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Comments
Please let the Rep. know that I referred you to us and that I'd like to see the case. Thanks.
Patti
Patti
I can start it easily by putting the clutch down (as usual), but it is stuck in reverse. I can't shift the stick at all, and when I try to ease the clutch up, I can spell the clutch (I think) burning. I can't even call a tow because all 4 wheels are locked in place. I would greatly appreciate any opinions and ideas. Thank you very much in advance!
-mike
-mike
-juice
The only possible way for your tranny to be locked up is when it is in 2 gears at the same time.
John
For the fuel pump clicking off constantly, also check the fuel vapor recovery canister. Basically as the tank fills up the vapors are captured by these tanks, though if it's leaking you will usually get a check engine light. Even if one of the hoses is loose you will. There is one on the under side, in the very back on the passenger side, it looks like a black plastic shoe box basically. Check the tubes coming in and out of it.
On the underside you will also be able to see the shift linkage, I bet it's jammed or paisan is right about the fork. Good opportunity to get an STi shift kit (about $110 from SPT IIRC) if you ever wanted one. Replaces all the linkage anyway.
-juice
Patti
If the tech bulletin didn't pertain to Foresters then I need to complain vehemently as to why it showed up as a resulting document when I searched for Forester related docs on the Subaru site! I could have saved $20! Anyone who wants a copy, let me know, I'll send it on out! What a rip!
*sigh* So I'm stuck with the old gusset and there is no better replacement. I think I'm going to have to think of some innovative ways to cushion the seal around the window to muffle the wind noise. It's nearly deafening on a windy day... and my test drive vehicle and '01 Forester were both so nice and quiet.
-elissa
Greg
Thanks as always......fitzy2.
Patti
P/F
While doing the 30,000 mile service on my 02 H4 Outback I noticed the drivers side head gasket had some coolant seepage on the rear cylinder. Not enough to leave a drip anywhere, but kind of dampish looking and covered with dirt. The front cylinder had a slight amount of darkish dirt along the gasket edge, but not as bad as the rear. The passenger side was spotless.
The service dept. claimed this was "normal seepage" as defined by Subaru, but they couldn't explain why the other gasket didn't have any "normal seepage".
I didn't receive a coolant conditioner recall notice so I assume I must have the improved head gaskets. I wonder if they aren't holding up as advertised?
I also had an oil mist covering the drivers side front axle near the diff seal and on it. This was also called "normal seepage". Of course the other side had no oil mist. I wonder if this oil seepage might be the cause of the burning oil smell I sometimes get after a long drive? The diff fluid was almost to the full mark so its not leaking much.
Thanks for your patience and I'm sorry you're having a concern.
Patti
Other than this, my dealer and it's service dept. have been excellent on the few other minor problems I've had.
Eric
Anyway... going through the dealer for the gas tank thing in the hopes that at least that work is covered under work warranty, and looking for a good independant mechanic for the other $600 worth of work that I think the car needs, even if I have to drive an hour away.
But if I had to guess I'd say the base 2.5l still uses the EJ255 block.
-juice
A. Re the faulty airbag indicator light: Let the dealer fix it again. This is only the 2nd time it’s happened and there could be a number of reasons why the first repair didn’t permanently fix it (bad batch of sensors, loose connection, etc). In any case the repair is covered under the warranty and as you surmised, will still be covered beyond the 36k mark since the problem initially occurred during the warranty period. As to how many chances should you give the dealer to fix the problem, I would say at least two. Take Patti’s advice and go ahead and call 1-800-SUBARU3 so that they’re aware of the issue but I wouldn’t do anything further unless the light comes on for a 3rd time. IRT Elissa’s lemon law remark: I’m sorry but I think it’s reckless to be throwing around such a term at so early a point. The lemon law is intended as a last resort when all else fails with owners being expected to exhaust all other possible avenues of recourse first. Threatening to invoke the lemon law just because one warning light has come on twice serves no purpose and makes it that much more difficult for true lemon law cases to be heard.
B. Re the problem with the gas pump shutting off: Unless I’m totally off my rocker it almost has to be a plugged vent tube, in which case dry gas is useless. I think the some folks were confused by the post. It’s not the fuel pump in the tank that’s shutting off (dry gas could help that) but the pumps at the gas stations. That tells me that the vapor recovery system isn’t working correctly so when the gas is going into the tank the fumes have no where to go and therefore trip the pump’s automatic overflow shut-off valve. So it sounds to me like the dealer was on the right track. I would definitely take it back and tell them that the problem still exists. You’d think that there would be some way for them to test the system. In any case I would expect them to fix it for little or no charge since they already took $600 of your dollars and didn’t solve the problem.
-Frank
You've just had some bad luck. Hopefully it'll improve.
-juice
This is not a common occurence by any stretch of the imagination. It is extremely rare.
Complaints about the synchros for first gear are more common, but that's about it.
-juice
-Frank
-Frank
Killian
Murphy's Law made it yours. Twice! :oO
Foul play? Hard to say. There was a case (wdb's Legacy GT) where we saw a problem with the throttle cable and it turned out to be a rodent under the hood! As if they baste the wires at the factory with something tasty! LOL
Maybe they're basting the tranny linkage now?
FWIW, it is exposed and you can see the linkage from the bottom of the Forester. Take a peek. If you slam into a large rock it could potentially damage the linkage because there is no skid plate there. However, you would know, because the cross member at the front is a lot lower, you would likely hit that first.
The auto is an anomaly because those are very robust. The same tranny sees duty in the WRX and modified cars push 300 horses with the stock automatic without a problem, and I'm talking track duty.
Any how, good luck with your next car. Knock on wood, get a rabbit's foot, don't walk under any ladders! :-)
-juice
Your daughters situation could be serious - either a broken fork, bent linkage, etc. The automatic stuck in park is most likely a trivial issue, and not that terribly uncommon with any mfgr. It most likely has to do with the linkage interlock in the steering column associated with the ignition switch. I have had this on other brands myself, and know others who have had it. IIRC, there was even a note in my '02 OBW owners manual about how to defeat/adjust this should it get balky. Other mfgrs have similar procedures.
Honestly, I think you have worked yourself up into a frenzy over an isolated incident. And as far as the inconvenience of one car blocking another for 10 days, a simple call to a reputible towing service would have solved this on day one!
Steve
Perhaps I should dust off the ol' Stat textbook.
This was probably just good old sample variance.
-juice
After reading here that sometimes synthetic is too slipery for the syncro, today I replaced the oil with 80W90 GL-5 dino at it shifts like cutting butter. I guess sometimes better is not better.
This is just an FYI in case someone alse experiences the same