Update on my totally reliable Outback

"Jay, the practical enthusiast" (jay-m)
11/20/2018 at 10:00 • Filed to: None

I’m not a superstitious person. Not by a long shot. But I was reluctant to post about my reliable car thinking it would break down afterwards. Before I go any further let me tell you that it wasn’t the head gaskets (at least not yet).

I suddenly found myself with yesterday off after I wasn’t used while on airport reserve. I asked my girls if they wanted to go to the science center and although the older one declined (she wanted to stay home and play video games) my 4 year old got excited.

We got ready, jumped in the car and hit the road. 5 minutes from the house the battery light, brake light, and ABS light suddenly came on and then faded out. It happened so fast that I wasn’t even sure I saw it. But then it happened again and again and again.

I told my daughter we would have to head back home and find out what’s wrong with the car. She was disappointed but we didn’t really have a choice.

A quick internet search led to one conclusion: the alternator. Somehow low volts triggers that light combo. Also, the alternator smelt like burning rubber.

I told my father in law and got out the book. While I was wasting time flipping pages, he just jumps in like he had been working on Subaru’s his whole life. 10 minutes later, with my daughter as his helper, the alternator was out. It’s seriously that easy, although it probably would have taken me an hour as I cross referenced the book and YouTube videos 100 times.

Looks like something’s missing

My father in law wanted to see if we could find the problem with the alternator so we took it apart. It looked like a wire came out. He wanted to fix it but I wanted a warranty so we reassembled it and went to the parts store.

Installing the remanufactured alternator was just as easy, with one exception. After we put everything back together the power steering pump made the most god awful squeal. We kept trying to adjust the belt tensioner but the sound remained no matter what we did. YouTube to the rescue! It turns out that the belt cover itself is adjustable and has to be positioned just right to prevent the squealing sound. 3 minutes later and everything was perfect.

Looks shiny and new even though it’s not

Not the way I wanted to spend the day, I feel like I really let down my daughter, but $139 later and the Subaru is back in business.

DISCUSSION (10)

thejustache > Jay, the practical enthusiast
11/20/2018 at 10:09

Glad it was something as relatively simple as that. Subaru definitely nailed it with their alternator placement. I had to replace mine on short notice once and was pleasantly surprised

HoustonRunner > Jay, the practical enthusiast
11/20/2018 at 10:24

Getting something done like that may not be as much fun in the moment for your daughter, but I definitely look back at those type of memories with my dad very fondly.

Quality time with family + figuring something out + following through on a job = +1 Parenting for you

Jay, the practical enthusiast > thejustache
11/20/2018 at 10:28

No t just the alternator, but also the way they designed the belt tensioner. Even someone like me with basic mechanical skills could easily do it. I wish more auto makers designed their engines with repair in mind.

thejustache > Jay, the practical enthusiast
11/20/2018 at 10:40

Yeah it’s definitely nice for people like us who want to maintain and work on their own cars. Some might argue it’s because they knew they would break down... but honestly every car needs maintenance and repair so it’s nice when you don’t have to take the whole front of the car off to get to stuff *cough cough*VW/Audi*Cough*

My outback (and I believe most Subarus in general) even have a second slot in the hood for the prop stick that allows the hood to rest straight up and engines to go in and out without taking the hood off. An omen of things to come or good forward thinking? Personally I’m a fan

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Jay, the practical enthusiast
11/20/2018 at 10:52

I’ve found everything about the EJ engine super easy to work on. Except for spark plugs.

Jay, the practical enthusiast > HoustonRunner
11/20/2018 at 14:42

I'm glad to hear that. I was worried that if my car develops a habit of breaking down that she might come to hate it. It was my father in law's idea to involve her in the repair. She was the official tools, nuts, and bolts keeper.

Jay, the practical enthusiast > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
11/20/2018 at 14:43

I haven't looked at replacing the plugs yet, but I am still worried about the head gaskets. I don't know if I could do those myself.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Jay, the practical enthusiast
11/20/2018 at 18:13

They both suck and should be done at the same time. The non turbo isn’t too awful cause at least you have a litttttle space, but I still wouldn’t recommend it. I did plus on a turbo Forester in January and I’d rather cut my arm off than do it again.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jay, the practical enthusiast
11/21/2018 at 06:26

head gaskets on an EJ *shudder*

we use to have the Subaru franchise, i forget how many times i sold head gasket parts.

f86sabre > Jay, the practical enthusiast
03/28/2019 at 18:13

I’m using this as kinja backdoor IM. Feel free to shoot me an email at

Michael.rennick @ gm ail

Or the same in the the company email

We can compare travel notes