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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

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


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Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 616 of 1929

#6149 of 19283 Re: Drive System Problems - 2001 Forester [jmakinst] by dinosaur

Jan 18, 2006 (1:56 pm)

Replying to: jmakinst (Jan 18, 2006 9:19 am)
Personally, I would shy away from a car that had this problem, although it sounds like it was an external leak, which would be less serious as long as no overheting occurred. Coolant leaking internally can cause engine damage very quickly. Also, I believe there are two head gaskets (front and rear), although I could be wrong. I'd check to see if both were replaced. I would also check into whether Subaru extended the head gasket warranty on the car, they did that with some model years.
 
Don't overlook the wheel bearing issue, it can be pretty expensive. Many Foresters that had the wheel bearings replaced suffered the same problem again; the solution seems to be using the bearings designed for the Legacy. I'd see if they have any history on this.

#6150 of 19283 Re: Forester HVAC [dstew1] by jeqq

Jan 18, 2006 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: dstew1 (Jan 18, 2006 11:47 am)
Thanks to both for replies.
 
I don't think it's an alignment problem the car tracks pretty straight but I will have them check it anyway.
 
The heat needs to be addressed. They will have to put another unit in and I'll wait for a non defective one if necessary.
 
The pedal to the metal does sound strange:)

#6151 of 19283 Re: Forester HVAC [jeqq] by kdshapiro

Jan 18, 2006 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: jeqq (Jan 18, 2006 10:31 am)
The outside temp was 20 degrees so it made no sense that I needed AC to lower the heat.
 
There is some quirkiness with the HVAC. According to what I've read on the net, the sensor that drives the system has low air flow and therefore it takes a while to equalize the temperature. One way to deal with it, is to turn the fan dial off automatic and lower the heat. I know that defeats the purpose of an automatic climate control, but in the long run it's a real nit. The HVAC in hot weather works wonderfully.
 
1.Doors are not self locking - nice safety feature to have
2.Car does not have an electronic stability program
3.Is it true if you don't shut off the heated seats when leaving the car they stay on. The manual says yes, but I think when the light went off when I first checked it out. I have not had the time to check it out thoroughly and make sure
 
Agreed one hundred percent. However, I took for for some fun in an empty parking lot after the last snow and it takes some doing to throw it into a skid. One should not be driving like that on the roads with traffic. But YMMV.
 
As far as the heated seats, they don't shut off automatically and the high setting can get quite warm, but the heated seats work with the ignition in the accessory on position. When you're filling your car up with gas, with the engine off the seats can still be nice and toasty.
 
One last comment on the transmission, the PRNDL can't really be used for power shifting. I think that was done on purpose. Pressing the gas part or full-way down, winds the Forester up like it's shooting out of a rocket.

#6152 of 19283 Re: Thanks Mr. Shiftright - I know you want to help our customers [subaru_t by outbacklmt

Jan 18, 2006 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: subaru_team (Jun 15, 2002 6:19 am)
Patti, I have had my share of minor problems with my 04 Outback Limited. All in all we still love to drive it. We do have a problem that we cannot seem to correct. The car smells like antifreeze daily. Sometimes it gets real bad, so bad that we cannot ride in it. The dealer we purchased the car from acknowledged the smell and did a head gasket job with no positive results. They told me that they were replacing another car's head with the same engine as mine but "Subaru" is not allowing them to do these under warranty. Now they don't even smell the antifreeze. We are breathing in these vapors and they probably are not good for us. Is there anything you can do to help us?
John and Sue

#6153 of 19283 Re: Forester HVAC [kdshapiro] by jeqq

Jan 18, 2006 (8:24 pm)

Replying to: kdshapiro (Jan 18, 2006 6:28 pm)
My HVAC blows heat even when set to the coldest setting and AUTO is off. It took a long time for it to finally cool down, so your right about the low air flow.
 
I'm glad the seats only heat with the ignition set to on or if engine is running; I was sure we would forget and run down the battery.
 
ESP is very useful to have. Along with ABS it helps keep the car going straight ahead when maneuvering too quickly or slamming on the brakes at high speeds.
 
Auto locking doors and ESP would make the Forester a "home run".

#6154 of 19283 Re: Thanks Mr. Shiftright - I know you want to help our customers [subaru_t [outbacklmt] by fibber2

Jan 19, 2006 (7:29 am)

Replying to: outbacklmt (Jan 18, 2006 7:28 pm)
John,
 
Patti has not been with us for about 18 months, so probably nobody at SoA is listening to your post. Try calling 1-800-subaru3 and tell your story to corporate directly.
 
Are you really sure that the smell is originating from under the hood? If you smell it that distinctly every day within the cabin, I would suspect that the problem might be within the heater core box tucked up behind the glove box under the dash. You might not see or smell a medium leak from under the hood, but even a microscopic leak directly within the ventilation system will quickly permeate the cabin.
 
Steve

#6155 of 19283 Re: Forester HVAC [jeqq] by locke2c

Jan 19, 2006 (7:57 am)

Replying to: jeqq (Jan 18, 2006 5:33 pm)
no offense, but a car can definitely track straight and have a very bad alignment. the steering wheel needs locked or held to be straight up at the 12 o'clock position when the alignment is done or else it won't be right. that's fairly simple; but even if that part is right, you can have a lot of variance in camber and toe but the vehicle might still drive reasonably straight when you let go of the wheel if everything happens to cancel out. It will handle strangely though and wear tires unevenly.
 
have it checked.
~Colin

#6156 of 19283 3 Things by ateixeira

Jan 19, 2006 (2:34 pm)

Aftermarket Sat/NAV: yes, the opening is a standard double-DIN size, so any single DIN or double-DIN sized unit with the right harness will fit. For the single, you'd need a blank or a storage box to fill the gap left behind, but I have a couple of spares if you need them.
 
Any how, the Pioneer AVIC-N2 will fit, search on Crutchfield for it. They'll package the harness in the kit they sell you.
 
The Pioneer AVIC-D1 is double-DIN and they say that fits as well.
 
There's also the Eclipse AVN5435, 5495, and 7000.
 
Prices range from $1500 to $2400. Portables cost less, $250 and up basically.
 
You can get the hood that goes over the stock gauge pack, and custom mount a portable unit in there. The Garmin c series will fit. Get a remote antennae and it can be completely hidden away, too. That requires a bit of handy work, but I've seen it done, one guy in the CR-V thread did it on his Honda. I've also seen it done on one Forester.
 
01 - wheel bearings are a risk, consider a higher mileage 03, which should cost about the same but does not have the same bearing design (or associated problems).
 
Stutter - I think that's the throttle-by-wire cutting the fuel completely to save gas, causing that stumble.
 
-juice

#6157 of 19283 cd changer problem by teno

Jan 19, 2006 (3:12 pm)

I have a 2003 Forester, top of the line with all the bells and whistles. It has performed beautifully since the day we bought it, 2 1/2 yrs ago.
Just the other day the cd changer quit on me. Just refused to go on. Can't eject or listen to them. All else works fine, including the tape player and radio.
Anyone out there have this problem or did? Most likely will have to have it repaired. If they send it back to Subaru, they can't send my cd's for up to 6 weeks, if they don't get damaged in removing them. They will put in a new cd at the dealership. It is still under warranty.

#6158 of 19283 Coolant leaking from head gasket? by drgon

Jan 19, 2006 (11:01 pm)

Hello,
My Outback wagon (2002) got an accident two month ago and fixed (body work, replace radiator). After repair, I found coolant level in the coolant tank was decreased and smelled coolant burning. I brought it back to bodyshop and he said leaking from the upper hose between radiator and engine. So, he fixed it and test drove it and then said no problem. But, it wasn't. Happen again. Brought back again. Blame hose again and install new hose. I was nervous so check coolant level everyday after that. And I found it decreases again!! (but much lesser than last time). Brought car back again. Now, he changed the story. The leaking is from engin e head gasket. He called my insurance company and, after inspection, the insurance told me it seems not related with the accident. So, they don't want pay. They also said that they contacted several Subaru dealerships to ask whether this could be happen without accident and some of dealers told them it could be happen between 60,000 and 80,000 M (my car has 60K). Is it true?
Now, they say it would be possible that head gasket blown-up could be caused by driving a car after accident (I drove back to my house (0.2 miles) and towed to bodyshop). But there was no sign of overheating when I drove my car back to home (no change of temperature gauge, no leaking of coolant on the scene of accident). Also, I drove my car around 500 miles after the first repair. So, my question is if head gasket was the problem in the accident, the car has no problem for driving of 500 miles after that? I heard that, if head gasket is leaking, oil and coolant can be mixed and get into inside of cylinder and make some symtoms and engine failure. But I have had no problem to drive my car. Coolant can be leaked to outside of engine?

Messages Page 616 of 1929

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