Subaru Forester (up to 2005) - READ ONLY

18028 messages,  Last post on Nov 02, 2006 at 7:19 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon



#15852 of 18028 Re: Continuous vs. Active AWD? [agateroad] by mckeown

Dec 26, 2004 (9:45 am)

Replying to: agateroad (Dec 25, 2004 9:15 pm)
The 2005 Forester got a new version of the 4EAT Automatic. I have No experience with this drive train. The Manual stays the same, so I can speak to older automatics and manuals.
The manual is running a 50/50 split at startup, so at least 1 front and 1 rear tire have power at any startup.
The 4EAT (up to 2004, NOT including the Turbo), starts in 90/10...mostly Front wheel drive. Upon a speed difference from front to rear, it engages the center differential and locks it. So some slippage occurs. Spec says at less than 1 revolution at both outputs of the center differential, the transmission control module sends a current to the viscous coupling and 'locks' the input with both outputs. I have heard owners of Automatic Subaru's talk about the mild clunk they hear when this occurs.

#15853 of 18028 Sunroof Wind Deflector? by jlnorwood

Dec 26, 2004 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: mckeown (Dec 26, 2004 9:45 am)
Does anyone know if the sunroof wind deflector is the same for the '05 Forester as for the years past? I've got a chance to get one for my '05 Forester, but it is the OEM for the '04.
 
Thanks

#15854 of 18028 Re: Sunroof Wind Deflector? [jlnorwood] by p0926

Dec 28, 2004 (11:43 am)

Replying to: jlnorwood (Dec 26, 2004 6:28 pm)
There weren't any body changes from 04 to 05 so it should fit fine.
 
-Frank

#15855 of 18028 Re: Continuous vs. Active AWD? [agateroad] by p0926

Dec 28, 2004 (11:48 am)

Replying to: agateroad (Dec 25, 2004 9:15 pm)
Michael covered it quite well but the quick answer to your question is "yes", they should work equally well in that scenario. Other than possibly hearing the referenced clunk, you're unlikely to be able to tell the difference.
 
-Frank

#15856 of 18028 Re: Missed scheduled maintenance [kammen] by p0926

Dec 28, 2004 (12:08 pm)

Replying to: kammen (Dec 23, 2004 7:18 am)
How do you guys know the warranty isn't affected if you don't hit the scheduled times?
 
Simple common sense applies. Very little can go wrong just because you miss a 7,5k oil change by a 1,000 miles (for instance). On the flip side, the manufacturer is obviously going to deny a claim when an engine fails in a car that's been driven 55k and never had the oil changed (yes this happens). I think the key here is that the owner make a "reasonable attempt" to comply with the scheduled maintenance guidelines. And yes, the manual states X months or X miles and you should indeed follow the whichever comes first rule. The "average" driver goes 15k a year so that's how the month-based schedule is calculated. Low mileage vehicles obviously need to stick to the calendar schedule while high mileage drivers (like me) only worry about the mileage-based schedule.
 
-Frank

#15857 of 18028 Remote Start questions by elleng

Dec 28, 2004 (2:07 pm)

I'm curious to find out if anyone has put an aftermarket remote starter in their forester. This of course would be a factory unit. My fiance wanted to put one in my 04 XS premium but I declined stating that it wasn't really that important to me. Yes we have had some cold days but its nothing that I haven't been through before. I would worry that its something else on the car electronic that could fail and also I am concerned about leaving my car running outside when I'm not in it. I live in the MD area.
 
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Ellen

#15858 of 18028 1999 Forester Engine by liz3

Dec 28, 2004 (2:19 pm)

Just curious to know if anyone has had a problem with this year and model engine blowing after the warranty expired. The car was well maintained and had no problems until now. It is not a seized engine due to lack of oil. After doing some investigating a few subaru dealers have had such problems of the engine blowing but Subaru will not acknowledge there was a flaw in the engine. Automotive experts disagree. It has happened to a sizeable number of 1999 Forester Models. Any information on how to proceed with a complaint against Subaru would be appreciated.

#15859 of 18028 Re: 1999 Forester Engine [liz3] by c_hunter

Dec 28, 2004 (4:46 pm)

Replying to: liz3 (Dec 28, 2004 2:19 pm)
I have been reading these forums for over four years and have not seen any issues like this. Can you give us more details on the symptoms and effects of the failure in this case??
 
By the way, the Forester uses the same SOHC 2.5L H4 engine as numerous other Subaru models. So if there were a widespread problem, it would be affecting many other cars as well. The only problem we are really aware of relates to head gaskets, but they cover those past warranty.
 
Craig

#15860 of 18028 Re: Remote Start questions [elleng] by kev_xt_owner

Dec 28, 2004 (11:37 pm)

Replying to: elleng (Dec 28, 2004 2:07 pm)
Ellen,
 
I installed a remote car starter on my 04 Forester XT (AT). Because I maintain my Forester in a garage at home, I don't use it daily but it's been great when I go visit friends, family, and restaurants. I start the vehicle from inside the house or building and let it run for several minutes.
 
The starters bypass the key's ignition when they operate, so it uses the same existing wiring as already in your car. As far as I know, every model comes with additional wiring to detect when you press the brake pedal or when you open the hood -- if you do so without turning the key's ignition to run, the remote starter shuts off power and the car's engine dies. So, your car will be safe from anyone driving off with it and you won't have the car time out (and turn itself off) if you forget to put the key in.
 
The model I installed is two-way, so the car transmits back to the remote that it's running, etc. It's also sophisticated enough that it has additional relays that, properly wired, can turn on the climate control system, rear window defogger, etc. Even without the additional relays, the XS and XT models can start warming up the seats if you remember to leave the switches turned on.
 
A friend at work says he'll never install a remote starter -- he wants to be able to hear the car in case something is amiss. The remote starter won't detect an abnormal running condition and turn itself off. But for such a relatively new car I wouldn't worry about it. If the time comes that you think the remote starter may be hiding or causing problems, disabling it by removing its fuse is easy.
 
Somewhere on the boards people don't recommend the remote starters because they waste fuel and potentially harm the engine by allowing the oil to absorb too much air due to the extended idling.
 
If you have a MT vehicle, I also wouldn't recommend the starter -- it requires the vehicle to be in neutral to start the vehicle which will limit the places you can use it to relatively flat areas (areas where you won't keep the vehicle in gear to help prevent the car from moving).
 
If starting the engine on cold days is the biggest concern, consider the block heater or battery warmer.
 
Kevin

#15861 of 18028 EXTENDED WARRANTY by mpgman

Dec 29, 2004 (8:13 am)

Are these worth it? $700 for 6/80k or $1150 for 7/100k from my dealer for the Forester, both with a $100 deductible. Any opinions out there? I understand that if you sell the car privately they are fully transferrable. Thanks.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement