Annoyance solved
 

(Is your SVX sounding/feeling a little aged? This little fix might help...)
Since I bought my '97, I've been embarrassed how my otherwise-sweet experience was ruined every time I opened and closed my driver's side door.. *squeak*, *groan*, *clunk*, *squeak*.... sounded like my old '74 Monte (first car) ;) ... anyway, greasing up the "door check" and hinges didn't help, but I finally tracked down a part # with the help of my friendly Subaru dealer's parts guy... so I ordered part # 62090PA001, the "Door Check Assembly" (it appears the part is interchangeable for L or R side).

I'll provide these quick instructions. Keep in mind the usual caveats :)

1) Remove door panel using established, time-honored procedure
2) Remove 3 screws for speaker, get the speaker out of the way (I used it's magnet to let it stick to the door; I was afraid I'd break the factory wiring if I tried to unplug it)
3) With a small hammer, *gently* tap upwards on the pin holding the arm of the door checker in place, until it's out. Don't loose it :)
4) With 1 hand inside the door holding the door checker in place, loosen the 2 external nuts that are on the door-checker's built-in screws (don't loose the nuts either :) )
5) Take old door-check out
6) Installation of new door-checker is the reverse of removal :)

The new part comes pre-lubed; I put a little more grease on mine for good measure, however :)

I post this here because people may not even realize their car has this problem (one of those things that creeps up on you). If a moderator wants to put this in another forum, I won't be offended :)

other annoyances
 

Well since people are reading this but not posting anything, I'll assume nobody else had this problem, or it was so obvious a fix that everyone things I'm an idiot :D
Anyway, I have to other things ongoing annoyances, both in the doors!
1) The door locks buzzzzzzzzz when I turn up the stereo past 25% or so
2) When opening the driver's side window, there's a loud *thunk* when it hits the bottom of it's "range of motion"

Anybody have a fix for these? I'm thinking Dynamat will fix (1) if/when I ever am able to afford new speakers :)

My doors have creaked from time to time - it especially seems to get the worst in summer. I simply bought a can of white lithium grease and applied it liberally. Problem solved for me.

Baddog,

let me know what you find out about the locks, mine do this as well, even with the stereo off

Re: other annoyances
 

I fixed the buzzing door locks by taking a piece of the "fuzzy" part of velcro and carefully putting it behind the lock and adhering it. We have the "large industrial size" velcro here, so, it's quite "cushy." Worked like a charm.

My driver's window does the same thing. Always has. No problems yet. Dunno if it's normal -- anybody?

Re: Re: other annoyances
 

my window just recently started doing this as well. no idea why

Squeak, Thunk and Buzz
 

Guys,

Mine does all three also. Will do the white grease trick too see if it works. Thunk of the window strated recently also. no problems. YET.

Randy can you elaborate on the velcro deal. Thanx

Wayne

Yeah, is the velcro visible? Maybe I can find some felt that matches the beige interior of my car and use double-sided tape...

That'll work. There's also velcro in different colors, if you go to a fabric shop. The velcro is NOT visible. You pull slightly back on the lock lever and place the velcro (cut to fit) into the cove on the plastic part of the lock guard and stick it against the guard with the "fuzzy" part toward the lock lever. It hides in the cove. As with all "sticky things" you want to make sure it doesn't stick before you want it to. I used two popsicle sticks to manipulate the velcro. I used black on my charcoal interior -- it's still invisible.

Thanks for the infro... heh, if you want a good laugh, take the door interior panel off and look at the lock mechanism... I think it's a bent wire hanger... I guess that's one thing the diesigners didn't "over-engineer" :D

Yep, been there. It is quite funny. I need to get in there and get those outboard pads fixe, and while I'm there, clean the inside of my "ring around the keyhole" light thingy. It only illuminates up top. I'm now beginning to wonder (since I get the "thunk") if something might be loosening on the window frame and a good tightening might prevent any future demolition. Hmmmm. Just might tackle that this weekend -- that is, if the wife hasn't scheduled something for me.

Yeah I didn't think to look at the window components last time I had the door open... but it's not like it takes long to get apart :)

I got it down to a science when I was working on my master switch bank. I had the panel off, the old switch bank out, the new one in, in about 15 minutes.

Yeha it took me about 30 minutes total to swap the door checker... and that included washing my hands real well so as to not get grease all over the panel :)

Good move. Wish my tranny guys thought of that. :mad: