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Comments
MNSteve
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
MNSteve
If it makes her feel any better, I have averaged about 14 mpg with my old "AWD" Caravan this winter. Last summer, it was consistently giving 19+.
I do keep it garaged.
19-21 mpg sounds a lot better to me - especially for the frigid Fairbanks temps!
I guess there is quite a size difference between the two!
I also feel as if there is now animosity between myself and the dealer because of these recurring problems. I feel as is they think I am crazy, but it makes me feel better that i now know i am not b/c you are having the same exact issues.
i am bringing my car back once again this coming tuesday to try and get the issues resolved.
Any problem door related is purely a mechanical one, so you don't have to be a genius to figure out that if the door has 10 parts, one of them is the culprit, you only have to check each one.
In my old Forester I had the same noise. After spending time in the dealership, I also got frustrated, because the noise kept coming back. So I decided to check in one of the Forester groups here in Edmunds, and the most common solution was to check and grease the small "locks" that my car had in the hatch sides. Taken from a 2000 Forester forum:
armac13, "Subaru Forester (up to 2005)" #163, 25 Oct 2000 10:50 pm!keywords=allin%3Amsgtext%20limit%3A.ee94fe5%20hatch
I solved my problem, that as you seem described happens to almost every hatch. Hope it can help solve yours.
Between the Outback and Tribeca you have to keep in mind that the 3.0L H6 is a much larger engine than the 2.5L H4, plus the Tribeca is heavier, wider, and taller. That all adds up to lower mileage, at least until you get its legs stretched out on the highway.
I posted about the rear hatch/seat rattle a couple of days ago. The rear hatch rattles violently, the second seat occaisionally rattles, and there is possibly a third source of rattle (not sure as the volume is pretty loud with the first two).Has anyone actually "fixed" this problem?
when I got the car I felt a vibration in the steering wheel - very slight but enough for me to have them check - The front tires needed balancing! - Anyway they did not do the rear - today they found that one rear tire needed balancing. Driving home the head liner rattle was gone!!! I'm hoping this is a permanent fix.
Check the balance of your wheels - they can amplify vibrations in the car to the point where you can hear them. Check the pressure in your tires too. The tire pressure sensors DO NOT advise you if they're over inflated. The dealer has to reset the sensor - I wouldn't be surprised if the dealers are slightly over inflating the tires.
Rear seat - In 06 the seats were harder to move and people complained - now that they made it easier they rattle - not much can be done until enough people complain and Subaru issues a fix to the dealers. I'm going to try putting seat cushion foam between the seat backs - it might limit the movement.
Rear hatch - over the years Subaru has had problems with weak struts in the cold. There is a bulletin and they will fix under warrantee. A properly pressurized strut keeps the hatch in place when closed as well.
Some of these problems might have easy fixes
When is Fairbanks going to start warming up? We have also been very cold here as well, hopefully we will start warming up soon!
Hopefully you can get it taken care of on Tuesday - Good Luck!
Thanx
I expect the weather will warm up in a few days - probably a day or two behind the valley. Who knows though; it may stick around for weeks like last February/March! It is a nice reminder that it really can get cold in Alaska. Climate change has really limited the amount of this cold stuff we see each year. I get a kick out of the folks who say, "what do those global warming experts have to say for themselves now?!" every time we get a cold snap. *knock knock* Hello.... climate change is about average temperatures, not extremes. :sick:
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
I am also sending a link of a video clip my brother in law does for the "Periodic Review" he used my Tribeca for the short, but funny clip. Eventhough, he is dissing my Tribeca.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTlTu6mZHfo
To find the hole, air up the tires and spray some soapy water, then look for bubbles. It wasn't too hard for me.
So basically, Subaru has a terrible design team.
The 2008 Tribeca is built like a piece of junk.
I will never buy another Subaru again....
and now i have to deal with this car for the next 32 months, haha!
However, subaru corporate customer service is more than helpful, so hopefully they can bring this to the next level for me......we'll see
we need to research this more and bring it to their attention, b/c it is a problem!
Also if you never plan to buy another Subaru, then why should Subaru help you out? They already have your money!
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
Plaina and simple......this car is too noisy. I have owned many other cars and never had this problem. In fact, my first car, which was a 1981 monte carlo that my aunt gave me when i turned 17, made less noise and was more fun to drive than my current Tribeca. And that is not a joke!
....and yes they say they can't fix it, they think im crazy for coming back so many times! haha
And none of these noises were present when you test drove it before buying it?
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
anything else?
Adjusting the struts and latch, and looking for loose panels inside are about the only things that can really be done to find the problem. If the dealer has done this, perhaps the car is too sporty for you and a Grand Marquis might be more your speed. Not trying to pick a fight, but cars these days are a bit stiffer riding than they were in the 70s and 80s.... Handling however is significantly better
Also if the dealer is test driving it on the smooth roads, then they are never going to find any rattles! Have you ridden with them and pointed out the noises you are hearing? If they can't hear or see the problem they can't possibly fix it.
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
My car before this was a honda Pilot and that thing was the best, only problem i ever had with that for 3 yrs. was a burned out interior light.
and I understand if i drive over potholes and railroad tracks the car will make more
noise than usual, however I don't do that.
Plain and simple, there is an issue with the car, i am obviously not the only one with the problem, and I will get it fixed one way or the other.
i'm done with this conversation
My seats are not the issue because I drove with them down and the same noise occurred - It is either my hatch, the rear floor compartment covers( I have a 5P) or the something in the compartments.
On a trip to PA I noticed that the rattle disappeared at high speeds. I strongly believe that the air across the back and spoiler keeps enough pressure to hold the hatch in place.
This can only mean that there has to be too much play at the latch, or possibly the struts.
I'm going to wrap some electrical tape around the strike to see if that helps.
Does my theory hold water?
Charlie
Hi: I'm in Sydney Australia and was about to buy a Tribeca but after reading these comments and seeing the same issue down her with the rear hatch rattle, not just on the vehicle I test drove but also it was picked up by the press on the test car last December 2007. I'm not sure anymore
Ironically everyone down here is saying it's the poor US quality control that's making the Tribeca a lower quality vehicle than the Japanese vehicles we normally get here. I see the factory is in Lafayette Indiana US - http://www.subaru-sia.com/ and this site says they do a lot of procurement of local made US parts.
I'm prepared to bet that the soft release hatch trigger and assembly are a local US unit from your end - why not complain to the people who made it?
- the car is getting bagged out down here - and Subaru are running a special Right Hand drive line at Lafayette for us - all the Australian and UK journalists are saying the quality is so so and its got a soft suspension made for the US market.
read: http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/RT/13D5EF95DC73E759CA2573A8007F13E9?O- penDocument
It was danm close for me - I had a deposit and was waiting as the first shipment - it was late gettin here - glad I didn't proceed. The car I test drove also had this piece of white foam or styrene that had come loose in the manifold air-intake unit and was visible when you lifted the bonnet - and it was melting and smelling from the engine heat!
Funny about the suspension... you're right, Tribeca was designed for the US market, but most US reviews have called the suspension firm! Of course, maybe Tribeca's US competitors are REALLY soft.
I've seen someone with a seatbelt that rattled against the A-pillar simply use 2 sided tape and a piece of cloth to dampen it. Wish I remember who so I could give them credit.
Trace the noise by following it and touching various surfaces until you get the noise to change or stop (I have to credit Ken Suzuki for this simple yet brilliant idea). That should at least isolate the location. You may need a driver if it only happens at certain speeds.
Use your ears, then use your hands, then finally use your own innovative ideas.
I found I had a rattle - it was a coin holder I had. I moved it to a more solid base/location and lined the interior with some self-adhesive velour drawer liner. It worked.
Be creative folks, you can find these and fix them. It may even be something you put in the car, as it was in my case.
however, regarding post #599, your theory is true. Driving at high speeds does indeed cause the noise to lessen considerably.
I promise you and everyone else it is not any of the compartments in the rear. I took it upon my self to strip the cargo area clean of all compartments. It is actually pretty easy, everything is held together by plastic screw plugs & 4 little bolts. My point is when I drove the car with everything stripped out of it, the rear hatch noise was still their.
****If you recline the rear seats back a bit it seems to make the seat rattle dissapear, try it out....
Even if your hatch appears to be opening properly the struts may be defective. Low pressure in the struts will allow movement when closed which can cause a knocking or rattle.
Charlie
-mike
I leased it from Fleminton Subaru.
I may have time to swing by on the 8th - will you be there.....at the garage that is?
Charlie
Are you and Bob coming up to NY for the Auto show ??
Bob