Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

kens

Wow, that's pretty detailed. I don't know if anyone can give that info off-hand unless they've been in the same position.

Have you tried working with the parts department to identify the specific parts? I've found the local parts departments to be pretty accomodating to such requests.

Ken

kullenberg

Now that the turbo is more or less confirmed; does anybody have a feel for what sort of price premium we can expect?
Cheers
Pat

jtm4

tpasub, funny you mentioned the AC light bulb. The light bulb behind my AC button went out a long time ago. I haven't replaced it because of what's involved in getting to the bulb. As long as the AC comes on when it's pushed in, I can live with it. Good luck, on your bulb quest.

73soob01

Hello Forester Fans,

At least one or two people have mentioned removing the rear seat in their Forester. I'm considering this, and would appreciate any advice or cautions on how to proceed.

I don't want to cause any permanent damage, just remove the rear seat to increase cargo space.

Cheers,
Scott

tpasub

I've worked with the two area dealers in the past, its always been a special order. Its been hit and miss at best. I'll get a bulb but the wrong color, and two part numbers and get the same bulb twice. I have gotten white couple of times and even a green that I didn't need. They come in bubble wrap so you can't tell what color they are so unwrap them right there in the parts dept. save yourself the return trip. Amber is the one I have yet to see

eric102

Others have mentioned Subaruwarranty.com for good prices.

Eric

martijnh

Hello,

We got 2 Subarus in our household, an 00 Outback and 02 Forester. I've noticed that when I park the Forester, a decent puddle of fluid (clear, doesn't smell, so I think it's water), forms under the passenger side of the Forester, pretty much right in front of the passenger compartment. This happens without driving in the rain, no AC, etc.

I'm not complete car clueless (I think...), but I don't understand what this is. My girlfriend drives under 15 miles in her commute and there will be about 2 cups of 'water' under the car.

Any ideas here?

Thanks, Martijn

misty12

I have been reading the recent bad publicity about SUV's.... First the link to terrorism because they are such gas guzzlers. Now today, the safety factor that they roll over so readily. Does any of this apply to the mini SUV"s?? I have a Forester and I was wondering about this. Any thoughts?

tincup47

Don't listen to all the media hype. If you take that line of reasoning to it's logical conclusion, over the road trucking, Railroads, and Airplanes and especially pleasure boats are terrorist fundraising tools. Small SUV's like the Forester get good enough gas mileage to be socially responsible.They are also not as prone to rolling over, especially a vehicle like the Forester that isn't that high to begin with.

rsholland

They're referring to to truck-based SUVs, primarily. Car-based SUVs are generally looked upon as being much safer, especially the Forester.

However, it is probably a (tiny) bit more prone to rollover than the (lower) Impreza, which it is based on. You can't change the laws of physics.

Bob

paisan

If you drive an SUV like a sports car, it will roll. Plain and simple, you need to drive it with a bit more caution due to the laws of physics.

-mike

tincup47

From what I've heard of how you drive your SUV, your Trooper should have wheels on it's roof

paisan

Although I drive it fast, it is always within the limits of the vehicle. From my auto-x experience I brake hard in the straightline before turns which is where your SUV is most likely to roll.

-mike

nygreg

today. Explorer took a turn a little too fast, lost control and kissed the guard-rail. What people must realize is that in the winter (and especially this winter) there is sand and salt on the road. Tires don't grip too well to this in a turn nor accelerate from a stop either (when trying to cut someone off).

Greg

xccoachlou

It's not just a good idea, it's the Law. lol

Another good law of physics is TANSTAAFL - There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch - but trust me the equation in Thermodynamics is more complex.

And finally, my desk isn't messy, it just has a very HIGH level of entropy.

- Lou

dillon8

dimming mirror, brush guard, hood deflector,rear diff protector,rubber mats,tailpipe cover.
Baught the car for $24,500 plus tax.

Can anyone tell me if this is a decent purchase price?
Also, does anyone have any thoughts on the comparison between the Toyota 4 runner and the o3 Forester?

kens

Martijn,

The location of the puddle probably has to do with the cutouts on the lower cover on the engine. There are cutouts for the oil drain plug that probably allow whatever it is to collect on your garage floor. After driving in the rain on my Forester, I typically see a small puddle in a similar location too.

Now, you mentioned that it happens regardless of rain or A/C usage so I'm kind of stumped as to WHAT the fluid might be...

Ken

twofold

Ken:

 Thanks for your info(message #9004). I did purchase a 2001 L with 19,919 miles for $14,886 with auto trans, cassette-cd player. This unit is in mint condiction. Love the red-beige combo. I did get the dreaded CEL the other day. Took it to Fred Beans Subaru in Doylestown, Pa. and they replaced the purge valve. Had a leaking problem. I'm also interested in finding a web site where I can find
accessories for my subie? All inputs appreciated.
 Thanks, Twofold

retiredguy

While I often read about the lower gas mileage on awd cars..I haven't seen anything about how long to expect tires to last..I have a 96 Saturn sl 1 with 46k and the tires look pretty good..I am considering a 2003 Forester..TIA

stever

Check the Subaru Crew - Modifications II discussion for links too, Twofold.

Steve, Host

rochcom

Forester drivers have reported anywhere from 18,000 to 55,000 miles on the original equipment Yokohama Geolandar tires on the older Foresters. My own lasted 30,000 miles. Many drivers have reported accelerated outer edge wear. However, many of the members report that they are aggressive drivers and corner at higher than average speeds.

The new Forester has a newer design Geolandar.

My second set of tires, Goodrich Touring T/As, are at 42,000 miles and have just over 4/32 of tread depth. My estimate is that they will last until 48,000.

p0926

Emil- I don't think that just having AWD causes any additional tread wear. In fact, it could cause less since your days of burning rubber will be in the past :-) Of course knowing they have AWD causes some people to driver more aggresively which can cause faster wear as Jeff pointed out. Increasing the tire pressure can reduce the accelerated outer edge wear Jeff refered to but then the resultant smaller contact patch will cause the vehicle to break traction sooner (everything's a trade off).

FYI: I think 30k was approx the average tire life for the original equipment Yokohama Geolandars. However, mine have over 43 (mainly highway miles) and still have some usable tread left.

-Frank P.

leo2633

I have 50K on my '01 Forester S and the original tires have worn well. I believe I can get another 10K out of them. My commute is 90% highway. I also rotate every 5K miles and am fanatical about checking pressure at least weekly. I've run mine at 32 PSI since new.

Len

j0elboy

go to Cobb Tuning's web site and get out your credit card! http://cobbtuning.com/forester/

BTW, has anyone used their suspension kits? What effect would an anti-roll bar have on the general handling of my '99S? I am thinking it would function as an "anti-LEAN" bar...

j0elboy

retiredguy

Thank you all for your replies...about burning tires...at 66 those days are long gone...long gone..

kens

My story is similar to Len's. 90% of my miles are highway and I've gotten 45-50K on the Geolandars until the tread hit the wear bars.

I've felt that AWD actually helps to even out tire wear since torque is spread over four tires instead of just two.

Some Forester owners have experienced early outer edge wear -- I've seen some cases first hand. I believe that was caused by a combination of improper tire alignment from the factory, underinflation and the spirited driving Foresters seem to illict from their owners. ;-)

My Geolandars have worn fairly evenly.

Ken

95gl

I was driving my 02 L on the highway this morning and the radio started getting louder. It was just as if someone had turned the know (saw Volume on the tuner - not the station I was listening to). About 5 miles down the road it happened again. Another 5 miles and the radio turned back down! Weird! Any thoughts?

forester13

Bought 2003 2.5X AT end of last May. After 11,000 miles, still runs great.
All summer long, got 25-27 mpg in mostly-highway, some around town driving. Now, in cold winter months, I'm struggling to get 23mpg! Tire pressure kept at 33-35 psi. What gives?

tidester

Is it possible that you just didn't notice before that reception is better in some areas and worse in others?

Just a thought.

tidester, host

forester13

Bought 2003 2.5X AT end of last May. After 11,000 miles, still runs great.
All summer long, got 25-27 mpg in mostly-highway, some around town driving. Now, in cold winter months, I'm struggling to get 23mpg! Tire pressure kept at 33-35 psi. What gives?

tidester

Some areas use "oxygenated" fuel (aka gasahol, etc.) during the winter months and that could reduce your mileage.

tidester, host

bsvoller

It seems to me if I remember Automobiles 101 correctly, the fuel mixture is "richened" (higher percentage of gas to air) some when the temps fall. I know this is true on startup (that's what the "choke" used to do, now the ECM takes care of it), and I think it's true after the engine warms up as well.

So it's not just oxygenated fuels in winter. Your engine runs richer, and there's arguably more rolling resistance throughout the drivetrain at colder temps as well.

Can someone more knowledgeable than myself confirm?

A loss of fuel economy in the winter (given colder temps) is normal, irrespective of fuel additives - although these contribute to the problem too.

-brianV

kens

Also, don't forget to factor in the fact that the air is colder and therefore denser. ;-)

I think brianV hit all the major contributors to poor winter milage.

25-27 dropping to 23 sounds very normal to me too.

Ken

ducktapeguy

I think I've posted this link before, but it has some good information on some of the problems people have been talking about.

http://endwrench.com/current/winter02-03/insider.pdf

bkaiser1

The factory stereo in my 01 OB does this ever so often...I'll be driving along and the volume will suddenly jump up 5-10 increments. It's scared me a few times when I wasn't prepared for Metallica at 100dB!

It seems to be related to static electricity -- I can watch the volume-meter going up and down, then it will settle down. This usually only lasts less than 10-15 seconds...weird, indeed...

Brian

bj02176

Less then Xcellent windshield on my 2003 x, on rt 128 on the way to work a pop, same on the way home, perusal, extensive windshield crack left to right on the entire windshield, waiting till the winter is over to call Giant Glass for a replacement. Never this much trouble with any other windshield on my many cars over the years. Are they using real glass or what! Don't make me wish I kept my Mazda Tribute.

lfdal

The one on my 03 didn't crack but it leaked like a sieve. Took three trips to the dealer's before they got it right. In fairness, the dealer was shipping it over to the glass company and they tried to stuff it with sealant from the inside, wrecking the left and right column trim in the process. The third time I took it back with clenched teeth and they finally removed and re-sealed it the right way. Fine ever since. My understanding is that if they don't get the bonding right between windshield and body that it will put undue stress on the windshield. Wonder if they had a few come through that way. When was your's manufactured? Mine was March 02, I think.

rochcom

A number of Forester owners have reported windshield problems. I replaced mine last year because of a spreading crack. However, I carry full glass coverage, so it did not cost me anything to replace. You might want to add that to your insurance. I originally added it because of a break-in on a previous car.

But the chip/crack problem is not limited to Subarus. I had the same trouble on two Saabs. All of these vehicles had very upright windshields.

At the 64,000 mile or so point that it was replaced, the windshield was severely pitted and looked like the one on my son's car that had 135,000 miles on it. The new one greatly improved outward vision, especially at night.

speterson1

We also had the windshield replaced in our '01 L, after it had taken a couple of rocks on the highway (on two separate occasions). The first was minor, and put a tiny little bubble crack only an inch or so above the windshield wiper, but the second rock was sizable and put a 3-inch crack right below where the rear view mirror attached. That happened last October and with winter and cold weather approaching, we had it replaced. Our insurance company was fantastic, paying for the repair sight unseen with a company that came out to my workplace the next day!

I agree with roachcom and think it's not so much a windshield (that is, the glass) problem as much as it is the fact that the Forester's windshield is very upright compared to other cars. I like the tradeoff though, the visibility in the Forester is awesome. When I ride in other cars now it seems like they all have tiny windshields with lousy visibility.

Steve

ateixeira

Just got back from Brazil, so sorry if anyone was waiting for a response from me. I speed-read so please ask again if it was important.

My mileage has been comparatively lousy lately, about 23mpg vs. my usual 25mpg. Oxygenated gas and the cold is likely why.

Loved the haiku, guys.

Still have the original windshield, no cracks here. No significant paint flaws either, maybe the cladding saves me there. ;-)

I got 28k miles out of my Duelers, but my replacement Nitto NT460 have gone 21k miles already and look almost new. They'll basically last forever, it seems. Fine with me. The only catch is snow traction is not that good, but overall I'm very happy with them. Road noise is very low, too.

-juice

lark6

I haven't been posting here much lately as my eyes can't get used to the new format (please change it back!).

I have a '00 Forester S (3 years today!), 49K miles. My windshield (heated - I have the cold weather package) has one star crack (repaired), two tiny butterfly chips and looks generally sandblasted. On a sunny day it can be difficult to look out of it; my wife sometimes kids that it's made out of hardened Karo syrup. It has never leaked, fortunately, but I fear replacing it for that reason.

I got 41K out of the OEM Yokohama Geolandars, replaced them with Dunlop SP Sport 5000s three weeks ago. Used a plus-one setup with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S from May until then.

My gas mileage has dropped as well, to around 23 hwy/20 city (usually 27 hwy/23 city). I blame the cold and reformulated fuel as well.

juice: Nice to see you back. I like the 'edge' you picked up in the SUVs rant. I too have differing thoughts about Americans and our vehicles after my European vacation, but I haven't quite found the words to describe them yet.

Ed

ateixeira

It's funny to see what a family of 4 will fit into in Brazil. Check out the Ka. A Civic is considered a medium/large car!

-juice

lark6

I guess I could sum up my feelings as "Do we need so much stuff?" The US is a very big country and we have a lot more ground to cover, but do we have to mobilize the 82nd Airborne every time we drive to Grandma's house?

Ed

silface

Hi all! I'm updating on what has resulted with the occurrence of my 2000 forester cold engine chatter problem as written in earlier posts. I think it was more an engine problem than a transmission problem. I guess Juice U seem to be right in stating that the transmission was OK! With changing from regular to supreme gas (93 to 94 octane) has reduced the problem. It hasn't occurred in a while, even in subzero temperatures. I'm having it checked next week for the scheduled maintenance interval. I was thinking of checking/changing the spark plugs and wires. Maybe it was just a misfiring somewhere or just filled up with cheap gas.
Any other ideas on what I should have checked?

Thanks again,
Sil

ateixeira

Ed: I look at my wife, and have to answer "yes", unfortunately.

I'm still trying to teach her the art of packing light. I want to retire and tour the country on a motorcycle, but if she has her way we'd be in a motorHOME!

For that engine, a basic tuneup should help. The throttle body on our 626 needed cleaning, and it ran much better (even quicker) after we did that.

-juice

tidester

I haven't been posting here much lately as my eyes can't get used to the new format (please change it back!).

While you're waiting, it should be a simple matter to adjust your browser with its zoom feature. You can make the print as large as you like.

tidester, host

nypaul

hey ateixeira,
   Compromise with your wife and get an old, but in good condition, VW bus camper. That way you get to bring a little more (but not much) than on the motor bike and have a few of the conveniences of a motor home as well. But you still get to see the sights and smell the flowers instead of just barreling down the interstate with the 18 wheelers. We have a 1971 and just love it for traveling.

Paul

ateixeira

Still too big. To me a compromise would be my Miata.

By then I hope to own an SVX roadster with the same powertrain as the WRX STi. :-)

-juice

lark6

Thank you, tidester, "larger" is good in IE. There's still a large expanse of gray space on either side that will take some getting used to.

juice: you get the LOL of all LOLs!!! I have had that EXACT conversation with my wife. She wants to rent a motorhome when we retire; I don't necessarily want a motorcycle but something not much bigger. I'd prefer to spend my nights in interesting hotels, inns etc. We both have gotten better in packing light over the years.

Ed

tidester

There's still a large expanse of gray space on either side that will take some getting used to.

Personally, I like it but be assured that Edmunds is listening!

tidester, host