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Forester Interior & Passenger Comfort Questions

78 messages,  Last post on Apr 22, 2009 at 10:53 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

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

Messages Page 7 of 8

#59 of 78 Re: The rear door on my 2003 Subaru Forester won't unlock! [girlonthego] by wcw43

Jul 13, 2006 (12:05 pm)

Replying to: girlonthego (Mar 29, 2006 8:44 am)
Hi--YES! YES! --
I had the exact same problem -- 2003 Forester rear door electric lock occasionally would not unlock, but it was completely unpredictable. My wife nearly went crazy not knowing if her groceries, furniture, animals would be locked in or out. Desperate, I found this forum on an Internet search--and realized I was NOT alone. Thank you one and all... You gave me the strength to call my dealer who predictably said "maybe $100, maybe $500 to fix it, but it probably just needs lubrication."
 
I seized the next Saturday morning --when the rear door actually DID unlock properly-- and I kept the door open, took off the inside trim panel so I could see the lock, and then took out the lock mechanism while still attached to wires and cable...and observed how it worked WHEN WORKING RIGHT. Both the electrical locking/unlocking and the physical operation from the external door handle were perfectly normal. Oh, well....
 
So I applied WD-40 to the lock parts, removed the cable linkage and squirted it full of WD-40, PUT THE LOCK BACK ON, CLOSED THE DOOR, AND--OF COURSE---NOW IT WOULDN'T UNLOCK !!!
But NOW I was sure the problem must be on the OUTSIDE and fairly quickly I FOUND IT! HERE IS THE SOLUTION:
 
The external latch handle (the little horizontal flap your fingers squeeze when you open the rear door) was NOT QUITE FULLY RETURNING to its retracted position. This was due to some corrosion at the upper (hidden) corners of the flap, where it PIVOTS AND RUBS against the door. I PUSHED the little flap backward into its fully retracted position and it moved back about 1/4 inch. Suddenly the lock now worked fine. I applied more WD-40 on the FLAP PIVOT AREAS and VOILA! Flap now returned to correct position every time, and the electrical unlock mechanism worked fine once again.
 
Long story short, the sticky flap meant the cable link to the lock mechanism did not retract fully--missing by about 1/4 of an inch. This meant one little part of the lock mechanism was staying in an open position, which prevented the lock motor from pushing on the part that unlocks the latch....As the dealer said--all it needed was a little lubrication. MORE USEFUL INFORMATION: there is a virtually unreachable little Lock-Unlock Lever located on one end of the lock mechanism inside the door-- a dealer knows how to get to it through a covered hole on the inside panel. But this lever doesn't work when the above simple retraction problem exists with the outside handle. MORE USEFUL INFORMATION: The inside trim panel goes back onto the rear door much more easily if the door is CLOSED...you just sit inside the back, close the door, and pop the panel onto the door. I give Subaru an A-plus on the trim panel and a D-minus for lack of any keyed entry to the passenger side and the rear door. Still love the car.

#60 of 78 Re: The rear door on my 2003 Subaru Forester won't unlock! [wcw43] by terry92270

Nov 02, 2006 (11:31 am)

Replying to: wcw43 (Jul 13, 2006 1:05 pm)
Seems as if they changed the unlocking deal with at least the 2006's.

#61 of 78 Re: Sciatic Nerve Irritation with the 05 Forester [samiam_68] by danellh

Sep 28, 2007 (2:19 pm)

Replying to: samiam_68 (Jul 14, 2006 12:26 pm)
I know this is an old post but I am having the same problem with my 2008 Forester and would love to know if you solved this and if so how?

#62 of 78 Re: Sciatic Nerve Irritation with the 05 Forester [danellh] by samiam_68

Sep 30, 2007 (9:58 am)

Replying to: danellh (Sep 28, 2007 2:19 pm)
No, haven't solved it. I just avoid very long trips in this car, as I have another car. I will probably be replacing the Forester next year with something more civilized and comfortable.

#63 of 78 Re: Sciatic Nerve Irritation with the 05 Forester [samiam_68] by danellh

Sep 30, 2007 (10:15 am)

Replying to: samiam_68 (Sep 30, 2007 9:58 am)
Well I guess I got lucky. The sales manager accepted the Forester back, rescinded the deal and refunded all of my money. He and the salesman will each be getting personal checks from me to say THANK YOU!
 
Did you write or e-mail Subaru headquarters in NJ about this problem? I think they need to know.
 
Good luck on finding your next vehicle. I probably don't need to tell you this but, take it for a lo-o-ong test drive. You should be able to get a good resale on the Forester.

#66 of 78 Front Seat UNcomfortable! - Help Please! by lionel2

Aug 11, 2008 (4:16 pm)

Okay, I was happy to find this used 2006 Forester on the lot. It only has about 10,600 miles on it. I drove it and I liked it and I bought it. Now that I have been driving it more I'm beginning to wonder if the previous owner was a bit overweight and maybe sunk the front seat cushion? Is this possible in 10,600 miles? I hope not BUT I am really uncomfortable when just sitting in the driver's seat. I can feel this hard band sort of circulating around my lower back. It appears to me that if my entire rear was raised up a bit things would be better. Has anyone else out there heard of this? Of course my previous car was an Olds 88 and was as about as comfortable as could be. I've looked on line for cushions and there are a multitude to pick from. I really don't think I need more lumbar, massages, and heat treatments............ help!!
 
Thanks,
 
Jim

#67 of 78 Re: Front Seat UNcomfortable! - Help Please! [lionel2] by ateixeira

Aug 12, 2008 (8:37 am)

Replying to: lionel2 (Aug 11, 2008 4:16 pm)
You could try another 2006 at a CarMax or used car dealer to compare.
 
If you want to add padding to the seat, I'd look in your local yellow pages under Auto - Upholstery. I'm sure they can do that for you.

#68 of 78 Re: Front Seat UNcomfortable! - Help Please! [lionel2] by bigfrank3

Aug 12, 2008 (9:47 am)

Replying to: lionel2 (Aug 11, 2008 4:16 pm)
Which model do you have? I have an 06 Premium with the power seat, and I have a bad disc in my back (L4, L5). I find my seat very comfortable and find that I just needed to play with all the adjustments to find what works best.
 
As I remember, even the manual seat adjusts the seat bottom tilt as it is raised and lowered. You may want to raise the seat a bit with that adjustment as I believe it picks up the back of the seat bottom.
 
There is also an adjustable lumbar support on the right side of the seat back that may be providing too much "support" for your taste and comfort.

Messages Page 7 of 8

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