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  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I agree that you shouldn't squirt gas all over the place like I see some idiots do, but gas nozzles have a safety valve that should cut off flow before you make a big mess as long as you don't overfill the tank. I think it's a simple ball bearing that moves forward and closes the nozzle when there's any slight back pressure, and it works regardless of the position of the hand-lever. Technically, you should be able to go full bore with the hand-lever, and the check valve would kick in as the filler pipe fills up, clicking the nozzle off before you make a big mess.

    There's nothing wrong with this approach as long as you don't attempt to "top off" after that first click. That's when people start sloshing gas all over the place. I once watched a guy hose his pants and shoes with gas while trying to squeeze that last extra squirt into his tank. By the look of it, you'da thought he was filling a balloon.

    I usually go full bore until I hear the telltale gurgle of gas in the filler pipe, and then slow it up a little until the check valve kicks in. Other times, I go full bore and let the check valve take care of the rest (while I wash the wondows or something). Either way, I have never seen more than a teeny drop of gas spurt out. Somehow, though, I always manage to drip gas on the paint while removing the nozzle, no matter what gymnastics I attempt . . .

    Craig
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I've seen guys have caps in, and the gas just pours out of the tank until they run over and pull the cap out of the handle. It sucks, epecially when gas is soooo expensive...


    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I hear you, I've just seen those safety valves fail before.

    I've added more web pages to my site again. Bob came by to try out his trailer on my Forester and here are photos of the trailer, along with some tips.

    The i Club @ Dave & Busters was on Saturday and we had a ball outside checking out the mods and talking shop, then inside racing the simulator games in, what else? Impreza WRC cars!

    Paisan came by on Sunday to pick up the steel rims, and tonight we're having a quick happy hour since Frank's in from out of town again.

    The perfect gear head week. My wife thinks I'm nuts. She's probably right %*}

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I should have had you snap a few shots of my bull bar and my trooper :( I guess I'll have to come down again.

    -mike
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Well I think I sold my Toplino (sigh) and the proceeds will help pay off my 00 GT wagon (yeah!). Sad to see this baby go but I just plain ran out of enthusiasm to finish it. Not to mention cash. Check it out before she heads to Tucson:

    1939 Topolino

    Bitman
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I know, we were in such a rush.

    FYI, paisan's bull bar is very tastefully minimalistic and very functional. It's shaped like this:
    ___
    / \

    with room for lights to be mounted on top.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Bitman - that's potentially a heck of a hot rod. Oh well, it would've cost you lots of beer money. ;)

    -juice
  • despedespe Member Posts: 6
    Hey, I'd LOVE to hear some more details on your stereo setup!!! 10 speakers + sub -- good God!!! I'm a sound nut as well and am looking to put some money (probably not as much as you have) into creating an enjoyable listening experience for all my OB adventures. Thanks in advance.

    -just another Dave
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Here is the link for subie bars...

    http://www.ecb.com.au/Subaru.htm

    They have some nice ones and pretty cheap even with shipping.

    -mike
  • nypdaunypdau Member Posts: 38
    Beware guys! I use the gas cap wedge method myself, but I am careful to keep the smallest part of the cap as the wedge, thus creating a lower flow rate. You should be advised that many locales have introduced or passed statutes making this practice illegal. In Nassau County (NY) for example, fire marshals camp out at large gas stations wating for victims. The fine: $150.
    -James-
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Ok, so maybe this isn't as slick an idea as I originally envisioned. It seemed like a good way to keep track of your gas cap and have hands-free pumping. But I'm starting to see potential problems. Like when the knucklehead who always loses his gas cap forgets to take it out of the nozzle when he sticks in back on the pump.

    I still wish they would leave the little lever lock on the nozzles -- I feel safe doing hands-free pumping that way.

    Stay tuned for next week's hair-brained idea: how to pump gas without even stopping at the pump!

    Craig
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    All over the midwest and plains states those locking levers are still on pumps. We get all the fancy stuff out here. ;)

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I like the nudge bars, but the Type 8s seem like overkill. Even for a gadget guy like me!

    Didn't mean to gang up on you, Craig, and glad to see you have a sense of humor about it. Let us know how the refuel-on-the-go experiment goes!

    (take this chance to say goodbye to Craig, guys)

    :o)

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I'm always up for whacky stuff. After leaving juice's house on sunday, I missed a few on ramps and had to drive over the grassy median a few times... In-flight fueling... Sounds like fun especially since my Trooper gets poor fuel milage.

    I bet that ECB could do a nudge bar for the Forester if asked. They could just adapt the Legacy one. They make each one on an order by order basis...

    -mike
  • aussierooaussieroo Member Posts: 78
    There is a cap holder in the flap on the Forester.
    It's a hole cut into the inside lining of the flap. The cap will screw into it about 1/8th of a turn. Why would that not be there in the States? I must admit that I found mine by chance. I noticed my wife's five year old Vienta had a cap holder and went looking on the Forester and lo!!

    The cut off valve on the pumps here work very well I have never had one fail on me over a lot of years.

    Talking about nozzles most of the ones I've come across are like that. At the most inopportune & embarassing time as well!!!!

    - Gus
  • thors_hammerthors_hammer Member Posts: 32
    5 years of using the gas cap to hold the nozzle open and not a single spill. I don't think it is illegal here (Florida/Georgia) but I can't say for sure.
    On another note, does anyone else hate false hood scoops?

    -Bryan
  • aussierooaussieroo Member Posts: 78
    That nudge bar site is in oz. The name nudge bar is new here. Traditionally they have been called "Bull" or "Roo" (Kangaroo) Bars. The bars were originally designed to stop having you car trashed if you hit an animal while driving at speed. In the "bush" at night there are many animals including cattle crossing the roads. Don't get me wrong it's not like times square but they do cross from time to time and can "total" your vehicle if you hit them. The little fellas are nudge bars and only protect you from the vehicle in front when you are not payinf attention.

    PS They work equally as well on pedestrians too. Because of this there were whispers a while back about banning them but nothing has happened so far. Probably just a storm in a tea cup. Some bleeding heart trendie with nothing to do.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    paisan: I noticed that site with the nudge bars also had extended-range gas tanks, too!

    So, you do off road after all, eh? :)

    Bryan: hood scoops are great when they're feeding an intercooler!

    One i Clubber had "opened" the non-functional hood scoops on his RS, and he said you could see the heat coming out of the engine compartment.

    Pedestrian bars sound like what cabs and police cars have in NYC. NYPD, is that right?

    -juice
  • amishraamishra Member Posts: 367
    Dave, (yet another one of you! :)

    Here's what I did to the OB:

    - replaced the stock head unit with a Sony 4x35 W Minidisc unit to provide a digital source
    - added the Subaru tweeters
    - spliced the rear speakers orginally to drive 6x9s. Now they drive a rear set of small tweeters attached to the room of the OB by velcro :)
    - added a Alpine 4 channel amp 4x75 W to drive the Sony Xplode 2-way 6x9s

    still to do:
    - add a subwoofer (probably a passive 8" RS-series Bazooka)
    - replace the stock speakers in the doors
    - add a CD changer

    The sound dynamics of the wagon interior are really quite good. Even the pro-shop guys were saying it can't get much better.

    (Just need that sub!)

    ash
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    gee, we're over 1000 posts. guess that means we're getting a new "general" topic soon since WE doesn't like > 1000 posts.

    What should we name it?

    -Colin
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    YES, I hate the scoops. I was originally interested in the OBS, but the scoop terminally put me off. BTW, Foresters in Canada have their gas caps connected to the car by a plastic strap - sort of like idiot mittens (may be some cold weather connection?). ;-)

    Ross
  • thors_hammerthors_hammer Member Posts: 32
    (Hoping SOA will take note)
    Juice-
    I agree-a functional scoop rocks. A non functional hood scoop looks about as good as the non-functional brake cooling scoops on the Mustang.

    -Bryan
  • rich101rich101 Member Posts: 1
    Hi All,

    I have followed this discussion group since purchasing our new '01 Subaru Forester S in the spring. We love this car and you all have been a great resource of information.

    Our son who is graduating from college in December is now starting to shop for a new car and has looked at the Impreza RS 2.5. The car seems really great with a lot of power but the one drawback with the car is that the rear seatbacks don't fold down. Does anyone know if the car will be changing significantly for 2001 and is it possible that the seatbacks will be modified to fold down?

    He also looked at the Outback Sport, which would give him more versatile carrying capability. He hasn't tried it out yet but he liked the RS so much, he was disappointed to find that the 2.5L engine is not available in the Outback Sport (only the 2.2L). I would bet it has enough power as it is but does anyone else have any opinions on this?

    He also noticed an odd thing about the Outback Sport. The rear seat backs are split but the seats are not. Kind of defeats the purpose of splitting the seat backs doesn't it?

    Thanks in advance for your help!

    /Rich
  • 2ndwnd2ndwnd Member Posts: 145
    The 2000 Legacy has a tethered gas cap. I've had nozzles, using just the built in hold clips or hooks, stick open. This happened most recently on the morning when we were about to drive back home from Colorado. The gas got on my feet, and I had to go and wash them and my sandals in the restroom and still had gas smell inside the car for awhile. Yuck. I had a gas station owner tell me that happens when the previous customer tries to top off their tank after the automatic shut off trips. Although that may only apply to the vapor recovery hoses like those used in this area. If you've never used one of those, you don't know how fun pumping gas can be!

    Dave B
  • edabramsonedabramson Member Posts: 16
    I can honestly say I'm shocked. I wonder what happened? They treated me with respect, honored every commitment made and bent over backward to ensure my satisfaction. If you don't mind I am interested in hearing of your issues with service. Please E-mail me. the address is in my profile. Thanks.

    Ed
  • nypdaunypdau Member Posts: 38
    Juice- They are called "push-bumpers" for the police vehicles, except for the ESU trucks which have "barricade-bumpers" :)

    Gas caps: In Jersey self-service gas stations are non-existant! That's right, they don't trust folks to pump their own fuel:)

    James
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    You can make em into folding seats. Just unbolt the seatback and then it folds down w/o a problem. I was thinking of coming up with a kit to have fold down seats in the sedans cause SOA discontinued them, claiming that it saved costs. I feel they will just get people to buy the OBS or OB or Wagons which are more expensive... We'll see if they bring em back, but I doubt it.

    Maybe patty can force em to put that feature in the 2002 MY. Or can explain to the management that they are loosing more $ by not having em.

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Rich, it is not possible to easily and correctly modify the seats to fold down. I don't know if you were looking at a leftover 2000 model or one of the spanking-new '01 models but neither has folding rear seats.

    I'd heard it was for crash safety, surely it's not a significant cost to include it.

    yes I just refuted everything paisan said. ;)

    -Colin
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    In the city where I live, there is a bylaw that prohibits self-serve stations, so all full serve here as well! I guess they want to keep the jobs for the teens? ;-)

    I'm not sure how the Subaru fuel emissions control system works, but MB seriously warns against trying to top-up the gas tank right to the brim. The problem is that the gas does expand when it gets warmer. If filled right to the top, the gas will expand right into the vent tubes (which lead to some kind of extremely pricy emissions control device). These vent tubes and emissions device are obviously not supposed to carry fuel, so they will be damaged if fuel gets into the system. Surely a few extra drops of fuel are not worth the risk?

    Drew
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I thought it was for safety at first too... but upon inspection, I can't see how the flimsy seats could provide safety (and how safe are the seats in the OB, and OBS if they fold) If there were some steel re-inforcements behind the seats and therefore they couldn't fold I'd understand that.

    I was actually tossing around the idea of building a kit to allow the sedan seats to fold down and sell em through my consulting company... But I'm not sure how well they would sell...

    -mike
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    Note taken and delivered to our Product Planning Department!!
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    I gathered a bunch of comments on this topic and I'm still waiting for an explanation from our Product Planning Group (busy, busy, busy). I do not think it was a cost issue, but I'll let you know their response to this decontenting issue the moment I get one. Hang in there!
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Thanks for the direct input...It's nice to know that SOA is actually listening (even if they don't take our suggestions) on improvements, etc. Speaking of which, are there any jobs @ SOA that aren't listed specifically on their website? Just curious (since I live in the NY/NJ/PA area)

    -mike
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    For my use it's not that big of a deal. Sometimes when I haul something long, it's only necessary to put the seat back down. When I'm carrying something heavy and/or need more room, I raise the seat cushion to be able to fully lower the seat backs flat.
    I bought a house last year so I make a lot of trips to Home Depot. I'm surprised by the amount of cargo I'm able to stuff in there.
    Yes, it's a tad under-powered but I believe the other benefits far outweigh this. I do some light off-roading (beach, forest trails, mud) and the AWD is superb.
    If you want to go aftermarket, there are lots of options too (supercharger, turbocharger, etc.).
    There are "rumors" of the 2.5L showing up in an Impreza wagon or maybe a Turbo wagon next year.
    Good luck,
    Dennis
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    Hey Mike! We're always looking for a few good men and women!!! Some are on our website but sometimes other things are in the cooker. Why don't you contact me directly and let me know what fields have your interest?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    ash: velcro attaches the tweeters too? Be careful that they don't fly off in an accident.

    Rich: the good news is the 2.5l engine should become standard in the next Outback Sport. That means you can get a wagon with seats that fold and big engine fun. It should arrive late this year or early next.

    I think Subaru puts tethers on all gas caps. Mine has one too.

    Drew: Subaru is the same way - you're not supposed to top it off. When I installed the hitch I had to remove and reinstall a "vapor recovery canister" which I imagine holds those fumes.

    Funny note: on my road trips from DC to Conneticut, which we do once or twice a year, I'm always surprised to find that gas in Jersey is cheaper than where I live, even though it's full service!

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Forgive me if this seems to forward, but I would be interested in learning more about opportunities as well. Shall I use the "webmaster" address used in the bio, or do you have another one? My address is in the bio if you want to send it directly. Thanks....

    Lucien
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    Hi! You can use the webmaster address and just use my name for the subject. I'd give you my direct e-mail address, but things can get bogged down there (1 day out - 156 e-mails). If you contact me via the webmaster, I can make sure I get to it quickly.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Let me guess, you want to be a test driver for the new turbo models?

    Too late, I already applied for that job! :)

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Do we put "patty" in the subject on the webmater address or does she have a last name that I missed. Thanks in advance...

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It's Patti Mickel.

    -juice
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Juice: No problem on the gas cap exchange -- it's always good to bounce ideas around, even if they are WRONG. Thankfully, teaching has humbled me quite a bit, so I don't mind being the source of a bad idea so much! (as long as we straighten it out in the end). But I do enjoy friendly discussions, and this list is a great place for that.

    OK, onto the new post: Has anyone noticed that the driver's side side-defroster vent on the 2000- OB (and possibly other models) appears to have adjustable louvers? I noticed this last night when I was vacuuming my interior. I wasn't sure if it was part of a mechanism, or meant to be adjusted by hand. I'll go back for another look tonight when I wash the windows (yuck). Either way, it's kind of cool. I haven't seen that feature on any other car.

    Craig
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    The previous-generation Legacy sedan, I believe also had folding rear seats. The new one doesn't. It has only a pass-through. I was told the reason they discontinued the folding rear seat on the new Legacy, is that a 1-piece, non-folding design is stronger and therefore safer. That doesn't explain as to why a split-folding rear seat is okay on the wagons. I guess with the wagons, convenience won out over safety?

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Now every criminal is going to want a subie...watch your insurance jack up...

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Yeah, this has been on local (Baltimore) TV yesterday and today. It could have been a lot worse. At least nobody was killed.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    100 mph in a bar-hopping area? Who says the Outback needs more power?

    On the seats, I think a folding seat is a requirement in a wagon. They compensate with B- and C-Pillar bracing.

    In a sedan, it's a bonus but not really required. I'd still rather see a rear brace instead of fixed seats.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Rear folding seats for the legacy sedan class vehicle is pretty much required...

    (Honda Accord, Camary, Contour, and just about ever other sedan has em)

    -mike
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Quick question- I received a quote via auto-by-tel for 01 S + 5spd. Included in the options is one I cannot find listed any place. It is a moon roof deflector for the premium roof. Has anyone heard of such a thing? For some reason, I seem to recall someplace that it is standard with the package. Thanks for the help.
    Mark
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    It's a piece of plastic that mounts at the leading edge of the moonroof. Many, many sunroof/moonroof equipped cars have them, I'm sure you would recognize it if pointed out on a vehicle.

    It is a port- or dealer-installed accessory.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    paisan: there are also many that don't, though, mostly newer designs. I think they're foreseeing rear crash standards.

    Who cares, get the wagon! It's triple the cargo space for the same price, guys!

    Mark: nope, those are a new accessory sold seperately.

    The deflector on the Legacy retails for $43, and wholesales for $33.50 at QSubaru, but the Forester's is different. Still, it should fall within that price range.

    -juice
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