Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Going that far north reminded me how cold CT is, brr. Despite warm days, we had 2 frosts at night, and it just felt brisk when the wind hit you.

    I was camping in that chilly weather. It was 34 outside our tent on Sunday AM!!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    In New England you might give directions that sound something like this:

    Drive north and take a left at the 2nd Subaru dealership, then a right at the 4th Subaru dealership. :D
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    >my wife now tells me she wants to eventually trade her Legacy in for a Forester (a new one).

    I'm totally on her side. Forester is so convenient and so fun to drive: it's both SUV and not-SUV at the same time... :blush: it's hard to explain but... I love Foresters :shades: .
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I can't find the courage to put up the For Sale ad. Is that pathetic, or what? :cry:
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Of course it's not... you don't want to hurt Sandy's feelings!
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    There was a technique published here a few years ago how to reset ECU (which often resolves the CEL issue). I believe one had to disconnect the battery but in certain order. Anyone remembers the steps?
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I think the quick and easy method has you disconnect the battery, step on the brake, and then reconnect the battery. The slow method has you disconnect the battery for 30 minutes or so, then reconnect.

    The super easy method to clear the CEL is to go to AutoZone and have 'em read the code(s) and clear 'em if you want. Or find someone near you who has a OBDII scanner and do the same.

    -Brian
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Thanks Brian!

    I thought that the sequence in which red and black contacts are disconnected was important... or was it not?
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    You always want to disconnect the ground/negative (black) for safety.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    Yes, black then red. Sorry I didn't mention that clearly. (Thanks Craig!)

    No AutoZone's nearby Kate? Aren't you interested in finding out the reason for the CEL?

    -Brian
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I was having CEL on and off since car had 54K miles (now 167K). Many times, when car was still under extended warranty (up to 100K miles) I'd ask Subaru technicians to get rid of it once and for all. They've replaced O2 sensors several times, spark plugs several times, did some valve adjustments in the engine... only to have CEL to return back in a couple of days. So at this moment, I'm confident they have no idea what's the real reason behind CEL.

    CEL never affected negatively how my car was running and did not worsen the mileage.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    It worked! CEL is gone for now. We'll see how long it will stay off.

    Which also means I've wasted $130 to have all 4 sparkplugs replaced last week when Subaru technician promised it would take care of CEL. Oh well.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If it comes back, next thing to change would be the wires (you should be on your 3rd or 4th set by now) and then the ignition coil (about $80 on-line).

    Of course if we had the codes that would help.

    My Miata eats through spark plug wires every 30k miles. :sick:
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    "black then red"

    To reset the ECU (or in any instance where you want to cut power to the vehicle's systems) you only need to remove the black/ground line, not both lines. So the order is not important, just disconnect the black line and that's it.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I recall there was an advice from someone to always write on the bill of sale something like this:

    "This vehicle is being sold AS IS. No warranty, explicit or implicit is provided by the seller."

    Is it a good enough wording or can anyone suggest a better one?

    Thanks!

    (no I don't have a buyer yet)
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Kate, that about covers it. Nobody can argue any different afterwards. Get the buyer to sign it and make a copy for your records.

    Cheers Pat.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    There are tons of online bill of sales templates. I just cut and pasted one of those for my last sale.

    -mike
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I searched for that, but somehow got mostly links to website selling legal forms etc

    I found bill of sale on California DMV site, so I'll probably use that one and add that "as is" disclaimer.

    Mike, if you have a link to a good bill of sale, please let me know.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I used one from Idaho's DMV when I got my Outback so if you found one from CA, you're probably just about there.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So, did you find a buyer yet?
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    no, not yet. Got a couple of calls so far. I'm only advertising on craigslist at the moment. Normally, once the ad hits major local newspaper, more interested parties show up.

    I'm thinking - is there any preferred timing to sell? Will interest pick up after graduation at the beginning of June? I'm in no hurry.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Kate, I e-mailed you the bill of sales I used for my recent boat sale.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Not sure, but I think Spring is generally a good time. You want to sell it before everyone goes on vacation in July/August.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I was hoping interest will pick up after the graduation. Isn't a clean used car a good gift for a new grad?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yep. That's when my dad got me my first (used) car. :shades:
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I got my used Outback in April, but I started shopping for it a few months earlier while snow was still on the ground.

    Maybe the hook with selling the Forester this time of year is to tell folks it'll handle a lot of plants and compost (that's what I told my sister when she got one a short while ago). Or run with the camping angle and talk up how much fun they are up in the cool mountains on the forest service roads.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    CEL is back! GRRRRRRRRR :mad:

    I've stopped by the closest AutoZone asking them to read the code. They told me to rent the tool ($165) and read it myself. :cry:

    I'll try to disconnect the battery again and see how long it can stay off. From the last reset, it lasted "off" for 105 mi.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    My husband's Impreza WRX 2004 has now 83K miles on it. He really loves 3-nostrils design of WRX 2007 and absolutely hates WRX 2008 grill.

    We're kind of low on cash these days (as he's still trying to set up his business, w/o much success yet) but if rebates and financing terms are good, maybe it might make sense to trade-in his 2004 for the end-of-the-year 2007?

    He's a bit uneasy of his 2004 wrx needing potentially expensive repairs (it will be off the extended warranty at 100k). His main concern that if he holds on 2004 wrx for much longer, then only "ugly" (his words) styling of 2008 will be available to trade up to. He also wants a wagon not a hatchback.

    He does not want any other vehicle from the Subaru lineup (legacy/foresters are too big, in his view, he wants small and nimble). I'd personally love for him to get 2007 Impreza 2.5 (wagon) as it's a lot cheaper than wrx, and I think is just as nimble.

    What do you think would be the best way for us to proceed:

    1) Keep running his 2004 wrx, repair as needed, hope grill and styling will improve on WRX in 2009-2010.

    2) Trade-in his 2004 for 2007 wrx.

    3) sell his 2004 privately (will be there many interested buyers for AUTO wrx?), buy 2007 wrx.

    4) other? look at other makes/models?

    we've been a Subaru family since 1992 with a short hiatus for Honda accord that we both ended up hating.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,743
    Keep the '04. Seems silly to trade up on the car just for vague "what if" scenarios. If cash is tight now, then the only good reason to trade would be (possibly) better payment terms (if still paying on the '04), but then the length is going to be stretched back out vs. having the '04 paid off fairly soon, I would imagine. If you are pocketing the monthly payment, there should be plenty available for repairs, if and when they are necessary.

    Styling preferences are as fickle as the styles themselves, so maybe more time will provide a better picture of the best route to choose.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I personally LOVE the looks of Impreza'08:

    image

    Grill is blah (IMHO) but overall it looks more coherent and more sporty than 2007 wagon:

    image

    In 2007 (just as in 2004) the cargo area looks a bit "tacked onto" the sedan whereas in 2008 it looks much more integrated.
  • nickelnickel Member Posts: 147
    I know there's a scan that you can buy for less than $100 (in Amazon, Actron CP9135) that can help you read the codes. I bought one as a present for a friend in Pep Boys. Disclaimer: I'm no mechanic, but why rent when you can buy?
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    Kate, if you weren't so far south from SE Wisconsin :P I'd stop down and help you out with the obd-2.com scanner I have on my laptop.

    Rent the scanner, geez, that's the first I've heard of them wanting $ for the reading. Even the dealer would be cheaper to read the code. If you're going to buy a code reader, make sure it can do the newer CAN protocol as well as ISO.

    -Brian
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Hey, Kate, strong rumor on nabisco has an optional grille for sale for the '08: body-colored strips between headlight & grille opening, and grille opening filled w/fine black mesh w/Subaru logo in center. Folks over there have been, for the most part, raving about it. Supposed to look very much like this, which is purported to be an SPT (Subaru Performance Tuning) tester:
    image
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Photoshopped by Phoenix96 over @ nabisco, this gives you an idea of that type of grille on the new hatch:
    image
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Personally I'd go for an 07 2.5i Wagon 5MT, you can have these for $15.5-16k easily. Heck they offered me one for $16,250 back at the end of Feb, so now they should be fairly lower than that. I was in a similar quandry looking at an 08 Legacy GT or SpecB, then a clean 05 LGT Wagon popped up and I picked it up for $18k, that's almost $14k less than a new Spec B and about $8-10k less than an 08 LGT. And no payments = a good thing.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I have one of those Actron scanner and it has worked well for me. I paid about $105 delivered.

    My code was a cylinder misfire, probably from the chip-munk that ate my spark plug wires. :cry:

    If you get a misfire, in order change plugs -> wires -> ignition coil. I bet yours is the coil.

    My wife got a code once, it was just a loose gas cap, she forgot to tighten. Reset it, no problem since.

    I've also used it for 2 other friends of mine, and cleared codes for them.

    It's useful to have one in the family, and you can share it with friends, too.

    As for the 04, I say keep it. 84k miles isn't that much, and there will definitely be more than one aftermarket grille option for the new WRX.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    If you get a misfire, in order change plugs -> wires -> ignition coil. I bet yours is the coil.

    last time, at the dealer, they said it was a cylinder misfire. They've replaced 4 sparkplugs, then code was gone, only to come back in a couple of days.

    For some reason, they have not mentioned wires/coil as possible suspects. Instead, they've told me, it's probably a "tight valve" in the cylinder, and that would be $400+ if done at the dealer.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I had a misfire in cylinder #4, got Patti on it. She spoke to some senior techs and that's what they told me.

    Changed the wires and the ignition coil and a year later, no CEL. :shades:

    In Patti we trust.

    It all started with that Chipmunk eating my wires. :mad:
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,743
    It all started with that Chipmunk eating my wires.

    Hahhahahaha! Juice, you were traumatized by a chipmunk. Perhaps there is a support group available..... :P
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    If Hadji was half the cat he appears to be, he would have taken care of your chipmunk problem long ago :P

    -Frank
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    He tried, but the chipmunk is bigger! :D
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    With those racing stripes, that chipmunk must be faster, too.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Quicker, perhaps, but not faster.

    In his prime Hadji was the fastest dog in the world, at least scaled to his size.

    He is 12" tall yet with a running start he could clear a 4' fence!

    If there was something good on the dining table it was not safe, as he could jump that high, even without a running start.

    Best part is that he used to run like Pepe Le Pew, more or less like this:

    image
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    lol - good visual. :D
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, it was hilarious. He would touch all four paws on the ground at the same time and take off, and sort of glide through the air, Pepe Le Pew style.

    As he'd gotten older he's slowed down a bit, but he'll still hop up on my lap without notice if I'm sitting down. He's almost 14, that's 98 in dog years! :surprise:
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    It feels that in '06 they've moved footrest further down. If I move my seat to have a comfortable position of my left foot on a footrest - then my right foot is not comfortable on the pedals (and the whole right leg feels wrong).

    If I make right foot comfortable on the pedals, left foot is not fully rested on the footrest.

    I did not have that problem with Forester'01. I wonder if there are any adjustment things that I can put on the footrest, to bring it a bit closer.

    I was thinking - something like a small rectangular piece of a fairly hard foam, with adhesive on one side - to stick it to the footrest? Do such things exist?

    I can make my own I guess but wanted to check first if there is something on the market.

    any ideas? Guy in local Autozone had no suggestions.

    (please no suggestions for shortening my right leg) ;)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You can use two-side tape, but the foot rest might not be a good surface for it to adhere to.

    The other thing is that tape might not hold the foam, either, you might need to use hot glue or something.

    Maybe someone else can chime in.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I've heard somewhere that there are special shops that adjust pedals for particularly short people. I wonder if they may know how to adjust my footrest. Anyone knows how such place would be called? I googled a bit using some guesswork but could not find anything.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Got full asking price (minus $50, due to a typo that I didn't make a fuss about). So I'm $5500 richer but now I only have the Miata.

    Can't wait to try the 08 Tribeca. I've decided that if I don't fall in love, we're just going to get a minivan. Yet another occasion came up where we needed the space, and had to use 2 cars.

    Not bad, got $5500 for a 9 year old car with 93k miles. Only paid $19.2k originally, so it held 29% of its value.

    Best advice I can give is KEEP GOOD RECORDS. The guy was so impressed that I had a 3 ring binder with all the maintenance records and receipts. I even had old reviews from C&D and CR, and IIHS crash test results from back then that I had saved hard copies of. She's also clean and that certainly helps.

    The guy works here, in another building, but close by. I think he could see my enthusiasm for the car and knew what he was getting into. Plus I'll probably see him once in a while because I do visit that building often, and I can here about how Sandy's running. :shades:
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Adjust the pedals instead.

    They are adjustable, aren't they?

    -Dave
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