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Subaru Forester (up to 2005)
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Comments
Duck: you can remove the ash tray itself easily. Pull it out to the detent, then squeeze the top and bottom together, and pull it all the way out. That should give you a look at how much room you have there.
Subaru sells clamps for the roof rack, I think Darlene said they were $7 or so. It's worth getting them for a custom fit.
You could even use thick tie straps, and dispose of them after each use. I'd add a couple of bungees to be safe. Cops use them to handcuff thieves, so they can be very strong.
The interval for the timing belt is a long, long 105k miles, with an inspection at 90k. More than that and you're pushing your luck. Even designs that are non-interference will at a minimum leave you completely stranded.
I believe the air intake is behind the passenger side headlamp, at about waist level. The silencer ought to do a pretty good job of draining any water that manages to get in through there, just don't floor the throttle as you cross the water so it doesn't suck the water in.
If you do get water in there, cut the engine immediately. Then pull the plugs, spray in some WD40, and turn the starter a couple of times. If you are lucky, she'll be fine. But water doesn't compress like air does, so say your prayers.
-juice (who has watched two cars go through that process)
Thanks to Edmunds for the invoice pricing and to this forum for all the good information!
I already tried removing the ashtray, but the opening is covered, so I can't really tell what's underneath it. There's a small opening where I could fit my finger through, all I felt were some wires and something else. I'll probably end up just taking the dash off to see for myself.
Where can I order these clamps you're talking about? I've been checking the different sites, but all the one's I've seen have been pretty expensive, by the time I add up all the components, it ends up being >$100 just for the mounts. Thanks
The only concern I have, and I will bring it up with the dealer at the 3K oil change, is that when in traffic from 25 - 35 mph, and traffic is slowing down, speeding up, etc., the tranny (which is automatic) seems to shift awfully hard when I accelerate. Any ideas? Also, any advice on not getting a snow job from the dealer would be greatly appreciated.
Juice: Where in Brazil do you live? I visited Rio in 1990 when I was in the Navy, and really enjoyed a tour to Petropolis. They had a local beer there that was only sold in that region, but was most excellent.
Chris
My wife has it in her Sebring Convertible and it is really cool. White faced during the day and WOW at night!
Thanks for any information.
Gene
Could anyone out there furnish me Darlene's phone number over at Quality Subaru Parts & Accessories as their website doesn't seem to be active anymore. Do they still exist???????
Thanks,
/Scott
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
-Frank P.
but I want the sunroof too...
What am I to do?
(
Whatever button you push puts that button (and only that button) in manual mode, but leaves everything else in Auto mode, even though the Auto light turns off.
So when you press RECIRC to turn it on, you will force the climate control to stay in Recirc mode and the Auto light will turn off, but your temperature settings, fan speed, a/c, and vent location settings will still be controlled automatically!
When you've driven out of the nasty fumes, just press the Auto button again to let the climate control decide if Recirc needs to be on or off.
Now that I understand how this works, I like the auto climate control EVEN MORE! Sometimes I find that when it is trying to initially cool down the cabin, it stays on fan speed 4 for a while, and the noise and blowing cold air can get annoying. So I sometimes set it on 3 until the interior temp comes down a little more (but slower than if it stayed on 4) and then put back in Auto, as it gradually brings the fan speed down to 2 and 1. It works great!
Elliot
OK, I could be cute and make mine rhyme too, but I'm lazy. :-b
I wanted the blue, too but - - and this is just my opinion - - I think the new blue has a little more purple in it and is targeted to the many women who buy the Forester. (2/3 of sales are to women.) Maybe a deeper blue would be good, but this just isn't that masculine.
The silver was my alternate choice and in the monochrome form is simply gorgeous! I'm very glad I got it.
By the way, the silver looks absolutely GREAT with a hand-painted electric blue pinstripe - - so you can get your blue that way!
Elliot
Again I say, the manual setup found on the X model is simpler and makes more sense.
Bob
duck: $100? Ouch. Darlene's dealership went out of business. Try parts@libertysubaru.com.
Chris: I'm from Recife, in the northeast. I currently live in DC, though I'm a Brazilian citizen.
Indiglo gauges? I've heard of white faced ones, maybe you could customize the bulb color. Try i-club.com, under Mods.
I like the Silver too, is it still called Silverthorn?
-juice
Gene
Hello,
While we have not been looking to produce the Subaru Forester, we are always open to producing vehicles which have not yet been produced. We have a great program for vehicles which people would like to see get made, but have not yet been made on our Website called the "Model Development Program". If you would like, we can put your vehicle up on there, and if we get 10 people willing to pay $49.99 each, we will make the gauges. If you would like us to do this let us know, and we will put your vehicle in the Model Development Program.
If you would like to learn more about the "Model Development Program", you can go to our Website:
http://www.streetracerparts.com/2color_style.htm
Let us know.
Thank you!
Have a great day!
Customer Service
S/R Motorsports
www.streetracerparts.com
----- Original Message
-juice
Gene
Last year's green Forester was more of a yellow green than a blue green. I haven't seen a green 2003.
I wanted the gray interior of the blue and the red exterior! The more I looked at the red with the tan/black interior though, the more it grew on me. I especially like the contrast of the tan/black.
What is the best product to use on the black or gray cladding of the X?
What are the do's and don't's of breaking in a new car? Keep it below X RPM's? Keep it below XX MPH?
Thanks!
Zymol is the #1 top rated wax in Consumer Reports and is clear coat safe. It's available just about everywhere now. I bought some at Target.
For the gray cladding, I use gold 'ol Armour All. Spray it on a cloth until damp, and then wipe it all over the cladding. It's much easier and faster to take care of than painted surfaces. That's why many people actually prefer the L and X models.
Don't get the wax on the cladding, and don't get the Armour All on the paint. Wax on the gray cladding can be finnesed out with a soft bristle toothbrush and a little patience.
Break in is first 1,000 miles, no more than 4,000 RPM except for emergencies.
Everyone's got their opinions, but I had manual climate control on my '99 Forester L and now have auto on my '03 Forester XS Premium, and I definitely like the XS better. You never have to fiddle with the fan speed or temperature control to keep it comfortable when cruising. This is most appreciated when you're driving on a partly cloudy day and go from bright sunshine to cool cloud cover and don't have to adjust the temperature.
I know I scared some people off with my in-depth analysis trying to figure it out, but now that I understand it, I like it even more than I thought I would.
Juice - the silver is called Platinum Silver Metallic, and while it's new for the Forester, it's a carryover from other existing Subie's - the Impreza I think. The only other silver car on Earth that looks even better is the silver VW Jetta, which was my inspiration for wanting a silver car. (OK, the silver BMW 3-series looks pretty good, too!)
Elliot
Charlie
Later,
burnsmr4
My wife's Sebring display is really nice and if I could get that look for my Forester WOW! White in the daytime and electroluminescent green/blue at night.
Gene
-mike
We only use the A/C when it's hot and uncomfortable. Otherwise we just use the outside air and the fan. If it's nice out we have the windows and moonroof open. In that situation, I want complete "manual" control of the fan, etc.
To me this sounds like "gimmickry," pure and simple. I don't see the quality of life being improved, but instead being intruded upon.
Bob
-mike
Bob
hee hee.
-mike
So, if for example you press the A/C button to turn off the A/C, twist the fan knob to speed 2, and set the outlets to the dashboard outlets, the system will in fact be entirely overridden and stay in those positions. If the temp knob is set at 75 and it is 80 out, it will blow in fresh, unheated 80 degree air, just like a manual system.
I frequently do what Bob does - turn off the A/C and open my moonroof, and it requires no more button pushing than a completely manual control.
I've said this before in earlier posts and I'll say it again -- the system is not that complicated and is very easy to use once you understand "the rules." I definitely like it better than my old manual control.
Elliot
So how do you adjust the temperature, if the AUTO function is turned off? If you turn down the temp reading, does it blow in cool outside air—without turning on the A/C?
Bob
Do me
a fav
cut back on the caffeine
in yo hood
LOL
Gene
This goes back a week or so to my original posts where I thought in manual mode it would behave like a conventional temp knob, but it does not.
I think it was Bear that pointed out that the temp knob still **tries** to maintain the interior temp set, no matter what.
"Tries" is key because without the A/C, if the exterior air temp is higher than the temperature set (let's say 80 outside 75 set), then it will just blow unheated, 80 degree air knowing it'll never get down to 75. Even though the "75" position on the dial is mid-way between hot and cold on a manual scale, it still will not add any heat.
Now, if I turn the temp knob up to 85 in manual mode, and it is 80 outside, it will add heat up to the point that it is 85 inside and then maintain it by adjusting the mix of heated and fresh air.
This differs from a completely manual climate control where if you turn the temp all the way up, it will keep blowing out burning hot air forever and could get 95 degrees inside.
So in other words, even in manual mode, it will still automatically adjust the fresh vs. heated air mix to obtain the interior temperature set.
I don't know how much better I can describe this, so I think this will be my last post on the subject!
I suggest you buy one and see for yourself!!
-mike
My 2002 Forester manual say that when using the A/C the air flow control should be set to intake outside air. This seems like a good idea until the car gets cool enough, but it doesn't seem very efficient to keep cooling 95 degree air instead of re circulating the much cooler interior air.
Isn't this making the engine and cooling system work harder than it needs to?
Also, if you had the windows tinted on your model how much of a difference did that make? And how well does the tinting resist scratching and nicks in the rear cargo area? I do a lot of camping and am concerned that duffel bags etc. might beat it up pretty good.
Any feedback is much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Donn
The metallic tint seems to hold up well too! (However check your local traffic laws, in some areas the police are really cracking down on tint that is too dark!
Hope this helps.
Gene
I plan on getting the SVX tinted just not sure if I'll go with 30% or 20%.
-mike
I don't use anything on the lower cladding. I love the stuff, it's like teflon and mine looks as new even after 4 years of abuse. Hose it off, you're done. You don't even need soap most of the time.
The fender flares are a different story. Their color dulls slightly over time.
Touch up paint and the rear bumper cover? E-mail parts@libertysubaru.com to get a quote. They have the lowest prices I've seen, and you guarantee a correct fit and color match.
-juice
http://www.subaru.com/mailing/accessory/chart.htm
-mike
Check this site
http://www.importintelligence.com/index.html
They may have what you are looking for...
Mike
I went to their site and I did not find an address for the company and most everything they have has a "coming soon" added to it or the page can't be displayed. Forester was spelled wrong and when I let my cursor rest on the gauge cluster they showed for the Forester, a "coming soon" popped up.
Have you ordered from them before and if so how are they to deal with?
Thanks for the information
Gene
Does anybody have the same experience? Any explanations?
Tomas
<< Is this rating limited by the thin crossbars, or the actual structure and vehicle dynamics of the car. >>
Probably all of the above, and an equal part of high-priced corporate lawyer's advice.
Bob