Subaru Crew - Modifications II

lark6

I also have the stock Phase II airbox and drop-in Amsoil and had very little sand in the box - not enough to warrant washing and reoiling the filter. I only outran the sand in a very few places, tiptoeing through at first until I gained confidence.

Ed

ateixeira

To be fair, my fender hole wasn't sealed. The temporary "cap" I had on there had peeled off. I need to find a 7" square vinyl sticker to seal it again.

Also, I cut a hole for filter access for oil changes on the plastic "skid plate" (ha ha ha). So more water/sand gets in the engine bay. The intake was totally dry, at least.

-juice

lark6

Right, you do have more holes in there than I do. Did you think about using the Fumoto valve oil pan drain plug? I haven't yet but am very tempted.

Ed

ateixeira

It is a neat add-on, so yes I've thought about it. But my oil intervals are fairly long, and it may not drain as completely as it would without the valve. Still undecided, but they are cool.

-juice

kens

juice -- So what's the verdict on cutting open the skid plate?

Ed -- I've thought about the Fumoto valve too but I also wonder about getting all of the oil out.

Ken

hciaffa

I have had the Fumoto valve on the Forester and my truck now for almost 2yrs. as well as on my daughters cars, best thing for chnging oil. The threaded portion is only one and half turns longer than the hole seat in the pan so most of the oil comes out with no problem, even jacking the drivers side up slightly to see how much oil is remaining only proved that a slight amount came out. Not much more that having no valve and a regular drain bolt. Whats great about this valve is that you just unlock then twist and the oil comes out no more burnt fingers or dropping the drain plug in the waste oil receptacle.

lark6

juice: you might be a candidate for an aluminum skid plate replacement. Check out http://www.writerguy.com/primitive/skid.htm for a good example.

Ed

ateixeira

Ken: so far, so good. I'm not due for a change yet, but it has not had any adverse effect on the engine bay, which is still relatively clean (except the mess after that Pine Barrens trip).

Right now we're trying to save our money. The wife's 626 just dropped another $819 worth of repairs. Ouch. It's only 6 years old, and suddenly the thing is falling apart.

-juice

locke2c

eight hundred bucks... what was it this time?

-Colin

barresa62

With all due respect to you and your wife, it may just be time to dump that Mazda! At a certain point it begins to makes sense to purchasing a new vehicle, even if it's not a Subaru (heaven forbid). Of course, I realize this pearl of wisdom comes from one who traded in his 00'OB Ltd on a WRX wagon barely 13mos after buying new. :-)

Stephen

miksmi

(despite my failed attempt at talking some sense into him about the aforementioned financial transaction .. Let's spend juice's money! LOL

..Mike

barresa62

God bless ya Mike...you tried...but alas I did it anyway, LOL! Anyhow, no looking back. I was just tallying up the $ of the mods I've done to the WRX since I've had her...suffice to say, I'll be keeping her for awhile. :-)

Stephen

kens

Yikes! $819! Time to get her into a Subaru!

Ken

hondafriek

I am scared to try and put a dollar figure on the mods I have done to the Gt since I got it.

However I know that I am going to have this car for a long time so I just spend and fuggetaboutit.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek

It is time to deepsix that moneypit and buy a good car.

I hope the new forester meets your expectations.

Cheers Pat.

barresa62

Know what you mean! I keep telling myself the same w/the WRX. You know...I think it just may be so. :-)

Stephen

locke2c

c'mon now... I know you're reading this topic, subscriptions are fixed now.

you can't just toss that $800 out there and then not tell us all what the repair was! you had to expect us to wonder after you mentioned it.

hehe
-Colin

jackleung

Hi, I remember U have a link to guide how to install the hitch. Can U post the link? Thx

Rgds,
Jack

gof4

I read that the 2002 OB's have a lighted ring & was wondering if my 2001 could be refitted?
Has anyone looked into? Would it be costly?

Thanks,
Bob

ateixeira

I thought it was the left front axle or boot again, but it was the right front hub and wheel bearing. Parts, labor, yada yada yada and it's $820. Mazda parts are grossly overpriced.

That's $2 grand in the last 2 years, but the 5 years before that were trouble-free. That's still a lot of green.

Bob: Pat installed such a light.

Jack: I did, but PhotoPoint is in a mess, and the links don't work. There are 7 large bolts, 17mm IIRC. The two tow hooks come off, and a vaccum canister for the fuel system is removed and reinstalled (just a bolt, but be careful to reconnect the hoses or you'll get a check engine light).

This is the last repair, one more and it's history. We're waiting to see the next Forester, Accord, Pilot, etc. We have 3 cars so I guess we can afford to wait.

-juice

jackleung

Thx, I just got it installed. I didn't disconnect the canister host but needed to remove the tailpipe cover and pull the exhaust a little bit to got the hitch in.

hondafriek

Regarding the ignition light,to retrofit subaru,s lighted ring you need to buy the whole ignition switch the ring is not available separately,also the wiring with the time delay is not there.

What I did was to take the existing black collar off the ignition switch, then I carefully angle drilled to accept a minature bulb holder to light up the switch.

I had a friend in electronics make me up a time delay and I wired into the circuit for the puddle lights, the light comes on only when you open the drivers door and stays on for thirty seconds after I close the door. I think subaru has wired theres to come on when you open any door.

If you choose to go subaru,s route you have to buy the entire switch but you only need to change the lighted collar not the entire switch.

Cheers Pat.

fibber2

I have the ignition switch light on my '02. Great idea, poor execution. The lights on other cars that I have owned usually stay on for 15 seconds or so after you close the drivers door. This one - maybe 5 seconds? Way too short to get the key into the hole before you are left in darkness. Wonder where the timer is buried, and if it has a pot on it for adjustments??

Steve

hondafriek

Have the dealer check the time delay on your ignition light, it should be much longer than 5 seconds.

I checked several at my dealers and they are all around 30 seconds. that is where I came up with the time delay interval for my custom made one.

CheersPat.

fibber2

Thanks. I blindly thought that 5 seconds was normal (not very effective, but as per design). Maybe mine is defective? I have an appt for the brake pad shims (AM squeal) this Friday, so I will add it to the list.

Steve

seamus3

that's what i pretty much figured.

miksmi

Believe it or not, they do exist. Err, in Japan. Made of unobtanium, no less.

sedan & wagon:


The goodies above and lots more are in the accessories catalog:
http://accessory.subaru.co.jp/legacy/catalog/
For vent shades, select Touring Wagon (1st section) GT-B E-tuneII, Styling Parts button.

Other interesting parts (my invented nomenclature, I don't read Japanese):

Retractable parking guide, select Safety & Guard:


Wood shift knob, select Driving Amenity, 3rd down:


Rubber floor mat (completely covers carpeted mats?):


Cargo area protector, covers back of seats too:


Obligatory cup holder reference (obsoleted by MY02 console w/dual cup holders):


Boost gauge mounted on steering column:


Quite a comprehensive selection of accessories.

..Mike

PS - I know for more than one you, the *work* day will now grind to a halt. The "3D Customize Simulation" (middle button at top) is cute. (requires a plug-in, you Mac'ers may be out of luck) Apologies if these images bog down the modem users; let me know and I'll repost with URLs (and delete this).

gvmelbrty

Thanks for the link Mike .

At the main accessories page for Subaru Japan http://accessory.subaru.co.jp/, you can view accessories for all Subaru models, including the Forester! - I can't believe these cool items are not sold by Subaru America as well .

Mac users can indeed access the 3D simulations. Get the Mac (and windoz) Viewpoint Media Player (beta) at http://www.viewpoint.com/developerzone/5-1.html. It seems to work best with Netscape Navigator 4.7x (I tried it with five different browsers). The 3D simulations allow you to add accessories from the catalog to your Subaru in real time: color changes, mirrors, grills, lights and all sorts of other doo-dads.

-Tom

ateixeira

That parking guide looks like a spare antennae! They need those in Japan's tight spaces. The wood knob doesn't match the plood on the dash, though, not even close.

Outback and Forester have a black plastic cargo cover standard, but you Legacy owners don't get one, right?

I like the boost gauge, but make it functional (i.e. give us a turbo in the first place).

Looking over the Forester accessories, I notice the outside rear mirror for parking, the roof rack spoiler, a rear gate bar, two types of snow chains, a glove box light, all kinds of wood, all kinds of ground effects, an inner bike rack, scuff plates for doors and the cargo area, and two different trailers! Wow, now that is extensive!

-juice

1subydown1togo

Some of the Impreza Wagon accessories are pretty cool; I like the Aero kit for the wagon...front and rear lips and waist spoiler....there were also color-keyed interior dash pieces to replace the aluminum colored plastic...I am still waiting for a set of molded mud guards that fit the wagon without having to trim the front guards.

miksmi

You're welcome, Tom.

juice, If SoA sold the interior bike rack, they could address (somewhat) the image portrayed in (last year's?) Xterra ad (Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away" background):


..Mike

c_hunter

Check this out (I think it's supposed to be showing auto reverse tilt-down mirrors):

I guess JDM Legacies get a manumatic, huh?

Craig

ateixeira

Man, I can't even bear to look any more. Just give us all the stuff they get, OK?

Anyone else notice the Avignon in the annual report? Brother.

-juice

hondafriek

Those side visors are available in the UK. they cost 63 Pounds, that,s about $158 Canadian.

I emailed a dealer in England but so far no reply.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek

If go home for a visit or if I have somebody coming out for a visit you know what they will be bringing with them (EH!).

Cheers Pat.

lark6

See now? We could have a manumatic! Heck, I'd like to have a glove box light - think that's something we could DIY?

Ed

ateixeira

Glove box light should not be too hard.

-juice

c_hunter

Based on Juice's post a few days ago, I contacted Pam at iSR performance to check on importing a part from the UK (front bumper skid-plate trim piece). She is supposed to get back to me in a day or two, but said it wouldn't likely be a problem getting the part.

Craig

miksmi

Hehe, good to have connections. Have you driven a vehicle with side visors? I would think they would be noisy.

..Mike

paisan

Don't forget the 2.5% tarriff on Automotive parts from overseas. I just spent some time down at customs paying for the tarrif on the Nudge Bars from Australia.

-mike

hondafriek

I had them on all my Honda,s did not notice any difference in noise.

Honda was easy since they have a frame on the window.

Cheers Pat.

mdisaacs

I like the look of the 1 piece Vent in the pic. Better than a 2nd short vent for the rear windows.
Hondafriek, I'm interested in the response you get from England. Also interested in a group buy...

Finally covered the lawn with snow this evening. 2 inches here in Detroit.

-Mike

ateixeira

True, with frameless doors they have to mounted higher, and carefully, so the window doesn't bang on them every time you open the door.

-juice

kens

Craig,

Yep, some Legacy and Impreza models in Japan get the sport-shift 4EAT option. It's still only 4-speed, but at least it's designed to be shifted often.

Make a 5-speed and bring it over here!

Ken

hammersley

I'm in the camp that would settle for a 5spd behind the H-6.... but a manumatic would appease the bride - which may be more important!

Cheers!
Paul

ateixeira

The wife wants a manual too. So same here.

-juice

polanco55

Want to install 4 points seat belts on new WRX, for off road rally driving. Wonder where to anchor rear portion of belts without any rollbar.
Has anyone done this.

lucien2

So I picked up a set of RS seats, 'cause I have been told they bolt right up to a BD Legacy. NOT!! What a waste of a day. Darn it, the stock seat hip bolsters have failed, and I really wanted better seats. I'll try again tomorrow, as the i-club legacy dudes swear they should go right in, but At this point in the day I can't even get the stock seat to go back in correctly. Me and tools just don't get along I suppose.....

Polanco55- try www.i-club.com. I am sure someone over there knows. Just don't ask about GT seats

ateixeira

Try anchoring them to the seat track anchor bolts. Though be careful not to end up like Loosh!

Loosh: give Jake Moran a call, he may have an idea. I've never ventured there on the Forester, though it does look odd (the track slopes at the front). The Miata's is more standard (flat).

-juice

lucien2

I tell ya, I am not the mechanical type. You know how sometimes you slide the seat back and one rail catches in a different spot than the other? well......

Kirsten comes out to help her defeated husband, flips the seat over and says, "well look here, the front rails don't match...." pulls the slide handle, lines 'em up, and drops the seat right into the GT. Urk. That's my girl.....

Still not done though. We haven't solved the seat belt conundrum, even after 2 trips to the store. Looks like a trip to the Subaru dealer to find the bolt that RS seats use to attach the female belt receiver.