So I'm a Subaru owner....

[Sambarmon92]

To be perfectly honest, I'm kinda' disappointed. I really don't want to offend anyone or upset anyone, but I get the feeling I'm talking to myself here. No responses, man? What's the deal with that?

That's because some of us here know, that you are the head of ISIS research department and the creator of Fister Roboto.

Seriously, I wouldn't take it personally. My guess, is that 99.9 % of people here (myself included), know as much about your model of the Libero, as we do about the Dacia 1310, Wartburg 353, or a Skoda 1203, and can't be of much help.

It's good to see that you're making progress in getting your van in order and trying to get it running. An awesome source of info for the Libero is:

http://subaru-libero.cz/forum/

Last time I checked, ( it's been a while ) they had a German version of the service manual, for your Libero, available for download.

Welcome to the forum BTW, and keep us posted on your progress. Oh ya... say hi to Cheryl/Carol for me.

[Krieger-san]

Ok, man, I understand, it's just a little weird. Maybe it's just me. And if it is, I sincerely apologize. I'm used to the fast response time of the Romanian Club Ford forum. I post and post and post and they reply and reply and reply.
My Libero ain't that much different from the second generation ones, the only two differences are the body(which I like waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than the other one 'cuz it has awesome that late '80s-early '90s feel to it) and the fact that the engine is carbed, not fuel injected. The rest I hear is pretty much the same. My van is a late 1992 model, one of the last built with this body and the KJ8 engine.
I already seen that Czech forum you've showed me, hell, I probably already seen them all. Problem with them(the German ones, the Czech ones, the Hungarian ones, etc) is that I can't understand a word. I only speak Romanian, English and French. So yeah, that would be a little difficult to follow.
Anyways, I'm gonna continue posting here, I'm gonna continue my quest of restoring the car and I'll try to be a wee more patient waiting for replies.

Good luck! Best of wishes!

[Sambarmon92]

I hear you man. It does get a bit frustrating, but keep plugging away. I use the Google translator on the foreign sites, it's not perfect, but good enough for me.

Can anyone help me order parts from abroad? Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria.... wherever parts are available. Need side window and carb rebuild kit ASAP.
Thanks!

Here is a link to a site from Mother Russia. They have all the service diagrams you'll ever need. They also get parts directly from Japan, you might find what you need there.

http://www.megazip.ru/ru/auto/subaru/view/366/3236

Cheers, and good luck

[anthill]

I get the feeling I'm talking to myself here. No responses, man? What's the deal with that?

Don't know your van, haven't done similar work, can't give any useful advice... Keep on posting, though!

[Krieger-san]

Don't know your van, haven't done similar work, can't give any useful advice... Keep on posting, though!

Will do . As a matter of fact, here's a post right now.

Got new filters today(air and fuel). Will install them shortly.
Got out to the van a couple of days ago, in the morning(cold as hell), with the intention of taking the cooling lines out. Reason: they need to be inspected(there might be a rust plug somewhere) cleaned and painted(on the exterior). Didn't get to actually do it 'cuz it was too damn cold and there was not enough time to do it anyway.
Did greased the sticky driver side sliding door handle. Plenty of penetrating spray, now it works SMOOTHLY. This was the last one un-sprayed and therefore sticky.
Also inspected the passenger side sliding door light switch, cleaned it with contact spray and properly attached it's rubber gasket. Driver side sliding door switch has no gasket, will install one Sunday.

Made some pics of the van, this time on the driver side and interior.
Beware! Exterior pics may be frightful to some.
It's not the cleanest libero around and it's definitely not the prettiest with that window hole wrapped in duct tape, but it's on the right path. Waiting for a replacement window from sashusambar. CHEERS, MATE!.
Interior looks kinda' shabby too. Needs cleaning, vacuuming, refreshing(smells like ebonite) and it needs me to install the stereo and the speakers back.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...7627347666359/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...7627347666359/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...7627347666359/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...7627347666359/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...7627347666359/

Plans for Sunday:
- put ignition coil back on the car
- replace damaged door switches rubber gaskets(1 that I know of)
- install new fuel filter
- take cooling lines out for inspection, cleaning and painting
-etc

That's it for now. Have a good evening, dudes!

[Krieger-san]

Alright, so it's been about 200 years since my last post, so I shall make one right now .


First of all, I've got the window from sashusambar installed. Really completes the car, it looks much much better without that duct tape there. Still haven't cleaned all the duct tape on the car, anyone who's ever tried to peel some of metal would know what I mean.

I had all the filters replaced. Two fuel filters, one air filter. Also replaced some of the fuel rubber lines, secured the junctions with new braces. Bought new battery( http://www.zap.pl/UserFiles/Image/45Ah-wwwzappl.jpg ) and made booster cables from old booster cable clamps and old heavy duty welding unit copper cable.

Put some gas in(also bought a really kick ass communist made gas canister), fired up the engine.
Engine runs rather well as long as current is provided by another car. Battery warning light is on, multimeter alternator test indicates no charge. As a result, I spent the day yesterday taking the alternator off the car.
Will be rebuilt. Will try to rebuild it with my dad, since it will be cheaper. Trying to find replacement rectifier bridge(most likely to be the culprit m'here, will be tested) as we speak. Will also inspect and clean the other parts of the alternator, maybe spray the housing with some zinc spray paint. If not possible, I'll send it to a specialized company.

Another problem my van has is the carburetor. It won't idle correctly and it won't close choke. Vacuum lines are messed up, loose lines and, according to the engineer who inspected it, missing choke plate spring and really dirty. Must be taken apart and cleaned with Decarburol.
Apart from this, the engine runs fine. A bit smoky(and stinky IMHO), but I think it's normal after all that time sitting and with badly adjusted carburetor.

Didn't had the time to check all the electrics. Made a mistake yesterday, I tried to take the negative terminal wire off the van to clean and re-solder and I broke the bolt that attached it to the body. Used penetrating oil, had it spinning for two or three socket turns, but on the forth one, it broke. Will bring a drilling machine from the countryside next weekend and drill the thing right out of there. Just to be sure, there is nothing else I can damage there, the bolt is just screwed into the van body, right?
Just had an idea, I should pop the whole battery holder off the van, clean it and paint it with thick insulating paint . Must makeshift a new plastic battery tray as well. Will probably build one from an old TV casing.

Will change the oil and oil filter soon. The oil that's in the engine at the time is light brown in color, but it's been in there for 5 or so years so I don't think it's all that good.

Still haven't fixed my handbrake problem, still looking for pics or reference on how it should be. I'll bring my dad into this, maybe he'll have a solution. He always has.
Also in the lookout for some steel rims for a winter set. Anyone got some ideas? I mean, would it be a problem if the cb hole on the wheel is bigger than 59mm? Hmmmmmm?
Another problem I have, the radiator flush screw is locked in tight. It's a hex type head, somewhat striped. Last owner warned me about this. I tried giving it a few hammer blows, I tried penetrating oil, I'll try heating it up with a candle or something. Mind you, it's rather cold outside(5-6-10degrees Centigrade, even less at night). Must put antifreeze in. Got a liter of glico-something antifreeze that's supposed to hold up to -35 degrees Centigrade when mixed with distilled water in 50/50 ratio.

Anyways, I'm off now, must re-solder that terminal cable and must go buy the things I need for the carb cleaning and for the alternator rebuild. Waiting for replies.
Cheers!

[fupabox]

sounds like you're getting a lot done...the ground bolt should just be into the body..drilling it out should hurt nothing unless something is close enough behind to get drilled.....keep up the good work

[Krieger-san]

Thanks!
I bought a bottle of carb cleaner(Decarburol) today and one can of penetrating oil(kind of running out).

In about 3 hours, I'm buying a set of steel rims( http://piese-auto.anunturi-auto.4tun...-10626256.html) to be used for summer. Will use the ones I have for winter since the ones I'm buying tonight seem to be better looking .

Only thing I'm not 100% certain, the wheels that I'm about to buy have ET 39. I read on this forum that the Libero wheels have ET45. I don't think it would matter. The guy is gonna test fit one before I'm buying them, so, I should be good .

Will keep you guys posted.

[Krieger-san]

I bought that set of used 13" VW steel rims. Imported from Germany, nice and straight, little to no rust, in almost mint condition.
As I expected, they're not fitting 100%, the cb hole must have about 2mm machined off. Apart from that, they are awesome. ET(38mm) seems to clear the calipers and the shock flange just fine(measured by eye).
A little mark here and there, but they look really fine for the price I payed for them(around 100$ in equivalent, including the price of the machining). I actually intended to buy rims to make a winter set, but, since these are much nicer than the originals, I will use them for summer and use the originals for winter. Probably some wider tires, that should work out fine, just fine. Give the van some cool looks and a wee bit more stability .

[Krieger-san]

Hello again!

It's been a while since my last post(again), lots have happened(again) and I feel like posting(again).

Since the last time I wrote here, I've encountered a guy who is breaking down a 1992 Subaru Libero and I bought some parts from him. Guy is from Romania, found him on the web. Only problem is that he's from a remote part of the country, somewhere near the Danube. That's a problem because I would've liked to buy his van and it needs to be shipped over, adding extra costs.
So I call this guy, I arrange to buy the alternator and carburetor off his van. He sold them to me with the equivalent of 100$, waaaaay cheaper than the cost of a alternator rebuild. He claims that they are complete and working, but that is to be checked.
Carb and alternator all dirty and grimy, but look complete(to my square eye). I posted pics on my flickr( http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...7627347666359/ ). Cleaned the alternator, dab of paint on it, it's going on the car today.
Wish me luck! Be back with updates tonight.
Cheers!

[Krieger-san]

Also, installed the newly soldered negative lead in the battery compartment, put the battery on and checked the lights.
Apart from the horn and one rear brake light, everything seems to work. Even the 4WD button seems to work. If I push it, I can hear a click sound somewhere deep down in the front of the car(perhaps that's the electro-valve), but since I did that with the engine off(starter only works with power from another car), the 4WD indicator in the dash won't light.
Electrics need to be mended.

[Stuff99]

Also, installed the newly soldered negative lead in the battery compartment, put the battery on and checked the lights.
Apart from the horn and one rear brake light, everything seems to work. Even the 4WD button seems to work. If I push it, I can hear a click sound somewhere deep down in the front of the car(perhaps that's the electro-valve), but since I did that with the engine off(starter only works with power from another car), the 4WD indicator in the dash won't light.
Electrics need to be mended.

that click would be the vacuum switch. good to hear that works!

[Krieger-san]

Hear me out, people.

I had some free time and nice weather today so I decided to install the replacement alternator on the van.
Popped it in, took some pics, tried to make sense of the loose vacuum lines in the engine bay, the usual. I fitted one of them in the only free intake nipple that would reach(see pics no. 1 and 2).
I installed the battery(nice and charged), put the ignition on and.... nothing. Well, almost nothing. When I turn the key(or press the button that the last owner said he modded into a ignition switch), the lights on the dash dim, there's a clicking sound coming from the engine starter followed by a bubbling noise from somewhere in the back. Starter won't turn. It had this problem ever since I first attempted to crank it over.
The engine WILL start with power from another car, but I don't know why it won't even crank on it's own. I haven't tried to jump start it today, I was bummed. I couldn't even see if the replacement alternator is working or not.
Made pics and added related questions on them. You can see them right here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...7627347666359/

Awaiting replies(with advices). Thanks!

[anthill]

When you say 'powered from another car', do you mean jumper cables applied to both your battery terminals, or one to positive, the other to body ground?

The "button the last owner modded as ignition switch" sounds ugly!

[Krieger-san]

Yeah, jumper cables from another car.
This is the button in question: http://www.flickr.com/photos/1205219...57627347666359 . I wonder what was it's original function.
I will take the starter off the car, give it a little bit of TLC, but I think that will happen later. It's soooo cold outside and I can't work in these conditions.
Cheers!