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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



Messages Page 1612 of 1803

#16108 of 18028 Dumbing Down Over-Engineered Cars by bluesubie

Feb 18, 2005 (12:17 pm)

For those not on nabisco, this story is in the NY Times (you need a password):
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/18/automobiles/18warn.html
 
"... Sam Later, 36, a systems integration analyst from West Paterson, N.J., found that the automatic climate control in his Subaru Forester was letting him freeze in the winter and boil in the summer - despite a temperature setting of 76 degrees. After complaining to the company and being told "the system is performing as designed," he got out his toolbox and traced the problem to a badly placed temperature sensor. His solution: a 12-volt fan that blows air over the sensor. "It forces the sensor to react to the slightest changes in temperature," he said. Mr. Later has now sold 20 kits to other Forester owners, who can make the repair with a Phillips screwdriver, a 10-millimeter socket and some duct tape.
 
ANOTHER Forester owner, Peat Romano, 43, a thermal processing specialist for a pet food company in Lawrence, Kan., has tinkered with cars since he was 10. But he now arms himself with a fast Internet connection instead of a wrench. "I scour the Net for information on how to improve my 2004 Subaru Forester XT Turbo," he said. One handy trick he has learned is how to cancel his manual transmission's annoying hill-holder feature by adjusting some well-hidden nuts. The hill holder applies the brakes when the car is stopped on any grade with more than a three-degree angle. "If I had wanted an automatic," he said, "I would have bought one." ..."
 
Peaty doesn't post here, but same does.
 
-Dennis

#16109 of 18028 Re: Outta' gas [rhody_marco] by p0926

Feb 18, 2005 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: rhody_marco (Feb 15, 2005 9:41 am)
I've gone 25-30 miles with the low fuel light lit (not for the faint of heart) and had maybe 1/2 a gal in the tank when I filled it. The hilly terrain might have been your undoing... I think the intake is at the front of the tank so when you're going uphill you can starve the engine even though there's still gas in the tank.
 
I think you're right about the Forester's sensor being designed to cancel out the effects of sloshing. On other cars I've owned, the light would initially come on when going up a hill or thru a sharp turn and then go out again. With the Forester, once the light illuminates, it invariably stays on.
 
-Frank

#16110 of 18028 Re: Outta' gas [p0926] by edunnett

Feb 18, 2005 (6:49 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Feb 18, 2005 5:23 pm)
Besides leaving you stranded w/o gas, my husband's CR-V owners manual reads that letting the gas get "too low" (whatever that means) can cause serious engine damage, engine misfires, and damage to the catalytic converter. Now I don't know if the folks at Honda are being alarmists, but after reading that, there's no way I'm waiting for my low fuel light to go on. 5 minutes of my time here and there is worth a new engine and cat.
Elissa

#16111 of 18028 outta gas by njswamplands

Feb 19, 2005 (7:19 am)

hmmm i live in da hills of NJ so maybe thats what causes extreme panic when the gas lite comes on. i drove about 10 miles after the lite came on before dieing of gas thirst going uphill.
 
however, in my odyssey i still have around 80 miles of range left when its lite comes on, about 4+ gallons left.
 
and on a not outta gas note.. i drove the FXT for the first time in a bit, and wow that power band is fantastic. makes driving the twisties so much fun. can only imagine what an STi must be like...

#16112 of 18028 quote by ateixeira

Feb 19, 2005 (9:23 am)

Nice to see an Edmunds member in print again!
 
-juice

#16113 of 18028 AVERAGING 25-26 MPGS by mpgman

Feb 21, 2005 (11:51 am)

Really pleased so far, especially with the winter fuel mix. Mostly highway driving around 70-75 mph with a bit of city driving, maybe 5-10% with an X automatic. Light on the pedal. 28 best, did it twice on pure highway.

#16114 of 18028 Re: Outta' gas [edunnett] by p0926

Feb 21, 2005 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: edunnett (Feb 18, 2005 6:49 pm)
CR-V owners manual reads that letting the gas get "too low" (whatever that means) can cause serious engine damage, engine misfires, and damage to the catalytic converter.
 
Yes that does sound pretty alarmist to me and I fail to see a connection. I've heard that letting the tank get too empty can lead to the fuel pump over-heating (theory being that the gas actually acts as a coolant) and I've also heard the theory that the emptier the tank the greater the possibility that the fuel line will suck up debris which could clog the fuel injectors. Not sure of the validity of either of these arguments but even if true, neither would damage the engine or catalytic converter. And although it's purely anecdotal, I've driven hundreds of thousands of miles on numerous vehicles, almost never fueling up until the low fuel light comes on and I've yet to experience any negative effects.
 
-Frank

#16115 of 18028 Re: Outta' gas [p0926] by baydrive

Feb 21, 2005 (8:45 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Feb 21, 2005 2:41 pm)
That sounds very strange indeed. I had a CR-V for 4 years before buying my Forester and I let the low gas light come on all the time before refueling. Maybe I was just lucky but I had no problems with that car at all. Maybe I shouldn't wait so long to refuel with this Forester....has anybody have any problems (besides running out of gas) with this practice?

#16116 of 18028 Low Fuel Warning by ateixeira

Feb 22, 2005 (11:07 am)

They are just being extra careful when they send out warnings like that.
 
-juice

#16117 of 18028 binders by pert

Feb 22, 2005 (9:17 pm)

Bought my first forester in June. A used 2004 with 4000 miles. Like the car. One thing i dont like is the brake peddle travel before the binders grab. Can this be adjusted so they grab sooner. Also need a rear dust deflector as I live 1 mile up a dirt road. Ill also put some more aggresive treaded tires on when these cheapies ware out. Any thoughts on that. Like this Edmunds. Ive learned quite a bit about subies.

Messages Page 1612 of 1803

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