plugs and fuel filter on 2.5L? tips?

[Todd H.]

Howdy,

My heart just about stopped when I priced the 60k mi service at the
dealer for my 01 outback wagon.

They want $510 here to
replace plugs,
fuel filter,
oil change (which I do regularly myself), and
do inspections on brakes (which I recently replaced),
transmission (replace fluid, but only if needed),
air filter (which I recently replaced),
rotate the tires (I can handle this too).

The service schedule mentions two other items the dealer didn't
mention--
replace brake fluid (i have an idea of what's involved here)
coolant (does the dealer do any more than drain and refill?)

....which I assume they'd also do, and maybe the guy on teh phone was
just rushed to make a service appointment.


Plugs I started to look at on this, and grabbed some NGK's from the
parts stores (NGK V-power's) but some of those areas are kinda tight
so I backed off...until I got this price today(!). Any tricks or
tools to it to make it easier? Looks like removing the washer fluid
reservoir would make the drivers side job easier, but how do those
hoses come off--just clamp and yank and try to minimize spillage? And
there's some black housing thing on the passenger side of a similar
size to the washer reservoir (what is this?) that looks removeable to
make getting to those two easier? Confirm or deny?

Fuel filter...never changed one of those before--any DIYers offer the
nickel tour? Where is it for one? How do you minimize fuel spillage?
Is it tough?

Is it worth taking tour of the service manual on these procedures? Am
I better off just coughing up the $510?

Thanks again to all who've been down this road before for taking the
time to share the info.

Best Regards,

 

[Nicolas Dore]

Re. changing the plugs: Scoobymods has instructions for Imprezas which are
similar and yes, you have to remove the resonator (think that's what it's
called from the passenger side. 2 bolts to remove. That way you have much
better access to the plugs. And yes, you pull on the little handles on the
wires.

Scoobymods has info on changing the other stuff, too.

Good luck.

Nicolas

 

[Edward Hayes]

Fuel filter is easy. Have a rag or two for gas mop-up (maybe 4 oz). Undo
hose clamps remove and replace and watch where hose protectors go. As for
the spark plugs I use a 5/8 inch flex head spark plug socket (sears). To
remove plug wires grab ONLY the wings/ears and twist mightly as you pull.
The first time they can be a bear. When replacing the spark plug boots I put
a vey thin coat of dialectric grease or silicon on the OUTSIDE of the plug
boot to make the next change easy. Have a happy tune up and O-Yes check that
the new plugs are the correct gap using a wire gage. Plug torque is 15 +/- 2
foot pounds so don;t overdo it. I used a torque wrench on the plugs I could.
Hapy tune-up. eddie

 

[Todd H.]

Fuel filter is easy. Have a rag or two for gas mop-up (maybe 4 oz). Undo
hose clamps remove and replace and watch where hose protectors go.

Cool thanks for the response Ed. I'm at a loss though as to where to
look for the fuel filter. Where do they hide that thing?

As for the spark plugs I use a 5/8 inch flex head spark plug socket
(sears). To remove plug wires grab ONLY the wings/ears and twist
mightly as you pull. The first time they can be a bear. When
replacing the spark plug boots I put a vey thin coat of dialectric
grease or silicon on the OUTSIDE of the plug boot to make the next
change easy.

Cool...good idea.

Have a happy tune up and O-Yes check that the new plugs
are the correct gap using a wire gage. Plug torque is 15 +/- 2 foot
pounds so don;t overdo it. I used a torque wrench on the plugs I
could. Hapy tune-up. eddie

I do have a torque wrench...so that's all good advice I can take!

Thanks again.

 

[Mickey]

Cool thanks for the response Ed. I'm at a loss though as to where to
look for the fuel filter. Where do they hide that thing?




Cool...good idea.




I do have a torque wrench...so that's all good advice I can take!

Thanks again.

Fuel filter is sitting up on top, left side between spring tower and
firewall. Things are tight for accessing the plugs and you may need
to remove the windshield washer tank for a little added room.

There should be a way to release fuel pressure before taking fuel
filter off. Would advise to do so but since I've not done this yet,
don't know where the typ schrader valve is to do this. Oh, don't be
too surprise when removing the plug wires. The boot has to be close
to 8" long.

Mickey

 

[Voja]

That's Subaru pricing. Welcome to the club. ;-)

Check your e-mail. I sent you three .pdf files with all details how you
can do it yourself. Files are downloaded from Subaru's Info Tech web site.

Voja

 

[Voja]

Send me your e-mail address if you want files.

E-mail I sent you bounced back (user not recognized).

Voja