Newbie Subaru owner

dreammeister · Post by **dreammeister** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:50 pm

Hi everyone,

I just bought a '96 Subaru Liberty Wagon at the weekend. I'm very happy with my purchase but the car didn't come with an owners manual so I was hoping someone out there could answer a few questions I have...

I have no idea which oil to top it up with - the car has 280,000km on it, not sure if it's the original engine or not. Can I put in any grade oil or should I aim for something high quality?

Is there any way of checking if the cam belt has been changed recently or at least at 200K (I'm guessing without the service record it's guesswork)

Does anyone know the front speaker diameter? As the passenger side speaker doesn't seem to work I may as well upgrade the standard speakers. Incidentally does anyone know if the car will have the modern universal plug behind the stereo so I can *easily* replace the head unit?

Sorry to bombard everyone with so many questions - if anyone can point me in the direction of an owners manual I'd be eternally grateful!

Many thanks

DM

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:19 am

dreammeister wrote:Hi everyone,

I just bought a '96 Subaru Liberty Wagon at the weekend. I'm very happy with my purchase but the car didn't come with an owners manual so I was hoping someone out there could answer a few questions I have...

I have no idea which oil to top it up with - the car has 280,000km on it, not sure if it's the original engine or not. Can I put in any grade oil or should I aim for something high quality?

Is there any way of checking if the cam belt has been changed recently or at least at 200K (I'm guessing without the service record it's guesswork)

Does anyone know the front speaker diameter? As the passenger side speaker doesn't seem to work I may as well upgrade the standard speakers. Incidentally does anyone know if the car will have the modern universal plug behind the stereo so I can *easily* replace the head unit?

Sorry to bombard everyone with so many questions - if anyone can point me in the direction of an owners manual I'd be eternally grateful!

Many thanks

DM

Welcome to Ausubaru...
Yeah you can find owners manuals at the wreckers (where they would wreck Subaru same as yours) and it would be good idea if you could get Gregory manual as well for mechanicals.

Engine oil for EJ22, 5 or 10-40w engine oil, I strongly recommend to keep using oil what its previously used. Otherwise if you don't know, I use castrol magnetic in mine because its the oil it has been using since new (and Subaru engine is prone to dislike other oil types - you'll have to find right one what suits), other one that is good is Shell Helix. But again people have their own opinion on engine oils.

Service Records would be only place to check if it has been replaced, is there any sticker anywhere? (try speaking or locate the previous owner - can you do that?) Normally timing belts are changed every 100,000kms, if it breaks it doesn't damage the engine but you will have to 'reset' the cam positions if it does.

Speaker - mine is broken as well lol, havent bothered finding out why etc, But i would suspect broken wiring somewhere, if you intend upgrading the headunit then its a good time to find the broken wire! (I would start at the door testing the circuit) You can buy universal plug (I think I got it off from ebay after lucky guess) as i have one in mine, but they're widely available from SuperCheap, Bursons, AutoPro JB Hi Fi etc just as long you have correct plug...

Good Luck!
Cheers
AP

dreammeister · Post by **dreammeister** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:48 am

AP - thanks so much for all the advice - I will head down to the wreckers at the weekend..

The last owner only had the car for a matter of months and didn't know anything about the service history so I have to make worse case assumptions from here on in.. Great news that the cam belt breaking doesn't damage the engine - brilliant!

Thanks again!

DM

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:54 am

dreammeister wrote:AP - thanks so much for all the advice - I will head down to the wreckers at the weekend..

The last owner only had the car for a matter of months and didn't know anything about the service history so I have to make worse case assumptions from here on in.. Great news that the cam belt breaking doesn't damage the engine - brilliant!

Thanks again!

DM

Fair enough, no worries you're welcome!
Cheers
AP

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:47 pm

A new head unit isn't too hard to wire in if you can't find a plug.

Welcome to the world of subaru. Got any plans with your liberty or is it a bog standard get around?

Cheers

Bennie

dreammeister · Post by **dreammeister** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:00 pm

Thanks Bennie. I love tinkering with cars so I am sorely tempted to see what can be done with the Liberty.

However, for the time being the car will be used as a runaround for myself and the missus.. hopefully I'll get to use the low-range gears also at some point