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Subaru Forester Engine problems

439 messages,  Last post on Aug 25, 2012 at 2:58 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

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

Messages Page 26 of 45

#245 of 439 Out of Warranty, Out of Luck? Part Three. by champ8

Nov 10, 2008 (7:09 am)

Just thought I'd update on my 2003 Forester with the leaky head gaskets.
 
Called Subaru and they kindly agreed to pay HALF the cost of replacing the gaskets, even though the warrantee extension only applied through the '02 models. Apparently the 03's are not entirely free of the problem.
 
I was very happy with the agreement, since I was sure I'd be out of luck completely. I had to pay the bill up front and am now waiting for reimbursement.
 
Moral: It doesn't hurt to ask.

#246 of 439 Re: Out of Warranty, Out of Luck? Part Three. [champ8] by caliberchic

Nov 11, 2008 (6:53 am)

Replying to: champ8 (Nov 10, 2008 7:09 am)
Congrats on that!

#247 of 439 Re: Out of Warranty, Out of Luck? Part Three. [champ8] by p0926

Nov 12, 2008 (9:38 pm)

Replying to: champ8 (Nov 10, 2008 7:09 am)
Sweet and congrats to Subaru for doing right by the customer. Although they were under no obligation to help out, by doing so they demonstrate their willingness to stand behind their product.
 
-Frank

#248 of 439 engine jerky when accelerating from low revs - no management light on. by rusky

Nov 14, 2008 (2:44 pm)

Hey,
Just bought a manual 1999 2.0 turbo S. Seems to splutter when accelerating hardish from low revs, replaced air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs and ignition leads to find it still has the same fault. Engine/ turbo pulls like a train once it hits around 3000rpm but anything under that in 2nd or above gears engine is very jittery and almost misfiring although the engine management light does not come on at all...If you lightly accelerate in this rev range it is ok but maybe still a bit jerky when you take your foot off the accelerator pedal????
Any help would be appreciated as i have fallen for this car and want to enjoy it!!!
 
Cheers
Russell

#249 of 439 Re: engine jerky when accelerating from low revs - no management light on. [rusky] by xwesx

Nov 14, 2008 (4:38 pm)

Replying to: rusky (Nov 14, 2008 2:44 pm)
I would first try running some fuel system cleaner through it on a couple of back to back tanks.

#250 of 439 Re: engine jerky when accelerating from low revs - no management light on. [rusky] by p0926

Nov 14, 2008 (10:28 pm)

Replying to: rusky (Nov 14, 2008 2:44 pm)
Just bought a manual 1999 2.0 turbo S
 
I assume that you bought a Forester since that's the name of the topic. In the U.S. the Forester has always had the 2.5 litre engine and didn't get the turbo until 2004. What country are you in?
 
-Frank

#251 of 439 Re: engine jerky when accelerating from low revs - no management light on. [p0926] by rusky

Nov 16, 2008 (12:14 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Nov 14, 2008 10:28 pm)
Hey Frank, It is a forester 2.0 turbo S, registered 1999 in England but is now with me in Bonny Scotland, Edinburgh. Have been struggling to find anyone who would have a clue about these apart from some impreza sites in the uk which cost a small fortune to join up.
 
Put a new Mass Air Flow sensor on it yesterday, this has made a difference to overall pick up and it does respond better now although the original fault is still there around 2000rpm, is smooth if a small amount of throttle is given but if you plant the loud pedal it stutters away until it reaches the magic 3000rpm turbo range... engine revs like a dream not in gear, rev pickup is rapid and purrs like a kitten on idle but only when under load and on the over run around this rev range it is jerky ????
Will Put some fuel cleaner in it tomorrow and i will clean out the throttle body, have done some small checks for air leaks but nothing apparant at a glance?
 
I know this car can run better and its so frustrating not being able to drive it smoothly.
 
Cheers
Russell

#252 of 439 Re: Out of Warranty, Out of Luck? Part Three. [champ8] by ateixeira

Dec 02, 2008 (9:28 am)

Replying to: champ8 (Nov 10, 2008 7:09 am)
Score!
 
Good going, and thanks for sharing the tip.

#253 of 439 Help! Could not slow/stop 2004 Forester on highway! by quincy57

Dec 07, 2008 (11:00 am)

Yesterday I was driving my 2004 Subaru Forester on a highway at about 60-65 mph, and when I put my foot on the brake the car did not slow down!
  
We bought this car used from a Subaru dealer, for my 18 yo daughter, in May 08 -- with 45K miles on it. Have put about 6K on it since.
  
I should say that I am not at all knowledgeable about the workings of cars. Anyway, as I pressed my foot down on the brake still harder, I encountered quite a bit of resistance but could struggle to get the speed down to about 40 mph. Twice, the car started to accelerate again for a few seconds, on its own. Fortunately there were very few cars on the road, but I was on the Sawmill River Parkway (north of NYC), which is narrow, winding, and has no shoulders. I drove this way for about 2? miles to an exit with a long straight ramp with a broad grassy area to the right. Once on the grass, the car slowed to something under 30 mph -- wasn't really focusing on the speedometer! First I tried putting the car in Neutral, which caused the engine to roar. And then, as I was approaching another road, I just put the car in Park. (No, I didn't even think about the emergency brake.) The car then came to a fairly abrupt stop and began to smoke and smell terribly.
  
The car was towed to a Subaru dealership, where it won't be diagnosed until Monday morning. I don't know if it's meaningful, but the key is now stuck in the ignition -- and when you turn the key the electrical system seems to go a little crazy -- lights go on and then shut off, etc. I fear that the braking and stopping caused significantly more damage and expense.
  
While this was happening, I was thinking that the brakes weren't working. Now I realize that the brakes were just fighting against an engine that would not quit. Seems so extreme -- and for a Subaru?!
 
It does not appear that anything was interfering with the accelerator pedal. No mat, for example. The Subaru sales people offered the opinion that the idle was high. Whatever that means.
  
Anyway, anyone have any opinions or suggestions? What questions should I be asking? How will I ever let my daughter drive this car again? (Please don't tell me about all the things I should have done or did wrong!) Have you heard of anything like this before? Thank goodness my daughter was not driving at the time.

#254 of 439 Re: Help! Could not slow/stop 2004 Forester on highway! [quincy57] by paisan

Dec 07, 2008 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: quincy57 (Dec 07, 2008 11:00 am)
I'm trying to tink if the 04 has drive by wire or not. Drive by wire is a solenoid that electronically controls the throttle (almost all new cars have this now). The Solenoid could have gotten stuck (pehaps in the cold weather we've been having?). My initial thought would be that the pedal was being depressed by a misplaced mat, i've seen this A LOT. Another thing it coud be is the throttle intake could have been jammed open by something or by a failure of a part in there. Without looking at it, it's hard to diagnose.
 
The smoke and key issue are due to the fact that you put it in park you probably at the least popped the parking pin. For future reference P=N your best bet would have been to put it in N and and turn the engine off! That would have let you glide to a stop the brakes would still work, although with slightly less power.
 
The smoke was probably from the brakes fighting the engine, so that's not a big deal.
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

Messages Page 26 of 45

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