Subaru Sumo - pleasure or pain?

Having owned a 4wd Sumo for some years without aggro, the poor old dear is now seriously showing her age and spares are more than difficult to source locally since the dealership changed recently, and of course the new one isn't interested in old stuff.  Currently desperately seeking Starter motor - but any info on where/how to source spares -new or used- gratefully received.  Cheers.

welcome antman.
i realy liked your movie..

i had to look it up because i never heard of a sumo.
its called a libero/e10/e12 over here in the netherlands.

what year is it?
what engine has it got?
do you have the partsnumber for the starter motor?
it has the same engine as a justy so have you tried one of those?
you could let the old one get refurbished...

i have searched some car parts sites and they are easy to come by over here...
like this one
https://www.winparts.nl/motordelen-toebehoren/startmotor/c834/startmotor/p139573.html?a=t4u/0/0/834/139573&gclid=CjwKEAjwjca5BRCAyaPGi6_h8m8SJADryPLhUaTwaHBugXwel4Bcog_msygwn4Zw5iTMYmyW1cHPbRoCkQ_w_wcB#orgineelnummers

refurbished one
https://www.rexbo.nl/eurotec/startmotor-11040205?c=100359&gclid=CjwKEAjwjca5BRCAyaPGi6_h8m8SJADryPLhPfmbbcMZomICCrQ-tLxz3URIb4Hw7T3J_Xwg_xNgjRoCVRHw_wcB

http://webshop.porza.nl/article/list/4416/10459

i keep seeing nissan partnumbers so i think some sort of nissan starter will also fit...

on the next link it says that it will also fit a justy
http://www.marktplaats.nl/a/auto-onderdelen/elektronica-en-kabels/m1043151988-startmotor-subaru.html?c=8c285449651fa109c354bbabe740c1b&previousPage=lr

Hi Scotia,
Many thanks for your quick reply. The 'Sumo' was only available in certain countries apart from UK and may be called by other names elsewhere I think. The Libero is a different body shape but I'll check the part numbers with your leads for matches and come back. Thanks again.

Hey there!

I think the Libero is the same model. I've found 2 models. An old one an a newer model. The old one has double headlights (4 total) and the newer one a lumpy front bumper and singe headlights. I assume you have the old model?

Scotia, I've seen one of these old model Libero's also driving around in our neighborhood! It's a gray one. Keep an eye out for him

i thought about buying one but went for the carry instead.
i hated the wierd front and rearbumper to much of the libero e12
the glass roof is awsome though

i have seen a orange-red one in hengelo last week
havent seen the grey one.. but would realy like to

isnt the old one with the 4 headlights called the e10 and the newer one the e12 ?

Hi guys - thanks for all the info. Just looked up 'Sumo' on Wiki - "The Subaru Sumo, known as the Libero in European markets, except the UK/Norway, Columbuss in Sweden and Domingo in Japan,was a microvan produced from 1983 to 1998. It was also called the Subaru E10 and E12 in some places, the names referring to the size of the engines." / Mine is a 1993 1.2 (4headlights) - so E12 I guess. (The first Libero pic. I saw was the later model - hence confusion.) This is good news as there seems to be good sources of parts for the Libero where you are in the Netherlands. The mechanic now tells me that it is just the armature in the starter that is broken - if one of those could be sourced, maybe from a breakers, then he could fix it. Obviously cheaper than a new starter!  Checked the starter for part number but there is nothing stamped inside or out so no help there, but it is identical to the website photos shown as P/N EUROTECH;11040205 /EAN 4250294708182 . As always any ideas to keep the old girl going are much appreciated. Thanks again.

If you have more details I can check if it is the same starter motor as the Subaru Justy. A friend of mine just removed his engine and replaced it with a Suzuki Swift engine. So the starter motor of the Justy is avalible

Could be Justyn time?

I'll get my coat....

PvdB wrote:If you have more details I can check if it is the same starter motor as the Subaru Justy. A friend of mine just removed his engine and replaced it with a Suzuki Swift engine. So the starter motor of the Justy is avalible

Thanks for your time - I don't think the Justy starter will fit looking at images on google. I showed the mechanic the photo on the site - webshop.porza.nl/article/list/4416/10459  mentioned in scotia's first post, and it is a definite match for the one I have, but if you think it's worth a look that would be very helpful, even if just to discount it. Thanks a lot.

no thanx man.. thats what the forum is for

why not make your own (project) topic and post some pictures and so.
the litle subaru fits right in our litle club

scotia wrote:no thanx man.. thats what the forum is for

why not make your own (project) topic and post some pictures and so.
the litle subaru fits right in our litle club

Totally agree!
Would be nice to see some pictures of your mean 4x4 beast

agree with that...pictures!

I'm afraid she's looking a bit sorry for herself at the moment, sitting in a field outside the mechanic's shed in the rain, but I may have one or two pics of the van in an earlier (and easier) life somewhere - I'll try to find them.

Post up pics of how she is now as well, will give you the spur to get her up and running and spruced up once again.

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Eventually found a pic.  Here she is in another working life...  ..nothing so exciting these days - humping band gear for a living. Thanks again for all good info - Libero (Sumo) starter on order ! Cheers guys.

That looks a nice van

Useless fact, I've filled the Red Arrows planes

What with? Hopes and dreams?

Have you kept the orange light on the top?

Of course !

thats so cool
nice van man