Are these motors (2.2L as in '96 Outback) Interference design? In other words, if the t-belt goes, do the valves kiss the pistons? I read somewhere that the H6 motors are, but the H4 motors are not... Is this true?
I drove the '96 Outback today that I think I am going to buy. There was A LOT of gear noise from the tranny (and maybe rear diff too...kinda hard to tell) and occasionaly it popped out of 4th gear at about 45mph when lifting off the throttle sharply, and when I came back and checked the fluid level, it did not show on the dip stick!!!
If I fix this leak problem, and add fluid, should the tranny be ok, except for maybe more noise than it should have? It would not be a daily driver, but just a weekend/spare car for family. I am getting the car for wellllll under blue book (because of this leak problem) but really dont want to put a $3000 dealer transmission into it.... What is the availability of used or rebuilt transmissions (5spd) for these 2.2L motors?
Should it be ok if I fix the leak and add fluid? Except for breaking teeth/gears, all a manual transmission can do (theoretically) is seize right? How robust are Subaru Transmissions? Should I be terribly concerned with all this noise? (granted, it would probably help with fluid in it!)
Any help would be great!
Thanks!