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#1
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1996 LSi
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWNX%3AIT
This is the one I bought. Wondering now if I made a mistake. Nice car but surprisingly high maintenance for a Subaru. |
#2
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Re: 1996 LSi
What are the problems that you are having? Is it general maintenance or stuff that shouldn't be wrong with it?
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. Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*> Subaru Ambassador [COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430 1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739 1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831 1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680 1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229 1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car) 1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913 1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164 1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176 1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215 1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525 1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624 1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961 1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855 1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872 1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097 2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951 1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420 My Email | Old Locker | New Locker | Picture of 15 of the 19 |
#3
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Re: 1996 LSi
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Exactly what "maintenance" have you had to do so far? Keith |
#4
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Re: 1996 LSi
First there was the temp gauge thing that needed a new temp sender unit and resulted in me replacing the thermostat along the way. Now there is this power steering fluid leak that will be anything from a leaky o-ring to a bad pump. I had to buy a new master switch for the power windows. And I haven't even started to address the preventive maintenance on the tranny yet. I am leaning towards a synthetic fluid plus maybe a small external cooler.
And then I keep reading about issues with MAFs, oxygen sensors, knock sensors, TPSs, dirty throttle bodies, leaky vacuum lines, dieing AC compressors, suspension issues, corroding strut mounts and so on. Maybe people on these forums tend to drive their cars harder than I do but that seems like a lot of issues. My maintenance may seem like nothing to you guys but I am comparing it to my 1997 Outback which had 161K miles. I think I replaced one sensor in its life. It sounds like the SVX gets multiple failed sensors every 60K or so. The Outback never had a leak as bad as this PS leak I have now with the SVX. It had a binding center diff that was fixed with a bottle of lubegard at 120K miles. The tranny was not known to blow up from overheating and didn't need special care. The hatch lock corroded but not any of the suspension components or mounts. No switches failed although the cruise control switch became sticky. The starter failed so that is one item. And then there were minor issues with the front and rear wipers. The 2.5L engine supposedly had headgasket issues but mine never did. That car was problem free for the first 120K of its life and had relatively few issues through the other 40K miles considering the amount of road salt used here. I was hoping for the same from the SVX but it seems like it is much more problem prone. But maybe that is just my impression as message boards, while extremely helpful, do tend to be scary places with people talking about every issue that arises with their cars. But one reason for "upgrading" from my high mileage Outback for this lower mileage SVX was to spend less time bringing the car to the mechanic and searching message boards for similar issues so I know he is doing what needs to be done and doing it correctly. |
#5
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Re: 1996 LSi
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After 70,000+ miles of daily driving, I consider my cars reliable (tho' certainly not in perfect shape) and don't feel they've been particularly more troublesome or costly to maintain than anything else of similar age. Maybe I got lucky. Hopefully you got a good one that won't dollar you to death. But there will always be something. dcb |
#6
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Re: 1996 LSi
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You are reading problems that COLLECTIVELY have happened to ALL the members here and thinking they will all happen to YOU. - No they won't. As far as the tranny goes, the earlier ones had the most issues. Yours should be fine with the routine oil changes that any car has to have. Adding a trans oil cooler is also a good idea, but it doesn't mean your tranny will fail if you don't use one. I have had a total of 4 of these cars and currently my wife and i each have one as our daily drivers. We have been using them for years now with none of the issues you mentioned. - and no oil coolers - just never got around to putting them on yet. So again, relax and enjoy your car! |
#7
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Re: 1996 LSi
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__________________
1992 LSL ebony pearl 170k - Thank you Ron Mummert Reading Box of Wine Car ----------------------------------- 1992 SVX LSL 5-Speed Sold at 180K 2019 1995 SVX Lsi Polo Sold at 118K 2007 |
#8
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Re: 1996 LSi
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Thanks again guys, most of the folks here seem to be very supportive and knowledgable. Last edited by Huskymaniac; 08-31-2010 at 07:16 AM. |
#9
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Re: 1996 LSi
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dcb |
#10
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Re: 1996 LSi
Husky,
I would echo what others say about needless worry, as well as admitting to sharing your pessimistic outlook. However, I would also remind you that the SVX is a much more complicated machine than your old OutBack. Everything from the auto climate controls to coil-on-plug to lock-up-torque convertor are miles ahead of the technology used on your old "mule" (not an insult! Check my signature!), so one must be prepared for a bit more maintenance hassle. On the other hand, when I pick a car to take on a long, high-speed trip with the wife, guess which one I'll choose 100% of the time!! Glenn
__________________
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" Aaron Burke 1993 25th Anniversary Edition #63 of 301. R.I.P. Rojo 7/24/2008 She saved my life! 1997 Ebony Mica Pearl LSI. BLACKBERRY 1998 5-Spd Legacy GT Wagon in Glacier White: NUBURU 2005 Cadillac STS in Sandstorm Metallic: STORMY Veteran and farthest traveler of 1st SoCal2MuseumsMeet2010. http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?RojoRocket |
#11
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Re: 1996 LSi
Dcarrb and Glenn both have very valid points.
I would like to add that you should change the hose going from the reservoir down to the cooler. This is a low pressure return line that can be replaced with universal oil cooler hose. Do yourself a favor and replace it when you have the reservoir off, along with the two clamps. Parts cost between the hose, clamps, and O ring should be <$20 easily, and can be done with the belt and pump still on!
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1991 SVX L JDM |
#12
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Re: 1996 LSi
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