Ask the Car People.SM


Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

19285 messages,  Last post on Jun 03, 2013 at 10:22 AM

You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.

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


Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153
 
Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 461 of 1930

#4594 of 19285 Re: 05' Legacy GT 5EAT Wagon Won't Start [trailsider1] by c_hunter

Jan 21, 2005 (7:53 pm)

Replying to: trailsider1 (Jan 21, 2005 10:50 am)
I feel like I've discovered a parallel universe. I have almost the same situation (2001 H6 Outback, cold weather start and rotor issues, and most importantly, a wife who has a 97 Honda Accord which runs rings around the Subie in all weather). I am VERY hard pressed to ever recommend or buy another Outback. I wish I had checked a lot more forums before buying it.
 
I hope you're still reading -- the cold start issue with the H6 motor in your 01 is different and easily remedied. You need to turn the key to on and wait 2-3 secs while the fuel pump pressurzes the system before cranking the engine over. If you do this, I guarantee it will fire immediately every time.
 
Now, having Accords and Subarus in the family, I hope you are joking about the Accord running rings around the Outback in all weather. That is exactly opposite my experience with 4 Hondas and 5 Subarus. Right now we have an 04 Acura TSX (Euro Accord) with traction control and VSA. Compared to our 05 Outback and previous Forester, the TSX is horrible on wet roads and in winter driving. not even in the same ballpark. If you are serious about the Accord being better, I would say maybe you forgot to release the parking brake on the Outback!
 
CRaig

#4595 of 19285 forester lemon help! by changer

Jan 21, 2005 (8:36 pm)

Folks-
 
Sit down a minute and listen to my sad story. Then, if you've got the least bit of heart, jump back up and tell me what I should do!
 
I have a '99 Forester S that burns oil by the bucketload. At least 4 quarts (maybe 5) between 3000 mile oil changes. The catalytic converter is clogging up from all that oil so the engine light is always on. I've been told it needs a new head gasket. The transmission went at 50k (replaced by dealer while under warranty).
 
The saga began 3 years ago when I purchased the car from a "reputable dealer" -and friend of the family - in my area. It had 38k on it (just a baby). Immediately things began to go wrong. The "new brakes" lasted exactly one month - had to replace front rotors. The brand new tires lasted 9 months because the car was so out of alignment when I bought it that the tires cupped.
Then the transmission stopped working. The dealer replaced that but wouldn't do anything about the oil burning (which when I purchased the car was a quart every 1100 miles). I was religious about 3000 mile oil changes (and still am). "That oil consumption is within the tolerable range," said the dealer. Now I'm at 111k. Engine light on because of catalytic converter being clogged, needs new head gasket - Subaru recognizes problem with this year's gaskets but only warrants it up to 100k. My mechanic has been telling me to get rid of the car for two years. But I don't want to dump this thing off on some poor sucker, and my wife loves the car. Hell, it still runs great if you don't mind dumping oil in it every other day and ignore the engine light and also the sense of impending doom with the head gasket leaking (oh, and the yearly tire alignment. I'd love Subaru to do something for me, but the dealer has been telling me "there's nothing we can do," for so long I've all but given up. Too bad a car which when I bought it was Consumer Reports' most reliable SUV has become my nightmare. Now I'm looking on the web for used engines. I still have a year's worth of payments on this baby. After you've blow dried your computer keyboard (only way to get rid of the copious tears I'm sure were spilled there while reading this post,) please tell me if you see any way out of this other than the nearest cliff.
 
Thanks.

#4596 of 19285 Re: 05' Legacy GT 5EAT Wagon Won't Start [c_hunter] by xwesx

Jan 21, 2005 (8:41 pm)

Replying to: c_hunter (Jan 21, 2005 7:53 pm)
Great, and informative, post Craig! I got a good laugh out of it. But, maybe trailsider's wife is a darned good driver to boot!
 
I've been more conscientious about the pressurizing the fuel pump issue since I first read it here, but wait or no, it does not affect my '96. As a side note, a co-worker's '00 Chevy 1/2 ton just burned up a few days ago (during a -50F morning). Turns out her electric fuel pump sparked upon start-up and lit her fuel tank on fire. Odd scenario because it took all the right conditions to do it, but pretty much gutted out the back end and cab of the truck.

#4597 of 19285 Re: [locke2c] by richardp1

Jan 21, 2005 (11:49 pm)

Replying to: locke2c (Jan 21, 2005 2:30 pm)
Thanks Colin, I replaced the front tires, not the rear. They were pretty well worn out, so the out-of-spec condition (more than 1/4 inch difference in circumference) between front and rear probably went on for awhile, both before and after acquiring new front tires.
 
I will check into the warranty, but I'm well above 36K miles - more like 58K. I checked out the axle they removed; the rubber boot wasn't damaged, and i couldn't really determine any other damage, but got a mild scold from the rep, who said i was lucky not to have damaged the transmission as well.
 
-richard

#4599 of 19285 Re: forester lemon help! [changer] by c_hunter

Jan 22, 2005 (8:28 am)

Replying to: changer (Jan 21, 2005 8:36 pm)
I hate to say it but maybe the previous owner did not take care of the car. We have heard of certain issues with Foresters, but this is too much!! (I would be tearing my hair out). Did you happen to get any of the previous maintenance records?
 
When we hear of head gasket issues, it is almost always an external coolant leak and overheating is the symptom. Yours may be the first I have heard associated with dramatic oil loss. So I take that as a hint that this is a unque case.
 
If it were me, and I had enough money to save my sanity, I would trade it in on a new Forester and start fresh with a vehicle you can maintain well from the get go. Especially if my wife liked the car a lot. I generally hate parting with money, but peace of mind is priceless in some cases.
 
But I haven't really been in a situation like that, and I can only sympathize with you.
 
Good luck!
 
Craig

#4600 of 19285 Re: Follow up on water leaking from the roof on Forester [jackleung] by c_hunter

Jan 22, 2005 (8:29 am)

Jack,
 
Excellent work!! Nice job figuring out the problem and fix.
 
Craig

#4601 of 19285 Re: 05' Legacy GT 5EAT Wagon Won't Start [c_hunter] by hondafriek

Jan 22, 2005 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: c_hunter (Jan 21, 2005 7:53 pm)
Craig I read that post and didn't even touch it, after owning six Accords and 2 civics I think I am well qualified to say That the GT Wagon I now own would be the one I would take every time in bad weather.
 
Hell it is the one I would take every time period:-)
 
Cheers Pat.

#4602 of 19285 Re: Follow up on water leaking from the roof on Forester by jackleung

Jan 23, 2005 (7:57 pm)

My previous message got banned since Edmunds consider my link to gather survey information is against their policy. Maybe anyone w/ Subaru moonroof just post their experience here.
 
So far, I found one more Forester owner (2004XS) in Forester group had the same problem w/ me, which make me more confident this is a common problem for Subaru. This is a very good (and painful) lesson for me to learn how to test the moonroof if I am going to buy another car!
 
So, I repost my previous post w/o the link in case it could benefit other Subaru owner to troubleshot their problem (w/ 2 more pics after my fixed)
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------
Please read #4467, #4472,#4478 & #4494 for my previous post.
  
I sent an email to SOA from my.subaru.com and here's the reply I got:
  
"Subaru of America's warranty policy is designed for the protection of the purchaser from defects in the material or workmanship. At this time however that warranty has expired on your at 60,000 miles."
  
Since it's not covered by warrenty anyway, I open up the headliner to try to figure out the source of the problem and hopefully I can fix it by myself.
  
There are 2 metal tracks (left and right) on the roof to lead the water toward the front or rear (depends on the angle you park). On the real end, the tracks are cap w/ a plastic cover. I found water comes out from gap between the metal track and the plastic cover on BOTH side!!! Not only from the right hand side as I previous mention (Just because the seat belt compartment on the right hand side is the lowest part on the headliner to "collect" all the water). Here are the pics for right hand side and left hand side
  
I fixed them ( right & left )by myself by sealing them w/ the sealant (from home depot)
  
Since it's not only happen in one single track, I would assume it is casued by either a bad design or bad workmanship. And I guess some other subaru owners may have the same problem as me (but they just never notice it).
 
Here is the steps to test if yr Subarus moonroof has leaking problem:
  
1. Park yr car in a slop w/ the front tilt up to make sure water bring towards the rear.
  
2. Open yr moonroof and pour some water on the track (both left and right)
  
3. If it works perfectly, waters should comes out from the bottom rear (behind the rear wheels) and NO water should come out from the headliner

#4603 of 19285 Re: [richardp1] by locke2c

Jan 23, 2005 (11:29 pm)

Replying to: richardp1 (Jan 21, 2005 11:49 pm)
richard, did you see DaveM's post? axles are under 5yr/60k mile powertrain warranty. your car should be covered!
 
there is no way two front tires of the same size should cause an axle problem.
 
the center differential, which resides just aft of the transmission, maybe so if they were significantly taller than the rear tires.
 
~c

Messages Page 461 of 1930

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement