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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 27 of 45

#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

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

Dec 07, 2008 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Dec 07, 2008 4:06 pm)
Thanks, Mike. Appreciate your input -- will now have some things to talk about with the mechanics. (fyi -- no mat near pedals) I also tried putting the car in neutral almost right away, while still on the highway, but the roaring engine scared me -- so I put the thing back into drive. I don't know why I didn't just turn the car off -- esp once on the grass. Somehow that just seemed like the most dangerous or damaging course of action. Anyway, my first few seconds were taken up with coming to grips with the circumstances . . . and going through the mental process of "I AM in an automatic . . . which has TWO pedals . . . my foot IS on the left-hand pedal, and that IS the brake." I have been driving for 36 yrs with no mishaps or even a breakdown -- at the very least, this served as a wake-up call that things can go terribly wrong.

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

Dec 08, 2008 (3:48 pm)

Replying to: quincy57 (Dec 07, 2008 7:28 pm)
I agree that it was an engine issue, but no way to tell what caused the revving you experienced. It would have had to be pushing pretty hard to nearly mitigate your braking efforts. It could have been caused by a mechanical or electronic failure. In situations like these, the only thing that really can be said is, "at least you are okay!"
 
Le us know what, if anything, the shop indicates as a possible culprit.
 
You can always turn an engine off while a vehicle is moving, but remember to only turn the key "one click" away from the 'on' position - do not turn it to 'lock' (or remove the key), or you will likely lose steering control. It will take greater effort to press the brake pedal and turn the wheel when the engine is off, but you can stop the car.

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

Dec 08, 2008 (4:03 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Dec 08, 2008 3:48 pm)
Thank you! I'll pass this on to all drivers in the family.

#258 of 439 Turbo needs replacement by sjtwxgirl

Dec 08, 2008 (6:10 pm)

I have a Forester XT 2004 model with a bad turbo...Firestone ran diagnostic on it. Anyway, they could not get cost estimate yet for new turbo and no Subaru dealership within 3 hours of where I live. Curious...any ballpark figure on replacing the turbo? I'm considering dumping the thing if the cost is higher than $2-3 K to fix...has oil leak, needs new windshield as well.

#259 of 439 Re: Out of Warranty, Out of Luck, Part Deux [champ8] by cz75

Dec 08, 2008 (6:25 pm)

Replying to: champ8 (Oct 12, 2008 9:04 am)
Subaru has had head gasket problems for quite a while, so they probably won't do what is right, considering they can't seem to fix the issue.

#260 of 439 Re: Turbo needs replacement [sjtwxgirl] by cz75

Dec 08, 2008 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: sjtwxgirl (Dec 08, 2008 6:10 pm)
I'd say a turbo would be $500-600 plus labor if you can find the model you need on the aftermarket from its OEM manufacturer, but it probably would be $2000+ at a Subaru dealer. I'm damned glad I had second thoughts about Subaru and got another Honda.

#261 of 439 Re: engine jerky when accelerating from low revs - no management light on. [rusky] by cz75

Dec 08, 2008 (6:31 pm)

Replying to: rusky (Nov 16, 2008 12:14 pm)
NASIOC.com would be a good place to get help. You can get a good idea about all the maintenance problems involved with owning a Subaru there, even if you live in the UK.

#262 of 439 Re: Out of Warranty, Out of Luck, Part Deux [cz75] by w8ifi

Dec 10, 2008 (10:28 pm)

Replying to: cz75 (Dec 08, 2008 6:25 pm)
Pre 02 engines had a head gasket issue, Subaru fixed it....Check the reliability ratings by those who rate cars and Subaru is amongst the highest. All makes of 4 cylinder engines can have head gasket problems, I had four Chrysler products with head gasket failure and they never stood behind any of them. Are you basing this on a gasket problem that you experienced with a survey count of one? What year was involved? Mileage?
 
Jim

#263 of 439 Re: Turbo needs replacement [cz75] by p0926

Dec 23, 2008 (9:24 pm)

Replying to: cz75 (Dec 08, 2008 6:28 pm)
I'm damned glad I had second thoughts about Subaru and got another Honda.
 
Yeah we're all ecstatic that you got a Honda

Messages Page 27 of 45

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