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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

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

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


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Messages Page 1843 of 1929

#18417 of 19283 Losing Coolant by jbur1

Dec 12, 2009 (12:55 pm)

I have a 2003 Forester XS that loses coolant in extreme cold weather and I can't determine where I am losing it from. I checked the radiator hoses and they are ok. I haven't noticed any puddles under the vehicle either. One day last winter the car sat outside for eight hours on a zero degree day. After starting the car and driving about two miles I noticed smoke coming up from under the hood. I pulled over and checked under the hood and noticed that some coolant had landed on top of the exhaust heat shield on the driver's side of the car thus causing the smoke and typical sweet smell of burning coolant. When I got home I checked the coolant level and found that I had lost about six ounces of coolant. I have had no problem at all this past summer but now we just had a day where the temperature was in the single digits and I lost about two ounces of coolant (reservoir had emptied). I have 80,000 miles on the car and even though this vehicle was not included in the head gasket issue I have added the Subaru coolant conditioner each time I changed coolant at 30,000 and 60,000 miles to be on the safe side. Has anyone experienced a similar issue? Any feedback would be appreciated.

#18418 of 19283 Re: Winter tires [bigdadi118] by gdoc

Dec 12, 2009 (5:10 pm)

Replying to: bigdadi118 (Dec 07, 2009 10:45 pm)
Thanks. Just got them put on. What a difference. I live in Toronto and we had our first snow storm. With the all seasons, I was making a turn off the highway and fish tailed the back end ( no, I was not trying to!). Had the Blizzak tires put on and took some turns rather quick with no breaking and the truck was planted much better.

#18419 of 19283 STI 18" rims for 2010 forester XT by gdoc

Dec 12, 2009 (5:46 pm)

I have an opportunity to buy 18" STI rims (5 spoke version on base STI). Any thoughts on how moving up to 18" would influence road noise and would this in anyway effect warranty? I would also have to get new tires and sell the Yokayama 17" that came with the truck. I don't go off roading, but wondering if moving to 18" rims with performance tires would give the vehicle a harsh ride.

#18420 of 19283 Re: STI 18" rims for 2010 forester XT [gdoc] by xwesx

Dec 12, 2009 (9:11 pm)

Replying to: gdoc (Dec 12, 2009 5:46 pm)
What did you do for the Blizzaks you just put on the car? Are those on their own rims, or on the stock 17s? The 18" wheels are going to transmit more vibration to the car, but I doubt it is going to be unbearable. Given the amount of body roll, you likely will not see any improvement in handling just by changing the wheels. It will not impact your warranty assuming you put an appropriately sized tire on the car and all tires have the same diameter, as would be the case with any size rim.

#18421 of 19283 Re: Losing Coolant [jbur1] by xwesx

Dec 12, 2009 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: jbur1 (Dec 12, 2009 12:55 pm)
This one sounds familiar to me, though I do not see why yours would be cold-related (or, perhaps, it is not related to the cold but just started... when it happened to be cold!). If you can, put the car on ramps and get underneath it in order to look up at the thermostat housing. Just in front and above that housing is the water pump. It may be that the fluid is coming from the weep hole on the water pump housing. If so, it means the seal on the impeller shaft has failed and coolant is leaking into shaft housing and out the weep hole.
 
Should this be the case, it is an early warning that your water pump is going to fail. I had this on a '96 Outback, but did not realize or heed that warning. 25,000 miles later, the pump failed at 0200 on a Sunday morning in January, at twenty degrees below zero. It was not all that fun; I should have heeded the warning.

#18422 of 19283 Re: STI 18" rims for 2010 forester XT [xwesx] by gdoc

Dec 13, 2009 (10:21 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Dec 12, 2009 9:11 pm)
I put the Blizzaks on the stock 17s. They did not have steel rims at the time to fit, so I figure I would leave the stocks on. The STI 18" rims are going for $1000. Dealer is selling them for nearly that for one rim. Do you have any tire suggestions? I was looking for the best tire that would give me a good compromise of performance with a smoothe ride. I like the feel of the suspension with the 17's and find the vehicle handles very well. However, I realize that I will give up some smootheness for the improvement in handling.

#18423 of 19283 Re: STI 18" rims for 2010 forester XT [gdoc] by lucien2

Dec 13, 2009 (10:52 am)

Replying to: gdoc (Dec 12, 2009 5:46 pm)
you'll want to confirm the bolt pattern. Your XT is 5x100. for a while the STi was 5x114. I don't recall which years though, sorry.

#18424 of 19283 Keyless entry by baydrive

Dec 13, 2009 (11:14 am)

I have a 2005 Forester. My keyless entry fob will open the doors but not close them. I am not sure if I can just reprogram the existing fob or if I need to buy an new one. Does anyone know the answer to that. I read that if you click the fob too many times, it disables it....I read it someplace on the internet and do not know if it is a reliable source. Assuming that I can reprogram the present one, how would I do that? If I need to buy new fobs, I believe the instructions come with it.
 
Since my keyless fob still opens the doors I know it isn't in need of a change of batteries. What could cause it to only "half" work?
 
Thanks for any help you can give me.

#18425 of 19283 Re: Keyless entry [baydrive] by xwesx

Dec 13, 2009 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: baydrive (Dec 13, 2009 11:14 am)
The switch on the circuit board under that button could have simply gone out. It does happen. Do you not have two units for your car? If so, you could verify the car operates by checking the other unit. Otherwise, it may be your best bet just to get a replacement unit and program it.

#18426 of 19283 Re: STI 18" rims for 2010 forester XT [gdoc] by xwesx

Dec 13, 2009 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: gdoc (Dec 13, 2009 10:21 am)
Ah, that is great, then! Having the winter tires on dedicated rims will save you a fair bit of money and wear (on the rims/tires) in the long run.
 
I did not realize that the STi had a different bolt pattern for a while; that is odd, but no more so than other manufacturers that also carry multiple patterns between their various models.
 
Here's to hoping they do have the correct pattern. As for tires, I do not know as I have no experience with performance tires.

Messages Page 1843 of 1929

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