>>Another thing. When I picked my car, I immediately removed the center rear headrest to improve rear visibility. The headrest looked all right on the seat, but it's bottom was badly deformed.<<
I did the same thing. With all the headrests in, the view out the back is very limited. In case you didn't know, you can store the headrest by putting it through it's mounting holes from the other side of the seat, it will stay tucked securely out of sight on the back of the seat. My middle headrest looked a little weird too underneath, but not bad enough that I felt it needed to be replaced.
I experienced the same loud rear wiper motor in my Y2K Outback. It almost sounds like a cricket, actually. I was on a long rainy trip and noticed the sound, but since then it seems to have gone away. If it re-appears, I will have the dealer check it out. But I do know what you are referring to . Keep us posted on your situation, and I will do the same!!!
John: I had the Bosch Micro Edge for 1 year with no nicks. I'm in Washington, DC with temperate weather (some winter snow, 90°F w/moderate humidity in the summer (and this weekend!). I'm not familiar with silicon blades. Do you have a URL (hyperlink) or the manufacturer's name?
http://www.tripledge.com/index.html is the one I've seen. Anyone tried them? I saw them at Kmart, but they didn't have a sizing book, so I didn't try them.
I had some of those triple edge wipers about 5 years ago on a '74 Landcruiser. (Sold it, what an idiot.) They work very well, even sling off mud nicely.
For some reason I've never thought to use them since.
Have you tried sprinkling a little water on your windshield and buffing after a new application of Rain-X? I've found that this helps to reduce the amount of streaking causeed by excess Rain-X. Unfortuantely, I haven't found a way to get rid of it completely.
Rain-X is great on the Forester with it's upright windshield. What we pay for in drag coefficients, we make up for not having to run our wipers as fast in wet weather!
I used a set of the silicone blades on my last car. They left a coating on the windshield that remained long after the blades had worn out and been replaced. I won't buy them again.
When I first got my 00 OB, the rear window wiper motor was fairly noise (whiny). I made a mental note to have the dealer take a look at it, forgot about it but the noise has since gone away. I haven't changed the wiper blades yet, but I clean them when I clean the car (every week, my girlfriend complains) and they've stayed in good shape.
I've found that the rear wiper motor can get noisy if it hasn't been used for a while. When I run it on my 98 Forester after several months of no rain (it seldom rains in the summer here in Northern CA) it is noisier than usual. After about a minute of continuous use, it goes away. The oil probably just needs to get circulated some.
Hey, this is great! You guys have been awesome since I popped in last week---now we have our OWN SUBARU CREW!!!First, I still love the car, (2000 OB purchased 10/99) but...had check engine problem back at 5,000 miles--ended up being a failed fuel injector which was replaced. Everything fine til 7,000 and the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT returned.
This time, I took it in and have been told that it is a "failed fuel sensor", the part is on order and will be in Friday--the day which I have to drive 400 miles round-trip for work. Service tech says there is no problem conitnuing to drive until I can take the car in on Monday. I just want to know if anybody who knows more than me knows this is OK to do, or if they're just sick of renting and paying for cars for me.
BTW, has anyone else had these kinds of problems with engine? I'm kinda bummed because 99.9999% of people writing are just awesomely satisfied, and I've been in the shop 5 times in the first 6 months But the car still makes me smile.
If you can respond or e-mail me at jdorathy@aol.com or dorathy@genesishealth.com I'd sure appreciate knowing something in the next day or so. Thanks!@!!
I had the exactly same problems as you, but in the other. First my check engine light came on, and they thought it was the fuel sensor. Turned out to be the ECU.
Then only 2 weeks ago, the fuel injector for cyclinder 1 failed, and I was left stranded on Easter weekend in pretty much the middle of nowhere.
I share your wavering satifaction with the OB. I certainly am worried that it may not be the last problem I'll see. (In some ways I feel relief that others are experiencing the same symptoms, because then it looks as a widespread problem and not just isolated to a single car.) Let's hope Subaru's reputation for reliability delivers better in the future.
Any suggestion on what coolant to use on a 00 Subrew Legacy? And do you need to mix it with water (50/50) in refilling the coolant container? Or would it be better to refill it with concentrated coolant? Thanks.
I have no suggestions for particular brands, but: always mix coolant with (distilled) water. The reason is a simple but weird chemical fact: when you mix two liquids, the combined stuff usually has a lower freezing point and higher boiling point than either individual liquid. Pure coolant is better than pure water, but neither one is as effective as a mix.
(Chemically, given the properties, you can figure out the "best" mix for any desired result, but just use whatever they say on the coolant, which is probably 50/50. No need to be terribly exact here. Do use distilled water -- the distillation removes lots of contaminants you do not want in your cooling system.)
The important thing is the color of the coolant. Green is Ethelyne Glycol. Most manufacturers have used this for years and all brands are compatible. If your vehicle has red or orange coolant, that is Dexcool and is not to be mixed with the green coolant, but is ok to use in place of the green coolant. Dexcool is a long life antifreeze and has less silicates. That is good for water pumps as the silicates cause premature wear of the pump seal. Also make sure any brand you choose is aluminum compatible. tincup
Anybody know where you can get one of the dorky little antenna wrenches for removing the radio antenna on a '98 Forester? That likely a dealer thing? I realize I could just use pliers (a bit carefully) but would sorta like to have the missing mini-wrench.
One of many factors that led me to buy a Forester S over an L was the interior upholstery. The fabric looked less cheap than that in the L and the multicolor pattern woven into the gray reminded me of a butterfly's wing.
Well now it reminds me of a butterfly's wing for other reasons. In the last 2 weeks I've done a lot of driving on the NJ and PA Turnpikes as well as the GS Parkway. As a result I've been driving more often than not with my arm resting on the top of the doorsill, in preparation for paying tolls. Now I notice that a small patch of fabric on the doorsill where I've rested my arm is starting to look worn down! I tried raising the nap with a nail brush and a bit of Resolve fabric cleaner (see my post in Crew - Cleaning forum) but the beginnings of wear are still obvious.
Has anyone encountered this problem? Suggested solutions? I don't drive in that position very often but I'd hate to think I never could. Thanks in advance for your comments.
Nice purchase. Now you can get into all those nooks and crannies under the Forester.
I saw on MotorWeek (or an equivalent show) that you should exercise caution with power washers. They mentioned that you could strip the wax if you set those things to full blast.
Do power washers do as a good job in cleaning as hand washing?
My brother has one...also 1300 psi max. I was going to buy one too, but thought I would try his prior to dishing out the cash. Great if you have dust and a bit of dirt, but won't totally clean the surface of road grime that has accumulated and dried after driving in rain. I figured it wasn't worth it for me since my car is not subject to heavy mud or dirt. Also, I would still have to handwash to clean the car properly, ....for that I can use my garden hose.
However...other great applications for those things ...clean the windows and siding (if appl) on your house, path and walkways, and are amazing for cleaning your driveway.
I'm hoping (we'll see) that this motivates me to clean it weekly, and then the power washer would be adequate. Perhaps a hand wash every month, I'll have to see how it goes.
You read my mind. My deck is nasty black, the patio is filthy with pollen, and the driveway needs mercy. Siding looks old too.
I may try it this weekend, so I'll keep you posted.
I received a "Service Experience Survey" from SoA the other day. It's good to see this type of attention being given to Sabaru Owners. 46 questions +/-.
I've never received any survey before w/ my other soobie's, so I was kind of surprised.
Maybe some of you have seen this?
Out of all the questions they asked, section 13 was thought provoking. Says: People have different underlying values that influence their decisions in life.Please indicate which of the following values is the MOST important to you in your everyday life.
(choose only ONE.) Having a sense of accomplishment Having warm relationships with others Having self-respect Having excitement,fun,and enjoyment Having a sense of security
I got that survey too. And the question about values jumped out at me too. I mentioned it at work and someone pointed out that they could use that info to help them decide how to advertise their product. If most people in a certain geographical area say they value security, the commercials there will mostly show the safety features. If they get replies from an area where the people value excitement more, they will emphasize the off road capabilities and power. And so on. Pretty slick eh?
I'm starting to get the picture that the early 2000 OBs that Subaru delivered didn't undergo very stringent quality control...
I'm in the middle of installing my security kit, and guess what? The 18-pin security wiring harness is no where to be found behind the radio unit.
I know someone posted a message about it missing before (johncyn), but I couldn't find any solutions in the archives. Anyone know if it's just really well hidden, or it is fact missing?
(This is the last car I buy that is a completely new model year. Too many bugs are lurking in it. I'd rather wait a year and make sure all the problems are out first).
Maybe we could get SoA to run a patch program call 2000a. From want I'm told by SoA, there is not a problem in general w/ this car. A rep. mention that they are not experiencing any unusual concerns with this model.
Can't say for certain. But I'm not giving up on my new model year till the 80k warranty up. If its does'nt give any more trouble, I may keep it forever.
If something is missing that shoulda been there, maybe you could take it up w/ your Service Manager. Those Folks should have something to offer.
Perhaps you could find out what these repairs are costing under warranty. Be kinda useful to know for future decisions.
I posted this on the price and purchase list but you folks may know more about the mechanical nature of the cars so I'm repeating my post here.
I just got back from the dealer where I test drove a Legacy GT Wagon, Outback Wagon with Limited Slip and the 01 Forester L. I'm wondering why Subarus need a Limited Slip Diff. I thought that the cars AWD system acted like an LSD already. After all, the saying goes "from the wheels that slip, to the wheels that grip". If the LSD is that big of an advantage on a Subaru then I'll go ahead and spring for it I suppose. What's the story??
the LSD is a rear differential. in addition to distributing power front and back via the viscous coupling, the rear LSD will transfer power to eaither left or right rear wheels. So it's better!
I put on some aftermarket door guards. My car port has a fire place that bulges out so there is little clearance, and the door guards give me piece of mind in case I'm careless (or the wife borrows the Soob, AGAIN).
I think Synthetic oil is overkill, especially for an engine that redlines in the 6250-6500 area, and one that doesn't have particalarly high compression or even require premium fuel.
Bimmer: most cars have open differentials, so that you can go around a curve and wheels on the same axle can turn at different speeds. But that allows all the power to follow the path of least resistance. With one tire on ice, all the power will go to that side of the axle. That wheel spins helplessly and you're stuck. So FWD normally can have on a single tire getting all the torque.
AWD shifts power from axle to axle (front to rear and vice-versa), but not side to side. So you have at least two wheels gripping.
The LSD prevents that by temporarily locking up the axles (hence it's no longer open) and shifting torque to the other side. In this case at least three wheels recieve torque, instead of two.
Back from the Forester (it's in the basement where I work) and no luck, there is no brand name at all on the door guards.
Thinking back, for some reason Kmart and Walmart ring a bell. They're just plastic bumpers with reflectors built-in, very simple, nothing fancy. Probably under 5 bucks.
They do tend to fall off though (a clean car and fresh wax, perhaps?), and in fact I've lost one of them. It may be a good idea to use some two sided tape or something.
Thanks for checking. I'll look around some of the stores in this area (Massachusetts), and if I find anything decent, I'll be sure to share my experinces with you.
I posted this over on the 'Subaru Wagons' topic board as well...so please ignore that post (or this one!).
Our check engine light came on recently (2000 Outback Limited with manual transmission, 8500 miles-No problems at all with the car-we love it.). My wife was the last one to fill up the gas tank. I suspect she didn't fully close the gas cap, so I went and gave it a few dozen extra clicks and thought the problem would go away. Well, it's been about a week and ~150 miles and we still have the check engine light on. So here's the question: I think I remember someone suggesting to just disconnect the battery for a few minutes (to reset the ECU??) in order to clear the check engine light. If there is no REAL problem, the check engine light will go out. If there is a REAL problem, the light will stay on. Is this right? Any negative side effects to this? Should I just bring the car into the dealer for a check?
Thanks for your help (juice?),
Mike
PS. I saw a car EXACTLY like mine a few weeks ago (only the second one I've seen on the street), except it was completely covered with little dents. I mean everywhere. It looked like it was pockmarked with hundreds if not thousands of dime to quarter sized dents. I figured maybe someone got a huge discount on a hail damaged car from the dealer???? Anybody seen anything like that? It was really weird. I don't think I would have been willing to pay even $5000 less for that car-I would always feel like it was 'damaged' goods.
Comments
electric engine cooling fans cycling on and off.<<
The louder noise when the A/C is on is probably from the compressor clutch engaging.
Dave
I did the same thing. With all the headrests in, the view out the back is very limited. In case you didn't know, you can store the headrest by putting it through it's mounting holes from the other side of the seat, it will stay tucked securely out of sight on the back of the seat. My middle headrest looked a little weird too underneath, but not bad enough that I felt it needed to be replaced.
Dave
I experienced the same loud rear wiper motor in my Y2K Outback. It almost sounds like a cricket, actually. I was on a long rainy trip and noticed the sound, but since then it seems to have gone away. If it re-appears, I will have the dealer check it out. But I do know what you are referring to . Keep us posted on your situation, and I will do the same!!!
Have fun!
-howard
Funny thing about rear headrests is that, according to dealer, they all are deformed underneath because of [unknown to dealer] reason.
Sergey
..Mike
..Mike
In contrast, looking at the Nissan Quest, there is nothing!!
so why do the Outbacks have such a great reputation for reliability?
For some reason I've never thought to use them since.
-Colin
Anyone know what works well with Rain X? I get streaks with just about any wipers, though I really like how it helps keep the windows clean.
-juice
Have you tried sprinkling a little water on your windshield and buffing after a new application of Rain-X? I've found that this helps to reduce the amount of streaking causeed by excess Rain-X. Unfortuantely, I haven't found a way to get rid of it completely.
Rain-X is great on the Forester with it's upright windshield. What we pay for in drag coefficients, we make up for not having to run our wipers as fast in wet weather!
Regards,
WDB
-juice
I haven't changed the wiper blades yet, but I clean them when I clean the car (every week, my girlfriend complains) and they've stayed in good shape.
I've found that the rear wiper motor can get noisy if it hasn't been used for a while. When I run it on my 98 Forester after several months of no rain (it seldom rains in the summer here in Northern CA) it is noisier than usual. After about a minute of continuous use, it goes away. The oil probably just needs to get circulated some.
This time, I took it in and have been told that it is a "failed fuel sensor", the part is on order and will be in Friday--the day which I have to drive 400 miles round-trip for work. Service tech says there is no problem conitnuing to drive until I can take the car in on Monday. I just want to know if anybody who knows more than me knows this is OK to do, or if they're just sick of renting and paying for cars for me.
BTW, has anyone else had these kinds of problems with engine? I'm kinda bummed because 99.9999% of people writing are just awesomely satisfied, and I've been in the shop 5 times in the first 6 months
If you can respond or e-mail me at jdorathy@aol.com or dorathy@genesishealth.com I'd sure appreciate knowing something in the next day or so. Thanks!@!!
I had the exactly same problems as you, but in the other. First my check engine light came on, and they thought it was the fuel sensor. Turned out to be the ECU.
Then only 2 weeks ago, the fuel injector for cyclinder 1 failed, and I was left stranded on Easter weekend in pretty much the middle of nowhere.
I share your wavering satifaction with the OB. I certainly am worried that it may not be the last problem I'll see. (In some ways I feel relief that others are experiencing the same symptoms, because then it looks as a widespread problem and not just isolated to a single car.) Let's hope Subaru's reputation for reliability delivers better in the future.
Btw, my '00 OB has about 14000 miles on it.
Thanks.
You should use a 50/50 mix of water and coolant.
What kind? Well, I haven't flushed mine yet, but I plan on it this fall for next winter. Any specific suggestions, and reasons why?
-juice
(Chemically, given the properties, you can figure out the "best" mix for any desired result, but just use whatever they say on the coolant, which is probably 50/50. No need to be terribly exact here. Do use distilled water -- the distillation removes lots of contaminants you do not want in your cooling system.)
Chris
The only distilled stuff I have at home is 80 proof, though %#}
-juice
tincup
-juice
Ken
Has anyone used one before? Any tips? It's an electric one with 1300psi, which I thought would be enough.
-juice
One of many factors that led me to buy a Forester S over an L was the interior upholstery. The fabric looked less cheap than that in the L and the multicolor pattern woven into the gray reminded me of a butterfly's wing.
Well now it reminds me of a butterfly's wing for other reasons. In the last 2 weeks I've done a lot of driving on the NJ and PA Turnpikes as well as the GS Parkway. As a result I've been driving more often than not with my arm resting on the top of the doorsill, in preparation for paying tolls. Now I notice that a small patch of fabric on the doorsill where I've rested my arm is starting to look worn down! I tried raising the nap with a nail brush and a bit of Resolve fabric cleaner (see my post in Crew - Cleaning forum) but the beginnings of wear are still obvious.
Has anyone encountered this problem? Suggested solutions? I don't drive in that position very often but I'd hate to think I never could. Thanks in advance for your comments.
Nice purchase. Now you can get into all those nooks and crannies under the Forester.
I saw on MotorWeek (or an equivalent show) that you should exercise caution with power washers. They mentioned that you could strip the wax if you set those things to full blast.
Do power washers do as a good job in cleaning as hand washing?
Ken
I applied wax about a two weeks ago, so this will be a good test of that.
Thanks for the tip, I'll read the instructions and take care using it.
-juice
However...other great applications for those things ...clean the windows and siding (if appl) on your house, path and walkways, and are amazing for cleaning your driveway.
, so you still have to hand wash to get dirt of
You read my mind. My deck is nasty black, the patio is filthy with pollen, and the driveway needs mercy. Siding looks old too.
I may try it this weekend, so I'll keep you posted.
-juice
has anyone done cost/benefit analyses of synthetic vs. regular oils for subarus?
SoA the other day. It's good to see this type
of attention being given to Sabaru Owners. 46
questions +/-.
I've never received any survey before w/ my
other soobie's, so I was kind of surprised.
Maybe some of you have seen this?
Out of all the questions they asked, section
13 was thought provoking. Says: People have
different underlying values that influence
their decisions in life.Please indicate which
of the following values is the MOST important
to you in your everyday life.
(choose only ONE.)
Having a sense of accomplishment
Having warm relationships with others
Having self-respect
Having excitement,fun,and enjoyment
Having a sense of security
Wow! Nosy,are they not.
Later Ya'll
Oh I know I don't have to answer that! :-).
Sergey
Dave
I'm in the middle of installing my security kit, and guess what? The 18-pin security wiring harness is no where to be found behind the radio unit.
I know someone posted a message about it missing before (johncyn), but I couldn't find any solutions in the archives. Anyone know if it's just really well hidden, or it is fact missing?
(This is the last car I buy that is a completely new model year. Too many bugs are lurking in it. I'd rather wait a year and make sure all the problems are out first).
ash
Maybe we could get SoA to run a patch program
call 2000a. From want I'm told by SoA, there
is not a problem in general w/ this car.
A rep. mention that they are not experiencing any
unusual concerns with this model.
Can't say for certain. But I'm not giving up on my new model year till the 80k warranty up. If its does'nt give any more trouble, I may keep it forever.
If something is missing that shoulda been there, maybe you could take it up w/ your Service Manager. Those Folks should have something to offer.
Perhaps you could find out what these repairs are costing under warranty. Be kinda useful to know
for future decisions.
I just got back from the dealer where I test drove
a Legacy GT Wagon, Outback Wagon with Limited Slip
and the 01 Forester L.
I'm wondering why Subarus need a Limited Slip Diff. I thought that the cars AWD system acted like an LSD already. After all, the saying goes "from the wheels that slip, to the wheels that grip".
If the LSD is that big of an advantage on a Subaru
then I'll go ahead and spring for it I suppose.
What's the story??
the 2000 Outbacks?
I think Synthetic oil is overkill, especially for an engine that redlines in the 6250-6500 area, and one that doesn't have particalarly high compression or even require premium fuel.
Bimmer: most cars have open differentials, so that you can go around a curve and wheels on the same axle can turn at different speeds. But that allows all the power to follow the path of least resistance. With one tire on ice, all the power will go to that side of the axle. That wheel spins helplessly and you're stuck. So FWD normally can have on a single tire getting all the torque.
AWD shifts power from axle to axle (front to rear and vice-versa), but not side to side. So you have at least two wheels gripping.
The LSD prevents that by temporarily locking up the axles (hence it's no longer open) and shifting torque to the other side. In this case at least three wheels recieve torque, instead of two.
So, oddly enough, in worst case scenarios:
2WD = 1 wheel traction
2WD w/LSD = 2 wheel traction
AWD = 2 wheel traction
AWD w/LSD = 3 wheel traction
Bummer, didn't get a chance to try the pressure washer this weekend. Maybe Friday.
-juice
For example, some Miatas come with RWD and a limited slip rear diffy, and Maxima SE's come with FWD and a limited slip up front.
-juice
Honestly, I can't remember where I got them. They fit the front doors well, but not the rears.
I'll get back to you on that, k?
-juice
Thinking back, for some reason Kmart and Walmart ring a bell. They're just plastic bumpers with reflectors built-in, very simple, nothing fancy. Probably under 5 bucks.
They do tend to fall off though (a clean car and fresh wax, perhaps?), and in fact I've lost one of them. It may be a good idea to use some two sided tape or something.
-juice
Our check engine light came on recently (2000
Outback Limited with manual transmission, 8500
miles-No problems at all with the car-we love it.).
My wife was the last one to fill up the gas tank.
I suspect she didn't fully close the gas cap, so
I went and gave it a few dozen extra clicks and
thought the problem would go away. Well, it's been
about a week and ~150 miles and we still have the
check engine light on. So here's the question: I
think I remember someone suggesting to just
disconnect the battery for a few minutes (to reset
the ECU??) in order to clear the check engine
light. If there is no REAL problem, the check
engine light will go out. If there is a REAL
problem, the light will stay on. Is this right? Any
negative side effects to this? Should I just bring the car into the dealer for a check?
Thanks for your help (juice?),
Mike
PS. I saw a car EXACTLY like mine a few weeks ago
(only the second one I've seen on the street),
except it was completely covered with little dents.
I mean everywhere. It looked like it was
pockmarked with hundreds if not thousands of dime
to quarter sized dents. I figured maybe someone got
a huge discount on a hail damaged car from the
dealer???? Anybody seen anything like that? It was
really weird. I don't think I would have been
willing to pay even $5000 less for that car-I would
always feel like it was 'damaged' goods.