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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Can't help but laugh my butt off over here, watching CNBC about 1/2 the Exploders are being recalled... What will it take for Americans to realize that the Explorer is bad news? I guess they are truely sheep < /rant >

    -mike
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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Hmm, well here in NYC, limos of mobsters better have as good or better paint jobs than their sports cars.

    -mike
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    tlimatlima Member Posts: 124
    I did't think of that. When I removed the old filter, I cleaned the mounting well and did'nt notice anything obvious. I'll look more closely next oil change as seepage seems very minimal and I see no dripping onto engine cover or ground.

    -Tony
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    sumorabitsumorabit Member Posts: 1
    Learn from my woes. Be absolutely sure that the bumper and the step cover are *exactly* what are supposed to be on your Forester. Apparently, there are some subtle differences that the parts guy at my dealer couldn't figure out until after I came back insisting that I had the wrong bumper. Even then he wouldn't have been convinced if there wasn't another Forester sitting in the body shop with the bumper and step cover that I should've had. Held the two bumpers together and he finally said "damn, they are different."

    In the end, I think my bumper cost around $900 to replace. Good luck.

    --> Andy
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    hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    They should be able to sand the damage out and then repaint,on my bumper that is.

    BTW. I agree with most of the sentiment expressed here that the estimate you have appears to be rather low, my advice would be to get a second estimate, remember the old saw, measure twice and cut once.

    Cheers Pat.
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Thanks for the heads up, guys.

    I should have a photo up later on.

    paisan - quick, I need some info. How much would it cost to rebuild an XT6 tranny? How much for a brand new one?

    Some anti-Subie guy is slamming XT6s, claiming it's $6 grand for a new tranny, and that the AWD breaks driving on sand.

    He's in the SUVs on sand topics. Or just share the info with me and I'll post.

    -juice
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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Same as any other subie, it's a 4eat, probably about $2K.

    -mike
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    kameelekameele Member Posts: 29
    My '95 Legacy arrived with other than original equipment tires. I want to look at getting new ones shortly. Any suggestions for good all-around ones? I live in Boston, so I need all weather types. I've had michelins that I've loved and some that I hated (may have been the car they were on). I have no real brand preferences, just would like to keep cost down (<$300? ,at all possible?)

    Thanks for input,

    Kevin
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    aakersonaakerson Member Posts: 71
    I have a not-too-loud but oh-so persistent rattle coming from the rear of my 2001 Outback, and it's driving me crazy. The rattle continues even on smooth pavement, when there is very little body shake. Might be the left seatback latch, but not sure. Anyone else have this problem -- if so, were you able to find the source, and fix it?
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    originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Yeah, I have a similar one in my 01 GT wagon (OCD here we go again). Mine is very subtle and comes and goes. I haven't had a chance to ride back there and look for it. After 40 trips in and out of the driveway with my head out the moonroof looking for my old clunk/groan my wife refuses to acknowledge me when I ask for her help.
    bit
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    rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
    Juice:
    Sorry to hear about the mishap and I'm glad no one was hurt and that as far as Sandy's concerned, glad to hear it's more in the category of a "broken finger'. Good luck with the repairs!

    WDB:
    Regarding your post 1736 (I've been gone for a few days) where you recommend switching gasolines, particularly for people in the Chicago area where they have local blends; I'm very intrigued!
    I've been a little disappointed with the mileage I'm getting in my OB and have noticed that in the past two tankfulls it has jumped from averaging only 18.3 to 18.7 mpg this past winter to 19.7 and 22.4 gallons. I'm interested in any insight you can share about this "local northeast Illinois blend". Other than oxygentaed winter blend, I wasn't aware that there was a special regional blend.
    Thanks,
    Ron
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Kevin: what was your stock size?

    Alan: if it's persistent, it should be easy to trace. Have someone else drive around and see if you can find the source just using your hearing.

    Often times it's something loose in one of the many storage bins. My cassette tape boxes did that.

    -juice
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    kameelekameele Member Posts: 29
    Juice,

    right now they are BF Goodrich Momenta P185/70R14. I wasn't smart enough to look at the chart on the car before I started writing this to see if that is what's actually supposed to be on the car.

    Kevin
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We have BFGs on my wife's car, though they are Comp T/As. Pretty decent, and they've lasted.

    It's not a common size, though. Choices may be limited. Try Tirerack.com, do a search. Come back here and let us know what models you find - maybe someone here would have experience with that tire/brand.

    Also check out their surveys. Pretty useful.

    -juice
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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Are my favorites. I've also had good luck with Bridgestones.

    -mike
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    hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Well, thank God I am not going to take too big a hit on getting the bumper repaired.

    The estimate is for $285.00 and the car will be ready for pickup tomorrow, I had one days rental at $38.00 as I had a lot of running around today, miss my second car already.

    Incidently my daughter left this morning with my 89 Accord and it is on the back of a trailer on its way to a new home in Tennessee as I write, It really broke my heart to see it go.

    I decided to pay to fix the GT bumper out of my own pocket rather than have the insurance pay and screw up my safe driving rates.

    Cheers Pat.
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    hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Well, I e-mailed the "Peg & Tony Oil Co. and this is where they sent me to:

    http://www.mobil.com/mobil_gas/us_fuels_map.pdf

    http://www.mobil.com/mobil_gas/product_data.html


    Ron - the U.S. Fuel Map might be of some help.

    Kevin - I have the Michelin Energy MXV4s on my '98 OB and am very happy with them, however the $ may not make it <300. Only one odd experience with them last night which "juice" had pointed that my tires sidewall may have rolled under.

    Isn't BFG a division of Michelin now?
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    locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    BF Goodrich Tires is now a division of Michelin, yes. BF Goodrich still exists as a separate company, minus their former tire division.

    -Colin
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    seamus3seamus3 Member Posts: 98
    kameele: i put yokohamas on my car when i first got it. i have a 96 legacy sedan. i went with the yokohama avid T4. they are a great tire. i live in the rain capitol, seattle, and they perform very well on wet pavement. performance in the snow is ok, i just bought winter tires. a really good place to buy them is at www.tirerack.com. good luck.
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    pattim3pattim3 Member Posts: 533
    Good Morning! Just a thought from a prior experience. Do you have a cargo cover? If yes, try putting some tape on the metal clips where the cover is attached. Then put the cargo cover back on and see if the noise goes away. Of course, your dealer can check it, but it that is the problem, see if they can adjust the clips on the cover.

    Patti
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    pattim3pattim3 Member Posts: 533
    FYI - we do not use "new" transmissions, but re-mans. We have had a lot of success with these. It could be that the dealer is not counting in the core credit they will get for return of the original unit. Our re-man program has a 2year guarantee instead of the 1 year parts warranty that is the norm for new parts.

    Sube's and sand being a problem? Bunk. I have never heard of a problem (and I look at a lot of our contacts) and found a problem with sand and our vehicles. Also, I've done a lot of "sand" driving w/o a problem.

    Patti
    Patti
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    kameelekameele Member Posts: 29
    Thanks for all the input on the tires. I'll do some browsing. Something I forgot to ask, how much can I change the size of the tires on the stock wheels?

    Kevin
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Pat: I totally understand. Call her once in a while to make sure she's taking good care of it. Don't let it become a beater.

    Michelin now owns BFG Tires? I like both, but Michelin needs a pricing reality check. It seems like they're about the most expensive tires you can buy.

    -juice
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    rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Buy or partner with Dunlop? I remember going to a web-page for a tire company (and it could have been BFG) and it said at the bottom: Click here for XXX tires, we haven't made them in 10 years. Or something along those lines.

    -mike
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    locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Juice-- at least you get what you pay for with Michelin. Goodyear is actually the company in need of a reality check for pricing... horrible bang for the buck.

    -Colin
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    hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Patti,
    If the transmission is replaced, the entire AT was my case, would the repair manifest indicate if it is new or re-man'ufactured'?
    My manifest indicated neither.
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, I had GT+4s on my Escort, and replaced them with Yokos. It was a bit of sticker shock to see that it cost to replace the Goodyears.

    -juice
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    kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Kevin,

    You can do something called plus-zero sizing where you can put on a slightly wider tire that has a lower profile compared to the stock tires. The benefit is a slightly wider tire but the down side is that your sidewalls will bulge a little more.

    For example, a 215/60R-16 could be replaced with a 225/55R-16 on the same wheel. Note that the overall diameter needs to remain the same.

    Ken
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    hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Thanks for the sympathy, I know she will take excellent care of it,she is just as careful of her vehicles as I am.

    As a fatter of mact she does not plan to winter drive it even in Tennessee.
    Cheers Pat.
    PS. she took some photos of it when it was on the trailer she said she would send me the negatives when she gets them processed so I hope to eventually post them.
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    hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Mike,
    Let's see. Michelin purchased BF Goodrich tire division, and Michelin is partnering with Goodyear in developing the PAX system or something the likes. No mentioning 'bout Dunlop.
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    francophilefrancophile Member Posts: 667
    I read it in an article sometime within the past year, since the gas prices went up the first time. The reporter was trying to figure out how, for example, Chicagoland prices were averaging, for example, $2 when they were $1.60 just a few hundred miles away. I don't remember where I read it, but this link from post 1865 might help:


    http://www.mobil.com/mobil_gas/us_fuels_map.pdf


    Cheers,

    -wdb

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    stevekstevek Member Posts: 362
    I don't like my high beams on my 2001 Legacy GT. The dealer said they are aimed as high as the law would allow. Can not figure out where the adjustments are. The brightness is ok but it does not illiminate the road far enough ahead.
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    pattim3pattim3 Member Posts: 533
    Some do not note re-man because they are the same as new - but, I would ask. I'd also ask about the core credit.

    Patti
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    WDB: local tax and profit padding? In my area, gas can vary by 30 cents per gallon even just 5 miles away.

    Steve: I think the brights adjust along with the regular lights. On the Forester it's on the back side of the headlight assembly, but the Legacy's lights are different.

    -juice
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    francophilefrancophile Member Posts: 667
    AVERAGE price, my friend ;-) I can find big differences within a 5-mile radius too. Local taxes might also play a part, but if you look at that map it appears that Chicagoland has a fuel blend all to itself, as do some other small regions in Illinois. That means the refiners have to make fuel solely for those markets, and that is bound to add cost.

    Regards,
    -wdb
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    rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
    Thanks for the info. I experienced exactly what you refer to regarding the dramatic decrease in gas prices once you get away from the "cloud" of Chicago. I left the metro area last week with gas at $2.04, then drove to Peoria and found gas at $1.87 less than three hours away.
    RR
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    kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    has anyone tried a full front protector (car bra) from Subaru or aftermarket? Is it easy to install/deinstall? I've heard different opinions about car bras: some think they protected really well, while others had problems with car washing, and some even reported paint damage. This why I think it's important to have it easily removable.

    I'm driving my Forester in the Central Valley very often. It attracts so many bugs and little stone chips that I thought some protection would be nice. I don't like plastic deflectors mounted on the hood.
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Gotcha, WDB. It's unbelievable that they can't standardize fuel requirements.

    -juice
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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Car bras are only good if you take them off and clean underneat on a weekly, yes weekly basis.

    Basically what happens is that any road grime, sand etc. gets under the bra (between the bra and the paint) and then acts like sand paper filing away your paint (which is thin to begin with on the forester). I am personally lazy so I wouldn't want to take it off weekly to ensure my paint doesn't get sand-papered away.

    -mike
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    kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Kate,

    Mike's right -- bras require a bit of maintenance on your part. You basically need to keep the underside of the bra and the paint that comes in contact with it clean at all times otherwise you'll get a abrasion where the two meet. You'll also not want to keep it on while the fabric is wet since the trapped moisture can also damage the paint in the long term (not that that's a problem in the summer in CA).

    Ken
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    kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Just read over at i-club that QSubaru is still open. A Forester owner there just spoke with Darlene on the phone this morning!!

    Kewl!

    Ken
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    kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    When I lived in FL many years ago, people down there often used special nets wrapped around the car's nose, to protect finish from numerous juicy bugs. I've never seen such nets in use in CA. I wonder, are they illegal in CA or just proved to be ineffective?
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Boy I hope so. I called the 800 number, and she had left for the day.

    The guy said they now could order from Subaru, but still had problems shipping things out. I'll try to reach her and figure out what the deal is, but it may not be completely resolved yet.

    -juice
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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Here in NY, but then again 90% of the people in FL are from NY originally :) I was thinking of getting one of those for trips actually. I'd put it on and then take it off after the trip.

    -mike
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    seamus3seamus3 Member Posts: 98
    stevek: have you thought about changing the bulbs you are using? i have a 96 legacy and i was unhappy with my headlight coverage as well. i think bit and juice changed their bulbs to the philllips vision plus(you guys can clarify)? i changed mine to Hella Xenon H4+30's. they are amazing. it really made a difference.
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    ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I actually have the same Hellas you have, but Ken's Phillips bulbs are even better. Try them out.

    -juice
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    hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    stevek - I too didn't like the headlight coverage on my '98 OB. Bought and used one of those Xenon Bulbs and result was better but not good enough. So, I added auxillary lamps (Hella DE-Xenon). Much much better.
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    paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    My Trooper headlights are the worst ever. That's why I upgraded to the Hella 4000s :) Although they are a bit of overkill for NYC.

    -mike
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    kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Yup, the Philips are noticeably brighter than the Hellas. I bought tried both and stayed with the Philips:


    http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1013602&a=7966143&p=33242600


    Ken

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