   #12
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Ah... I believe they were available in FWD until '97. All Legacys were AWD '97 and on.
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Old 09-10-2003, 09:28 AM   #13
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Quote:
It's more important to do the 2nd gear thing when the car is just warming up. Since the AWD tranny is so large for such a small engine, it takes a long time for it to reach an ideal temp. As we all know, Auto trannies don't like shifting when cold. The tansmission will slam into 2nd gear and cause unneeded stress when cold. So, drive around town in second (second is good for speeds between 0-60) for a while before using 1st.
????

My 1991 Legacy Sport Sedan shifts very well when cold.

I have never had a too firm shift, unless floored when cold, and who does that

My car has 310,000Kms on it, and the infamous AWD bind - but it still shifts great.

It is different when it gets to minus 20 - but I need to warm up then, not all year.

Perhaps I have a one off....
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Old 09-10-2003, 10:29 AM   #14
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what's this infamous AWD bind?
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Old 09-10-2003, 05:35 PM   #15
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The center differential starts locking up at random times. Fluid is leaking past and building pressure preventing the release at low speeds.
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Old 09-10-2003, 05:40 PM   #16
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So how will it make the car feel? Like it's fighting you?
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Old 09-10-2003, 05:59 PM   #17
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Take a U-Turn in a parking lot. You will easily feel it, and possibly even hear it.

I dont know how to explain it except for having a locked center differential, like in a normal 4x4. The wheels are trying to spin at the same speed so everything gets all bound of and you have to drag the wheels around as you turn. Puts ALOT of stress on the u-joints and wears tires down.
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Old 09-11-2003, 12:11 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally posted by ciper
Take a U-Turn in a parking lot. You will easily feel it, and possibly even hear it.

I dont know how to explain it except for having a locked center differential, like in a normal 4x4. The wheels are trying to spin at the same speed so everything gets all bound of and you have to drag the wheels around as you turn. Puts ALOT of stress on the u-joints and wears tires down.
Wait a min here...... You mean if you turn the wheel at half to almost full lock that crazy sound that sounds like the steering pump is the AWD bind?

Hmmmm.. Or maybe not? My Fwd Impreza makes about the same nosie but not as loud as the Forester.
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Old 09-11-2003, 02:15 PM   #19
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"You mean if you turn the wheel at half to almost full lock that crazy sound that sounds like the steering pump is the AWD bind"

Probably not, that sound is probably fluid passing the seals inside the rack. It acts like a reed in a wind instrament causing the vibration.

Explain when the sound your speaking of happens.
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Old 09-12-2003, 03:19 PM   #20
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Like making a U-turn on a street.. When the car is at full lock a loud Humimng sound can be herd.. Never did this on the old maxima we had.. It seems to be a Subaru thing.. I guess I gotta listen more when I make the tight turns.. It does not matter how fast you go right?
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Old 09-12-2003, 04:09 PM   #21
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Your holding the stearing against the stop

STOP DOING THAT!!!! You will damage the power stearing!!! Many WRX owners with less than 10k miles have needed items to be replaced from doing this from a short time! You should never hold the stearing all the way to one side.
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Old 09-12-2003, 07:58 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally posted by ciper
Your holding the stearing against the stop

STOP DOING THAT!!!! You will damage the power stearing!!! Many WRX owners with less than 10k miles have needed items to be replaced from doing this from a short time! You should never hold the stearing all the way to one side.

geeez The manual says hold it no more then 5 Sec.. What happens if you left it more then that?


Anyway it still makes that hmming sound does not need to be full lock.. you can turn the wheel about 180 and it does that sound. But I have to check this out tomorrow of that Awd Bind..

And to get it right We are talking about the 4EAT correct?
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Old 09-12-2003, 08:34 PM   #23
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Yeah AWD 4eat

There are many threads, here is an example

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=321407
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Old 09-15-2003, 10:59 AM   #24
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Ciper, I don't hold my steering at full lock for maybe more than a second, and not very often either... I'm doing damage even this way???
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Old 09-18-2003, 08:48 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by subyluvr2212
Ciper, I don't hold my steering at full lock for maybe more than a second, and not very often either... I'm doing damage even this way???
I had to make a tight turn at a stop sign (Went down wrong street) and I was in a factory area and their was no where else to go but to turn around.. It took me about 2 Sec to make the full turn.. I did let go once I felt i did enough turning..

Just don't go crazy in the snow but try to advoid turning at full lock.
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