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Comments
You can hook up two underseat subwoofers. Did that
Just plug and play, but you got to contort the mounting bracket to fit under the driver's seat.
Result: Didn't sound worst. Actually better.
Note: Get deep cycle battery, which I will be soon, unless you don't mind the dash doing the disco :shades:
-Dave
p/s: Oh, the sub draws juice direct from the battery.
Lee :P
P.S. Where did you order the Klasse products online?
Craig
From looking at the harness, line in [orignal harness to the radio] from the battery is routed direct to the subwoofer when T'd to the sub's harness, which carries it's own fuse, IIRC by-passing the radio.
-Dave
-Dave
Some relatively minor changes.
Ken
Usually after a few hours of being out of the heat (like in a garage), the a/c will start working again, but since we have been having a heat wave this summer, it's been happening a lot. We've had the car into the dealer for service, but they can't recreate the problem, so they're unable to help. Is anyone else having this problem, or know of any possible causes? Thanks!
If it were me, I would add better speakers, amps, and drive them off the factory radio via a line-out converter.
Craig
Is there a point in the radio where you can tap into to get low level output? :confuse:
Lee
-Dave
Craig
I put some on my Escort in 1991, and liked it so much I actually removed it and reinstalled it on my Forester in 1998. They're still on there - 14 years and counting.
-juice
Even if you have the correct system pressure, if your car's aux fan isn't working, your A/C system will work pretty well even with just the air from your vehicle moving. At the point where it becomes too hot, it causes the pressure on the "high" (e.g., compressed) side of the A/C system to become too great, and should trip the pressure switch/compressor, causing the compressor to no longer run. Once the car is allowed to sit for a while, the system would cool, and pressures return to normal, allowing the A/C to run again for a while, and the process would repeat. As I see it, this is the symptom you mentioned which hit me e.g., "the A/C works fine until it gets warm". In my case, this scenerio was being caused by both my aux fan switch, and my high-side pressure switch being bad.
You can verify yourself whether or not your aux fan is coming on "high" after you've had the A/C running on Max A/C for a min or two. If it's not, it could just be a fuse in your fusebox, or the aux fan switch or the fan itself could be bad. If the aux fan is working, have a qualified A/C shop test your system pressure on both high and low sides. This would verify whether you have sufficient freon in the system--in the event there is too great of a pressure differential between the two sides (each car has it's own ideal values), your expansion valve might be slightly blocked. Finally, I would have them test your pressure switch on your A/C system's "high" side to see if it's doing its job properly. This was a $45 part on my BMW.
Sorry for the long post, but I always feel better about those awful drives to work in Aug w/ a partially working A/C system if what I learned can benefit someone else
Cheers,
Tim G
'05 OBXT-L 5MT
17.8k on the clock
Do you think it would be easy to put in an antenna splitter at the back of the radio?
This could serve as an "Aux" input for an MP3 player with RF adaptor.
On my '96 outback, the RF adaptor works well even in the city IF I put the antenna down. Since the newer cars only have a retractable antenna, I think it will be necesary to inject the signal directly.
Craig
Craig
Thanks in advance.
Bob
http://willsrant.blogspot.com/2005/01/automatic-climate-control-problems.html
Also, I added the factory subwoofer in my Outback XT, and the resulting system sounds pretty good. I have certainly had better sound systems than this, but it's good enough for me. So if you don't have the sub, maybe try that as your first upgrade.
CRaig
But, I am now considering purchasing either a 2006 Forester or Outback as a second car, given that they have been redesigned since 2001. After all, Subarus are highly rated, so maybe the bum 2001 LL Bean I had was just a quirk?
Bob
Or just don't tell them.
-juice
Also is the wiring adapter I need the same as earlier Outbacks?
If you get the hitch package from Subaru it comes with a good set of instructions and all the stuff you'll need. I got mine for $300 i think from my dealer. Too much if you ask me. I found it for $250 online with $50 shipping. Wow, what savings. Anyway, the wiring harness is on the left side in the 2005. You don't need to remove any foam, just the cover on the left side that exposes the electrical outlet and the little carpeted board that has 2 little connectors. That is all you need to pry and it just pops back into place. In case you aren't aware, you do need to remove the exhaust and the heat shields to install the hitch. Its an easy job and with all that ground clearance there's no need for the car to be lifted. I was a little irritated at Subaru when I did the job - when I removed one of the exhaust cans from the rest of the exhaust system it was missing the seal piece that is supposed to sit in the middle of the connection. Obviously an error from the factory floor. The hitch package from Subaru comes with replacement seals so I just put it in when I was done.
One other thing... if you do get the factory hitch, I would advise either grinding off the paint from the tube (the piece that the ball connects to) or not pushing it into the receiver any further than the shear pin hole. If you push it too far it will not come out - I fought with mine for an hour until I finally ripped it out and put the grinder wheel to it.
Good luck with the hitch,
J
http://autopedia.com/html/HotLinks_Lemon2.html
However, I do think you should call 800-SUBARU3 and politely say "enough is enough" and ask them for favorable trade-in assistance.
Your case is more the exception than the rule, and hopefully lightning doesn't strike twice.
There's a bad apple in every batch, and it just seems like you got a Friday 5pm build. See if SoA will help get you into another one. Tell them you are an Edmunds Subaru Crew member and your on-line buddies are following your case with interest.
Good luck. Remember - be polite. They're more likely to want to help someone that is nice.
-juice
I was planning on getting the Hidden Hitch because that is what I put on my 2002 and it was cheap, easy and has worked fine. Has anyone compared the Hidden Hitch to the Subaru hitch for the 2005 Outback? etrailer.com says the Hidden Hitch has a 30 minute install time, so I assume there is no need to remove the exhaust. I would consider getting the Subaru hitch if it fits more snugly up against the bottom of the car
On my recommendation my wife's friend bought an '03 Bean. After replacing the front rotors 4 times, a new transmission, constant stalling while driving on the freeway, and a bent sub-frame that must have been like that from the factory (no accidents, and 1st set of tires went in 4K); she asked them for a new car or to buy back her Bean. SOA refused. She sued, and won easily. She now drives an '02 Lexus RX.
I still bought my '05 OBXT, as I have had nothing but great experiences with my 4 Suby wagons. In fact my OBXT is the most trouble-free car with the fewest defects of any car I have owned, including my wife's Lexus.
I'd take Juice's advice and work with SOA, as it sounds like your car's history speaks for itself. Good Luck.
As for the hidden hitch, I am not certain but I would imagine that you will need to remove the mufflers as the hitch attachment points are directly above them. If they don't do that then I can't imagine the hitch is structurally sound.
Lastly, the factory hitch, IMHO, fits quite snugly underneath the back. You can barely tell it is there.
-juice
Lee
Regards,
BigRob.
Just a thought....
Cheers,
Tim
I didn't have the heart to inquire more, but I bet he paid MSRP and didn't get a good rate, either.
-juice
As far as the hitch, I found the instructions for the Hidden Hitch and it says to lower the mufflers without disconnecting them. It looks doable, but tight quarters. I'd still like to hear from anyone who has installed the Hidden Hitch. How difficult is it?