VIN Issue, 97 Impreza EJ16 FWD

apfreds · Post by **apfreds** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:35 pm

CAR: 1997 Subaru Impreza GX EJ16 FWD Automatic Wagon

In the last 6-12 months I've noticed a burning oil smell, after taking it for a drive I discovered that I have oil leaking onto my exhaunst causing the smell, after a couple of cans of degreaser im 99% sure its a head gasket that I need to replace. I've decided to do the replacement myself and save some money because I have a second car to use.

I have worked on cars and replaced gaskets in the past but never on an EJ engine so I thought the best thing to do is get hold of a 1997-1998 workshop manual and do some reading before I do anything, but before buying a workshop manual I want to be sure that its for the right year model, engine, etc. I went online, done a few VIN checks & found out that some parts of my VIN dont seem to be correct & not one VIN check website has given me an accurate reading when I type in my VIN.

MY VIN NUMBER - JF1GF3KR9VG020079

First 3 Digits
JF1 - Passenger car Manufactured by FHI in Japan

4th Digit
G - Impreza

5th Digit
F - First Generation Wagon

6th Digit
3 - 1996+ 2.2 Litre FWD (incorrect, 1.6 litre fwd)

7th Digit
K - ????????? (cant find any information for K, every website/vin check tells me it should be a number)

8th Digit
R - ????????? (cant find any information for R, every website/vin check tells me it should either be a number or a letter that is not R)

9th Digit
9 - Apparently this means nothing

10th Digit
V - Year Model 1997

11th Digit
G - ????????? (every website/vin check tells me its a 5 speed AWD, incorrect)

Digits 12-17
020079 - Serial Number

any help is appreciated, also if anybody knows where I can get hold of a pdf 1997-1998 workshop manual online, that would be fantastic.

Post by **TOONGA** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:49 pm

http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Subaru/

lots of FSM's

I would say you have a leaking rocker cover gasket not a leaking head gasket.

TOONGA

apfreds · Post by **apfreds** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:16 pm

checked both rocker cover gaskets, they look fantastic, no signs of any damage.

thanks for the website, much appreciated.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:09 pm

That FSM legend would be for american subarus.

EDIT: I meant to say "VIN" legend

apfreds · Post by **apfreds** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:02 pm

i found the 97-98 service manual doesn't get as far into detail as i hoped, the older impreza manual goes over everything with detailed pictures but that doesn't help me.

oil coming from behind timing belt cover, suggestions?

Post by **TOONGA** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:14 pm

Would say one of the or more of the timing shaft seals has gone or the crank seal has gone.

A bit of fun to replace as you need to get the crank pulley off, as well as the timing pulleys and the timing belt.

TOONGA

apfreds · Post by **apfreds** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:44 pm

today I removed the whole timing assembly, front/back timing covers, both cam seals, crank seal, oil pump & water pump.

it is impossible to tell exactly where the leak is coming from, all the seals looked good visually but there was a lot of oil surrounding them, the oil pump had no gasket but there was no signs of leaking there. I decided I'm going to replace the cam seals, crank seal, oil pump gasket, the small rubber o ring inside the oil pump & the entire water pump assembly (which I already have) & timing belt (which I also have)

now for the bad (but hopefully not too serious) part, I have located a 3ish cm hairline crack behind the crank pulley on the front of the engine that looks like it runs into a hex nut, it also doesn't seem like any leakage is coming from there but I want opinions about this, is it serious?

one last thing, the 2 cam pulleys were a real pain to get off, are there any good/easy ways to torque them up when I go to put them back on? same question for the crank nut?