Retgman Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 I bought this car a month ago and was fixing it up as it had only 54,000 miles and the engine was near perfect. The trans just went and will cost $2500 to rebuilt it. I have now $3,000 into the car. It has nice leather, factory CD, Ac is perfect, timing belt etc. replaced, Is it worth getting a new transmission and the car should be nice and reliable. Is it worth it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mindaugas Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 I didn't check but I doubt blue book is worth that much. One thing to consider is the car as a whole. how are the brakes, body, interior, etc. Do you need to fix anything else besides the transmission? You won't be able to sell it and recoup the repair costs. How long do you plan on driving it, 5 years, 10 years, until it falls apart? If you plan on driving it for the rest of its life it is probably worth it, but only to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedsan126 Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 I used to have a 95 legacy sedan and the transmission finally went on me around 230,000 miles but it only cost me about 600 dollars to get a used one from a junkyard. Shop around different salvage yards and im sure you can get a transmission for much cheaper than the 2500 dollars you would spend to rebuild it. And besides that I would keep it because the engines are very reliable and generally pretty fuel efficient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Just check it out for rust before you begin. If the body is sound you are good to go with a new transmission. Also check out the brakes so that they are in good order otherwise it can cost you extra. But you have to decide for yourself how much you want to invest in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdubs Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 54k? That's some seriously low mileage. Depending on where you live, if the car is also in cosmetically great shape, as well as mechanical, I'd bet you could get somewhere in the 3k price range for that. But, it's all in your location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sqc151 Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 get a used turbo trans for 250-300 bucks. (i found 3 at that price)... install it for 500. 800 bucks and u drive away. i have the same car and im going that route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retgman Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 Thanks for all the feedback. I decided to go ahead and put the money into the '93 car. I found a good shop here in Ft. Lauderdale and he actually will diagnose and fix my tranny problem. Right now, he thinks it is two electrical problems, one being a solenoid but analysis not complete yet. To answer some questions, it has 54,000 mi., interior real nice w/leather, CD cold AC. Engine runs great, tires old and dry rotted and clear coat is bad on top surfaces but car has no rust at all. I took it to the local dealer which I never do but thought they may be experts. HA. They immediately wanted to put in a new transmission for $3,600. I obviously left. They simply confirmed that I will never go back to them. I will post final diagnosis of the problem as it may help others with similar one. "Retgman" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterblaze Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 get a junkyard tranny with low miles and have a home mechanic do it. might as well throw a new clutch in while ur at it. at that price it shouldn't cost more than $1000 parts and labor with clutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retgman Posted November 5, 2009 Author Share Posted November 5, 2009 The tranny I have is an automatic. As an update, the binding of the wheels, i.e. tranny, on my '93 Legacy is finally being diagnosed as opposed to the dealer and others simply wanting to replace everything. So far, it appears to be a computer problem. Several tests have indicated so and the shop has ordered a used computer. I will know next week. It makes sense as the sunroof leaked when I bought the car and moisture could have accumulated inside to affect the computer. Seems that some of these parts are no longer available new in this age of throwaway cars. I will update next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47ka Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Mine leaks from the sunroof as well. Apparently Fuji makes a replacement part for every car and stores them in a warehouse in Japan. Once a part leaves the warehouse they make a new on. The dealer wanted 1800 dollars for a sunroof assembly, minus the cost of shipping it to the States. Still trying to figure out how to make that sunroof stop leaking without just sealing it up permanently. One specialist I went to said something about a "track seal" that had degraded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retgman Posted November 6, 2009 Author Share Posted November 6, 2009 47ka, Hi. I found a good local trim shop about my sunroof leak. What happened was that the seal under the whole sunroof deteriorated. He took out the whole sunroof assembly and resealed it with material similar to the windshield sealer. It definitely will not leak again. If I had known that was what was necessary, then I could have done it myself. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdubs Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 47ka, Hi. I found a good local trim shop about my sunroof leak. What happened was that the seal under the whole sunroof deteriorated. He took out the whole sunroof assembly and resealed it with material similar to the windshield sealer. It definitely will not leak again. If I had known that was what was necessary, then I could have done it myself. Hope this helps. You are correct. It's a common problem in many older vehicles, and unfortunately some people seal the sunroof up because of this, and ruin the life of it completely over something so simple to fix. http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=183&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=125 Pictures for reference are on page 6. It all makes sense as you take it apart, a real simple procedure. Probably the one thing I suggest is a helper to get the roof assembly in and out of the car. It's very awkward as it's coming down in your lap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shtbxr22 Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 it's not worth fixing!! give it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retgman Posted November 16, 2009 Author Share Posted November 16, 2009 shtbxr22, Good answer but I will fix it. Right now the Legacy looks like the problem is the computer. I am waiting for another one, should be here next week. Where in N.H. do you live? My son lived in Manchester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickfast Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I would say definitely not worth it. For that price you could buy an entirely different car with no major problems to speak of. I bought my subi for $1400 bucks, threw some drive belts and a drive axle in it for a hundred bucks, a fuel filler neck for 140, got some snows for it for a total of 200, and I was ready to hit the road for another 50k miles at least (I'm at 152k right now). 1800 bucks for a reliable DD with working A/C. Cloth seats are functionally better in every way anyway. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdadi Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 www.car-parts.com to locate your tranny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterblaze Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 it is too worth it! any subi is worth it! like i said find a junkyard tranny and backyard mechanic it might only cost $600 in the end. if your clutch is good. and the clutch in the junkyard tranny might be new or better than yours! and at 54,00 miles on that engine u got a lotta life left and a lotta life left in the body and suspension and everything diff's axles CV JOINTS! so common going out. but u got 100,000 miles b4 ur gunna have many problems especially if ya get that tranny!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retgman Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 skaterblaze, Hey, thanks skaterblaze. The '93 Legacy wagon is in the shop now. I found a great honest trans guy. After he did an actual diagnosis, which most shops don't have the know how to do, he discovered that it was the computer, not the trans. He ordered a used one, which was partially bad and sent it back. He ordered another one and the shipper was lazy or stupid and after 4 days, didn't ship it. They said they were busy. HA! He canceled the order and ordered from someone else. Should be here Thurs. Hopefully it will fix the car for about $500 instead of $2500 to $3100 which other shops and the dealer wanted to replace all the trans. It pays to shop around. Next are tires. The ones on it are old and dry rotted and Toyos which are crap anyway. I'll update later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterblaze Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 no prob. hope that works out for ya! cheap fix. if it doesn't make sure u get your money back. at least as much as possible then follow my route! if you lived in WA or even OR. i know a awesome fast honest cheap mechanic thats worked on subi's for the last 30 years. i got a engine with 100,000 miles for $600 including labor. still running strong after almost 9 months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retgman Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 skaterblaze, No, I live in S. Florida. There's not a lot of Subaru's down here, I guess because not much need in AWD, so I have an unusual car here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterblaze Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 did the computer fix it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retgman Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Skaterblaze, Just wanted you to know that yes, the computer fixed the problem and the transmission and all works perfectly. If I had listened to other shops and the dealer, I would have put a rebuilt transmission in for about $2,500 to $3,100 for nothing and still had the same problem. The rest of the '93 Legacy wagon is very nice and with 54,000 miles, it should be good for a long time. Thanks to all for the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterblaze Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 That's good to hear! You now have a reliable Subaru with at least another 150,000 to go! way to go man don't listen to those expensive ass mechanics that will suck your money like a vampire! Good Luck Man! SUBI-POW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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