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Subaru Legacy/Outback Wagons Maintenance & Repair

8644 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 4:04 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Wagon

Messages Page 413 of 865

#4115 of 8644 Re:05'LegacyGT 5EAT WagonWon'tStart jsun: Our '05 Outback also won't start by sms2

Jan 20, 2005 (5:59 am)

4563  Re:05'LegacyGT 5EAT WagonWon'tStart jsun: Our '05 Outback also won't start by sms2   Jan 20, 2005 (7:41 am)
Reply
 
Your messages describe exactly what happened with our new Outback this week. So, apparently, your car's failure (and ours) is not an isolated incident. We bought our 2005 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5 XT Ltd. (5-speed manual) on Dec. 30, 2004 and less than 3 weeks later on Jan. 18, 2005, when the temperatures had fallen to the teens, the car would not start (same problem that you described). As the first snow of the season hit northern Virginia, there I was yesterday on Jan. 19, 2005 riding in a flatbed tow truck to take our brand new Subaru back to the dealer. We were shocked when this new Subaru wouldn't start. This is the third Subaru we've owned since purchasing our first Subaru in 1982 when we lived "out West"; we kept that 1982 Subaru for almost 20 years, trading it in for a 2001 model, and then just trading in that car for a 2005 turbo-charged model. Our previous confidence in the dependability of Subarus is sorely shaken by this experience, especially after talking with another owner at the dealer yesterday who had experienced a series of electrical problems with his 2005 Subaru and then finding your messages. We read your subsequent messages and are going through a similar process with the dealer. Please keep us updated on your experiences, and we'll post an update after we hear from our dealer. Thanks.

#4116 of 8644 Re: Bad Speedometer and Tach [WMarton] by rob_m

Jan 20, 2005 (6:05 am)

Replying to: WMarton (Jan 19, 2005 1:15 pm)
I wouldn't worry too much. The instrument cluster in my 99 GT was replaced at 38k when the speedometer stopped working. The new one was set to zero. There is a tag on the door jamb.
 
The dealer has the actual mileage recorded in their records. When they do oil changes, the little sticker on the windshield always reflects the actual mileage for the next service. Maintenance records for the VIN on this car in mysubaru.com also reflects the actual mileage.
 
Rob M.

#4117 of 8644 Re: Bad Speedometer and Tach [steine13] by c_hunter

Jan 20, 2005 (9:41 am)

Replying to: steine13 (Jan 20, 2005 1:26 am)
It does affect your vehicle's value; unless I really got this wrong, your car becomes True Mileage Unknown (TMU) as soon as the odometer reading does not accurately reflect the mileage.
 
I believe this is not the case if it's done through SOA as a warranty repair on the failed cluster.
 
Craig

#4118 of 8644 Re:05'LegacyGT 5EAT WagonWon'tStart jsun: Our '05 Outback also won't start by c_hunter

Jan 20, 2005 (9:42 am)

Replying to: sms2 (Jan 20, 2005 5:59 am)
Can you tell us the symptoms?
 
Craig

#4119 of 8644 Cat problems by bcurrie

Jan 20, 2005 (8:03 pm)

The catalytic converter on my 96 Outback died at 130,000 miles. Now my 01 Outback needs a cat at 120,000. Is this a trend? What is reasonable to replace both units? Is there aftermarket alternative to the dealer? Does the transmission have anything to do with cat life? Both of my OB's were manuals. I am looking forward to a new OB soon and am wondering if any particular engine/transmission combination would make any difference. Thanks for all your help.

#4120 of 8644 Re: Can't shift out of park [loabn] by garandman

Jan 21, 2005 (4:09 am)

Replying to: loabn (Jan 18, 2005 5:56 pm)
I have a 98 Forrester and I can't shift out of park. I read that it may be due to cold weather, but it's not cold outside, any other thoughts? I've also been told that it mayu be a fuse or a cable of some sort. Any help would be much appreciated.

 
Look in your owner's manual - the procedure for unlocking the shifter is detailed there.

#4121 of 8644 Re: Bad Speedometer and Tach [rob_m] by WMarton

Jan 21, 2005 (10:02 am)

Replying to: rob_m (Jan 20, 2005 6:05 am)
Two things concern me: first, because of my cynical nature, I worry that if I ever try to trade in the car a dealership will use the fact that "total mileage is unknown" as a negotiating ploy against me. Even if they knew the correct mileage, it would seem a reasonable argument could be made that they will bear substantial risk trying to re-sell the vehicle and would offer a lower trade-in price.
 
Second, Subaru's response to the problem has been very cavalier...nothing can be done; simply replace the circuit board and accept the zeroed-out odometer. This bothers me quite a bit. Why isn't the chip that stores the odometer memory replaceable, or at least programmable? Seems like poor engineering to me. They should be able to program a memory chip with the appropriate mileage and have the dealer install it. The other thing that bothers me is the fact that the VDC is Subaru's highend vehicle (at least until the Tribeca comes to market this year) yet I feel that nobody is going out of their way to fix the speedo/tach in a way that will possibly avoid a future problem for me (selling the vehicle). Subaru wants to go upscale with the Tribeca, which I am clearly in the market for, yet this experience is really beginning to cloud my view of Subaru. Would this happen at a Lexus or Acura dealership?
 
Bill

#4122 of 8644 Why isn't the chip that stores the odometer memory replaceable, or at least by krzyss

Jan 21, 2005 (10:09 am)

Could you imagine scams going on if it would be the case.
What milage do you want on your car ? - would be the sales slogan for the equipment.
 
Krzys
 
PS As far as I can tell they try to serve you well.

#4123 of 8644 Re: Why isn't the chip that stores the odometer memory replaceable, or at least [krzyss] by fibber2

Jan 21, 2005 (10:15 am)

Replying to: krzyss (Jan 21, 2005 10:09 am)
Have to agree - locked and tamper-proof is the right approach for the protection of everyone.
 
Steve

#4124 of 8644 by ateixeira

Jan 21, 2005 (11:41 am)

Try an aftermarket parts store for the cat. A long, long time ago I got one for a Mustang for $80 or so. I'm sure it costs more nowadays.
 
-juice

Messages Page 413 of 865

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