Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

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19283 messages, Last post on May 01, 2013 at 9:15 AM

You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.

Your Host is kcram

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, SUV

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Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

#12837 of 19283 Idahodoug : Forester Factory Service Manuals by quon

Jul 04, 2002 (12:36 am)

I have the 1999 Subaru Forester Service Manuals.
They consist of 6 volumes:
1: General information
2: Engine Section
3: Transmission/Differential
4: Mechanical components
5: Body Section
6: Electrical Section

The whole set costs around $250 from www.subaruparts.com.

For general maintenance, you can get by
with just Vol. 1, however, you can ususally find
more details on the specific procedure in
the appropriate volume.

So far, I think that purchasing the set has
been worth it. But then again, it keeps getting
more expensive every year!

Ken

#12838 of 19283 PCV Valve - Thanks! by patdad

Jul 04, 2002 (6:01 pm)

Wow - I couldn't have imagined a better response. The pictures confirmed that I wasn't mistaken about the location of the part. I'm tempted to take the picture of the part itself to the dealer's part department but I don't think I'd score too many points that way.

#12839 of 19283 PCV valve by hypov

Jul 05, 2002 (5:38 am)

Colin-
Thanks.
You reminded me that my would be due for a changed.
Had mine changed

~10k. The tech that did my car recommended that it be changed ~10-15k. In his own words, in layman's term, "It's like the kidney of the engine. That goes, everything else will follow." $25.00, IIRC, is a worthy expense.

-Dave

#12840 of 19283 by locke2c

Jul 05, 2002 (11:09 am)

um, it's not nearly a kidney but if your PCV becomes plugged, crankcase pressure will rise and that leads to two likely scenarios:

1) oil rings begin to fail, leading to oil consumption

2) oil foams, which breaks it down rapidly and the resulting loss of quality can lead to wear, rust and even sludge especially when oil change intervals are long.

but yeah a PCV shouldn't be neglected.

-Colin

#12841 of 19283 PCV Valve and other good preventive maintenance by quon

Jul 05, 2002 (3:35 pm)

Hi,

This PCV valve thread has been very informative. The pictures from
the i-forum were dead on for locating the PCV valve even on my Forester.
I will be ordering a replacement part soon. Interestingly enough,
the factory service manuals (FSM), doesn't even mention it in the
general maintenance section. Even the Haynes manuals for
the Legacy says it should be inspected very 60K miles.

So, in addition to PCV valve replacement, can you guys recommend
other maintenance procedures not explicitly culled out in the
FSM and their intervals?

Off the top of my head, I can think of :
* Upper/lower radiator hoses
* Radiator cap

OK, the FSM does recommend inspecting the hoses, but it
doesn't actually say to replace them unless there is
something wrong.

Thanks,

Ken

P.S. The black foam on the top of my radiator has virtually disintegrated.
I've tried taping it back, however, it didn't work very well. I guess it isn't
that important. My guess is that air flow to the radiator is reduced
somewhat. Has anyone tried replacing it?

#12842 of 19283 JUICE IN THE MAGAZINES by dukephoto

Jul 06, 2002 (12:38 pm)

Hey Juice-

I was just reading an article in Businessweek Magazine Online on the Auto Industry, and they mention an A.J.Teixeira who looked at 7 vehicles before getting a Subaru Wagon.
Is that anybody we know and love????
It took looking at that many to decide on a Subie?

Dukephoto

#12843 of 19283 Businessweek Online Link by quon

Jul 07, 2002 (11:30 am)

In case anyone wants to read the article
mentioned in #5427, here's the link:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_28/b3791001.htm

#12844 of 19283 Spark plugs by jfl

Jul 07, 2002 (5:16 pm)

I'm planning to change the plugs and wires in the next month or two.

Any comments on brands, especially for the wires?

Thanks,
Jim

#12845 of 19283 by ateixeira

Jul 08, 2002 (7:25 am)

One of the theories behind Toyota's sludge problems was a faulty PCV valve.

Hey, that's me! They even spelled my name correctly. And it was Edmunds that put me in touch with them.

One correction, though: we didn't "settle" for a Legacy, we "moved up" to a Legacy.

-juice

#12846 of 19283 ECU problems? Other causes? by dry_fly

Jul 08, 2002 (1:58 pm)

Hi:

I originally posted this in the Subaru Problem group, but I will also post it here. The responses seem to revolve around an upgrade to the ECU programming and/or O2 sensors. The service people had said that is what happened in late April. Any other ideas? I'll be bringing it in this Wednesday due to their work schedule.

I have a 2001 Forester S with about 27000 miles. I am curious if anyone has had any problems with the "Check engine" light coming on?

I had the light come on in late April of this year. The dealer tried their computer diagnosis, which said something was wrong with the ECU. They said it needed to be reprogrammed. So it was sent back to Michigan (?) and the thing was back in three days. And it has not come on until now.

Well the light came on again Saturday, and I'll be going back to the dealer again.

My questions are these:

Are problems with the ECU common?
Does reprogramming get at the problem or does the unit need to be replaced?
Why does the ECU ever need reprogramming?
And lastly, is there a real problem which the reprogramming or replacement might cover up?

I get the feeling the dealer is not looking past the initial computer diagnosis or ECU problems.

TIA

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