billfer

Andy, Sorry to hear about it. Did you need a engine?

Hi All, Timing belt after 172000. Some Pics. Not a job to be rushed or short cutted. Plenty of room for **** ups. Overtightening and cracking the water pump, flanges, cross threading bolts, putting the belt on backwards etc.... The car runs much smoother after the timing belt change. Starts easier and accelerates more smoothly. There was stretching and it was a good maintenance item to address. http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/ChiChiChiba/Timing%20Belt%20Water%20Pump/CAM00717_zps8bcf2d9a.jpg These are the old pulleys and tensioner, tensioner was getting sloppy leading to some inconsistent vacuum, starting and running issues. http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/ChiChiChiba/Timing%20Belt%20Water%20Pump/CAM00722_zpsa738c518.jpg http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/ChiChiChiba/Timing%20Belt%20Water%20Pump/CAM00721_zpse2f0c1ae.jpg Water pump looked new and bearings felt tight and smooth. Infact I shit canned the supplied paper gasket and reused the old one! http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/ChiChiChiba/Timing%20Belt%20Water%20Pump/CAM00723_zpsba84bddb.jpg

172K on original plugs, TB and WP. FTW. Changing them this long weekend. Car has been running well.

Trying to save a couple bucks? Changing the plugs on your Outback or GT is fairly advanced. Not as involved as rebuilding a motor but, strip the threads, crack a plug or get impatient and start flailing on a hot engine and your stuff will be getting towed to a real mechanic.

On my 05 outback- That DS Rear coil pack could not be moved out of the way no matter which method of triangulation that I attempted. Wound up removing the harness connector, silicon boot (Caution: spring inside of boot) all of this in a space of about 1". Caution is the better part of valor on this. If you hurry you will rush and wind up costing yourself even more time and money ie; cross threading the plug, losing the spring, cracking the connector etc...... Patience. This is the reason that I would not trust a mechnic to do this work. It is detailed and requires knowledge of tools and limitations of materials.

This post is awesome! Having been under the 05 Xt a few times I looked at the plugs and dreaded thinking about having to one day dig the plugs out. Well 5-6hours later I have done it. Sure it took forever but I am very careful. Right tools, plenty of time and meticulous work habits. Worst one to dig out? drivers side rear. Had to disassemble the coil including the rubber boot "in place". The old plugs looked like they could go another 100k. Trust a mechanic to go digging around? Thanks for the confidence inspiring walk through!