Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
What happens if that even though the hydraulic pressure released upon releasing the brake pedal, the pads remained pressed hard against the rotor. Grinding them made them fit less tightly and thus release when the wheel cylinder pressure releases.
Also, you should check the caliper slides and the piston for binding although those were fine on my car. If all your brakes squeal and heat up excessively then all are binding and the problem is that your master cylinder is not releasing hydraulic pressure from the brake wheel cylinders. There needs to be a little "free" pedal at the top of the stroke. You should be able to push the pedal with your hand and feel a slight push before you feel resistance, otherwise your brakes might be slightly applied even when the pedal is fully released. Replacing rotors will not repair this problem and is only needed if 1. they are warped due to excessive heat (you will know this due to a pulsating brake pedal when you apply the brakes) or 2. they are warn beyond specs., or 3. if you gouged them by wearing the brake pads down to the metal backing.
Jun
Not sure if you are aware of this, but the procedure you just described is the subject of a Subaru Service Bulletin to dealers to address premature pad wear on '01 - '03 vehicles. It is #06-33-04, issued in early '04. A slight filing of the backing plate ends to allow them to move in the caliper more freely is recommended, but only on original pads. I guess this means that OEM replacement pads must already be 10/1000" shorter than what came with the car.
Steve
Or you can get a dealer's mechanic to your car, with diagnostic equipment, when it's acting up.
Nothing else will get you a car that you can rely on. Towing the car to the dealer or arguing with Subaru of A will accomplish nothing until the problem happens more frequently. Around 2007, say.
-Mathias
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jun
The 02, LLB has 2 sunroofs, pretty sure it's in the front one though.
Thanks.
Steve
That will get you all the TSB's for your OB.
Mark
While there, I finally got a copy of the 30k service they did to prepare teh car for sale. I compared it to the Subaru maintenance interval recommendations. Everything matched, except my dealer does not replace brake fluid. I showed them the print out of what Subaru calls for, and they said that every dealer gets to create their own 30k mile service package, and this dealer does not include brake fluid change in the package.
Strike anyone else as weird?!?
Chuck
In my 99 Outback, I used this hose technique to clear accumulated mud from the fender area immediately in front of the front doors, an area which does not drain easily if the vehicle is frequently used on dirt roads.
One warning. Make sure your seats are well protected with towels and have a helper who can watch and turn the hose off if you suddenly start to hose out the car's interior.
Cheers
Graham
The transmission is uncooperative at certain speeds... even if I have it in sport mode. Sometimes it will not shift at certain speeds...and the engine will just roar. Sometimes it will react properly, many times it will not. Also, it jerks badly when slowing the car down for the first few blocks, after sitting and cold. I was told this is normal.
I have averaged 20.4 mpg for 6500 miles.
The brakes can be scary. Sometimes while braking on the highway, they feel soft until I brake harder..(I was told this is normal for Subaru Outbacks).
If I am going over potholes or a bump while braking, the ABS will kick in and I will lose the brakes for a moment or two...very very scary. I have driven several cars with ABS and some did this, some did not... What is normal behavior for a car with ABS? I mean it actually feels like I have absolutely no brakes when this happens. It can mean hitting someone if I hit the brakes while going over bumps!
Now, it's hesitating when starting up from a stop.
The point is... I had a 98 Impreza that I traded in for this car because of the same type of problem. I blamed myself for the vibration in the Impreza because really dogged that car. (It was fun, but I had thought I killed it.) I have treated the car gently. I have found vibration in OB a problem in several places, but have not seen anyone find the solution. If I do find a solution, I promise to post. Please let me know if anyone else can relate or finds a solution.
Outback was a better car, I hope the 05 has better head gaskets.
Steve
I've never had another car do that.
Sly
-juice
Need some advice. I'll probably be purchasing a Legacy Wagon 2.5i or a base Outback Wagon in the next few months. My wife prefers the Outback and I prefer the Legacy. So we'll probably compromise and get the Outback We do some camping/Skiing/biking/etc and a Thule box is a common fixture atop our current vehicle... so the Outback would probably be a better fit. However, I'm a little concerned with the motorized seat adjustments for the driver side. I'm ~6' and my wife is ~5'4" so every time either one of us will get into the car, the seat will need to be adjusted (front/back, up/down, and backrest rake). I've never had motorized seat adjustments... preferring the mechanical, spring-loaded controls for reliability reasons. Does anybody have any info regarding past reliability issues on these electrical motors? If history is any indication, I will likely keep the vehicle for 10 years or so. I want to make sure that I'm not replacing one (or more) of these motors every couple of years. If there have been issues in the past, I may just bite the bullet and go for the more "urbanite" Legacy Wagon with the mechanical adjustments.
Tom
on the gas gauge. I know it is winter and the gas is oxygenated,
but with a brand new fuel filter and air filter and properly
inflated tires, why am I getting such terrible mileage? Today I
drove highway for about 30 miles, cruise control set at 65 and I
felt like I could SEE the gauge dropping!! Dare I say that my
wife's Mitsu Montero gets better mileage than a 4cyl Subie?!?!?
HELP! Dealer says everything is fine...
I am hoping someone can provide some guidance I have a ’00 Subaru Legacy wagon with a 2.5 liter engine. I had to have both head gaskets replaced at around 40k miles under warranty. Last summer I received a recall notice saying that the dealer wanted me to bring my car in to have a treatment added to my antifreeze to prevent the head gasket from leaking again. I did this and they have extended my head gasket warranty to 100k miles
Last week I had my Clutch replaced and the garage who did it told me that both of my head gaskets are leaking again (near the back of the engine). I have 81,000 miles on the car so I called the dealer to schedule an appointment to have the head gaskets replaced again under warranty. So far so good.
What bothered me was that the service manager at the dealership told me that there is a problem with the head gaskets Subaru is using and that they will continue to fail when the temperature drops. The dealer said that they need to change the way they make the gasket and Subaru hasn’t done this. (We frequently get below zero temperatures where I live). I am concerned because not only is it a pain in the neck to leave the car at the dealers for two or three days, my car is also close to out of the extended warrantee.
Has anyone heard of a solution to this problem that is longer term? I had planned on keeping this car until well over 100k miles.
Thanks for any help. I apologize if this has already been mentioned. I did a search of the forum, however didn’t come up with any matches.
FWIW - I get about 23 to 24 MPG with my '03 OBW A/T. I've gotten as high as 30 on a trip.
DaveM
I have noticed that wheels with an open spoke pattern exhibit the problem more often.
What I have done to reduce the problem is drive the car around the block a few times after washing. If you ride the brakes for the last 100 yards, it will heat up the rotors enough to dry any moisture on the rotors.
BTW, I share your hopes that 05 2.5i has improved head gaskets. I have noticed that the coolant is a different color from what was installed on my 03 Legacy. I assume the new formula is meant to protect the head gaskets.
-Jim
I have been needing to get the 60K service things done, so I guess I have to get me back to the dealer. Will it be another bottle of additive or do they have some other way to deal with the Return of the Head Gasket Leak? (Like, for example, oh, I don't know, maybe replacing the gasket with one that works?)
--K9Leader
We have had several cars with power seats, and not 'lost' a motor yet. They are pretty geared down and can take a lot of abuse.
Now on our Ford, we lost two switch sets. No reason why, and the dealer said it was a first. When they failed, the seat drove up to the max position and stayed running until the motor smoked. I pulled the wiring harness connector, and when the motor cooled, it ran just fine!
Steve
I appreciate both Subaru and the dealer stepping up to the plate and doing what was right.
Unfortunately,things have cropped up that I 'm not sure if they are important or not.
1. We also get a funny noise at start-up when cold(San Diego cold is 50 degrees).It sounds like a gritching belt and goes away after 5 min.
2. Wife was complaining about noise when turning steering wheel at low speeds.
3. Local oil and lube store recommended a differential oil change. Car is 02 with 30K miles.
Steve
Items 1 and 2 may be related. A loose, worn or glazed belt might slip when cold, as well as when put under load when power steering calls on the pump to work harder.
Diffy oil changes are suggested (depending on model and use conditions) at 30k. It is a fairly easy /inexpensive thing to do and will pay dividends in trouble free motoring.
Steve
The new 03 Outback (2.5 auto) ranges between 22-24. Last weekend, I went on a ski trip and got 20 mpg. I will probably attribute this to the car being loaded, skis on the roof, single/teens temperature, and driving home in 10 inches of snow. Rob M.
When I start my Forester, I make sure to prime the fuel pump first. Just turn the key to the On position and wait just a second or two, you'll hear a "whirrrrr" and then start her up.
Could be a lack of fuel pressure, or water in the fuel lines, creating that stumbling at start up.
-juice
One other thing, I'm pretty sure this is common, when backing up the wheels make noise but not while going forward. Not too worried about this!
In regards to mileage,our 02 Bean sometimes will get 17mpg when we do alot of in town driving, lots of trips under 1 mile. Most of the time it's right around 20.
Steve
-juice
Thanks....early clutch wear.
Craig
You should have them do the front as well. The drain plug is a little hard to find, tucked up slightly on the forward section of the tranny. Fill is thru the dipstick along the firewall on the passenger's side of the air filter.
Steve
I average 22-24 in the winter and 24-26 in the other three seasons. This is a mix of highway and back roads driving - very little time in the city! :-)
Matt
The previous owner ran over a curb or parking lot barrier or something and scarred the underside of the front bumper. Also knocked off one of the two plastic panels below/behind the radiator that keep dirt from the tires off the engine,and mildly bent some RF fender liner parts. No big deal: replaced the missing panel, straightened the bent stuff. BUT there are two openings in the lower outer sections of the bumper, to either side of the grill opening. Fog lights would go there if they were installed, but they weren't. Now they are just big holes (about 5 by 7 inches). Is there supposed to be some panel or cover there? There are slots around the edges where tabs might go. Did Subaru actually ship the cars with the hole there, or is it likely the previous owner lost one of the panels in his curb "prang" and took out the other to match? He seems to have been cheap enough to do that... the ONLY maintenance he did in 57,000 miles was oil and filter changes: spark plugs, air filter and fuel filter were all original.
Stanton
We lost one, that's how I know. I'll probably use some Subaru bucks to replace it.
If you get a price, lemme know, OK?
Are you gonna get fogs, or replace both covers?
-juice
BTW, I tried to dim the dash lights WAY down to improve my night vision, and the dimmest setting is just enough to show the general position of the red needles, while improved night vision lets you see a lot farther down the road if there is no oncoming traffic. AT first I thought the dash lights went off, but not so: they keep a faint glow to show up the gauge needles. Cool!
Stanton
Tom