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Subaru Forester

1436 messages,  Last post on Feb 04, 2012 at 4:32 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon, SUV

Messages Page 142 of 144

#1407 of 1436 Re: Need tire advice [saedave] by erikwi

Nov 13, 2009 (3:54 am)

Replying to: saedave (Nov 12, 2009 9:42 am)
Thanks for the info. I looked up the Kumho on Tire Rack and it had pretty good ratings, except on wear. I've run the Kumho brand on another car and really liked them but they wore fast. Best I ever got was 12000 miles out of a set. I'm still doing research on what to get and it might take me a while to figure out what works. Luckily I've got a little time before I'm going to have to replace the Michelins. I'm going to look at the Goodyears the other poster mentioned too.

#1408 of 1436 Re: Need tire advice [erikwi] by aatherton

Nov 14, 2009 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: erikwi (Nov 11, 2009 5:27 pm)
On my 2008 Forester I sold the original Geolandars at 3,500 miles because they were noisy. I looked for the quietest tire, and the literature and reviews indicated the Michelin Primacy MXV4 was quietest of all. After 13,000 miles on them, I am very pleased. Other quiet all season tires I considered were Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S and Goodyear TripleTread.

#1409 of 1436 Re: Need tire advice [aatherton] by erikwi

Nov 28, 2009 (7:41 am)

Replying to: aatherton (Nov 14, 2009 8:08 pm)
Thanks for the info folks. I ended up getting a fantastic deal on the Coopers and like them so far. I had an alignment done at the dealer the same day I put new tires on. The car drives much better now and doesn't seem to drift back and forth going down the road now. Noise is less than the Pilot Exaltos I had, ride is about the same or slightly softer. I have noticed a little more understeer going around curves but it could be the tires aren't broken in yet. I'll let ya'll know what I think of them later as they get some miles on them.

#1410 of 1436 2997 Forester ignition switch/steering lock by propwash49

Mar 29, 2010 (4:44 pm)

I test drove a really nice 2007 Forester LL Bean edition today. At first we had trouble getting the ignition key to turn in the switch. I initially thought we had the wrong key, but it locked and unlocked the glove box with no problem. The salesman finally got it to turn by wiggling the steering wheel a little, even though the wheel didn't seem to be locked at the time. He said that someone probably left the wheel turned up against the lock stop when they removed the key. After the drive, I backed the car up into the same spot from where we started. I made sure the wheel was centered, and shut off the ignition and removed the key. Then, without touching the wheel, I tried to start the engine again. No luck. I had to wiggle the wheel back and forth with my left hand while trying to turn the key with my right. Again, it started, but it just doesn't seem right that you would need to wiggle the wheel when it hasn't been touched since the last time the ignition was switched off. Has anybody else experienced this phenomenon? I'm pretty sure the car still has a few months of the factory warranty on it (it only has 25,000 miles), but I don't really want to have the hassle of taking it to a dealer to get the thing worked on. It's been my experience that when they start tearing up the instrument panel or steering column, that things are never quite the same again. I usually start having lots of rattles after this kind of maintenance.
 
Does anyone else have any experience this type of problem? Thanks.

#1411 of 1436 Re: 2997 Forester ignition switch/steering lock [propwash49] by xwesx

Mar 29, 2010 (5:06 pm)

Replying to: propwash49 (Mar 29, 2010 4:44 pm)
I have not experienced a "problem" with the steering lock on any of my cars, but I do frequently need to pull the wheel off the lock to get the key to turn. This is especially the case with my '98 Escort, where the seating position is such that I tend to bump the bottom of the wheel when I exit. Doing so moves the wheel just enough that it locks and puts pressure on the lock (which prevents the key from turning). So, when I attempt to start it, I have to pull the wheel off the lock to move the key into the accessory position.
 
However, if you park the car in a flat space with no pressure on the steering (don't turn the wheel at all after the car stops moving) and do not even get out of the car, it should not have cause to lock the steering. If it does anyway, perhaps there is a problem developing.

#1412 of 1436 Re: 2997 Forester ignition switch/steering lock [xwesx] by propwash49

Mar 29, 2010 (5:35 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Mar 29, 2010 5:06 pm)
Thanks for the info. It may not be a problem at all. My daily driver for the last 12 years has been a Cutlass (twin of the Malibu) that has the ignition in the dash, and therefore has no steering wheel lock. So, I am not used to dealing with the steering wheel lock. The next time I drive that car, I'll ask for the other key to see if there might be a problem with one of the keys being slightly worn. I wouldn't think that should be the case after only 25,000 miles, but I guess almost anything is possible.
 
I really did like driving that car, and it's now on my short list. The dealer was nice--he offered to let me take the thing home for an overnight test drive, so my wife can have a good chance to see how it drives for her. I think I'll take him up on that offer. Anything else about the 07's that I should know?

#1413 of 1436 Re: 2997 Forester ignition switch/steering lock [propwash49] by TJ162

Mar 29, 2010 (8:50 pm)

Replying to: propwash49 (Mar 29, 2010 4:44 pm)
My 05 Forester does the same thing all the time. It locks itself without me even touching it and it can be a hassle to get the key to turn, but I can get it eventually.

#1414 of 1436 Re: 2997 Forester ignition switch/steering lock [propwash49] by aatherton

Apr 03, 2010 (11:16 am)

Replying to: propwash49 (Mar 29, 2010 5:35 pm)
"... Anything else about the 07's that I should know?"
 
I have an LL Bean one year newer, from which Subaru regretfully deleted the screw-on automatic transmission filter and the rubberized cargo area. They are nice cars.
 
Check the moonroof operation. The motor, plastic gears and linkages are rather fragile. Some moonroofs fail after a few years, apparently because if they are left open and stuff falls into the track, it binds the operation. Protect the moonroof against excessive use, and against any debris (leaves, twigs) falling on the tracks.
 
Check if the O7 has had the fuel valve recall done yet. If not, and you buy the car, warn the dealer not to damage the foam plastic storage trays, and inspect them afterward. They damaged two of mine by just tearing them out. They bought me one for $100 and I fixed the other one by devising a new fastener.
 
You may want to invest in a full size spare and floor support bucket, as using the compact spare is unexpectedly complicated, and no good for snow, trailer pulling or offroad.

#1415 of 1436 Re: 2997 Forester ignition switch/steering lock [aatherton] by propwash49

Apr 03, 2010 (6:07 pm)

Replying to: aatherton (Apr 03, 2010 11:16 am)
Thanks for all the information. Unfortunately, i was wrong about the year. The one I was looking at was an 08, not an 07. Also unfortunately, the dealer called me back the next day and said they had sold the car to another dealer, so I'm back to square one. I will keep these suggestions in mind when I find the next likely prospect. Thanks again, everyone.

#1416 of 1436 Splash guard install? by jeffrl

Apr 14, 2010 (10:35 am)

Hi,
 
I am considering getting some splashguards for my 2004 Forester. Anyone have experience with these? How easy are they to install & what is the process? Is it something I could do myself, (with standard tools, but no lift available), or should this be done in a shop?
 
Any tips would be great!

Messages Page 142 of 144

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