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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. :-)
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. :-)
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.
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.
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.
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??
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.
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):
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).
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.
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!
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.
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):
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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).
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.
Comments
Ed
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
Ed
-juice
Ed -- I've thought about the Fumoto valve too but I also wonder about getting all of the oil out.
Ken
Ed
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
-Colin
Stephen
..Mike
..Mike
Stephen
Ken
However I know that I am going to have this car for a long time so I just spend and fuggetaboutit.
Cheers Pat.
I hope the new forester meets your expectations.
Cheers Pat.
Stephen
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
Rgds,
Jack
Has anyone looked into? Would it be costly?
Thanks,
Bob
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
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.
Steve
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.
Steve
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).
..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
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
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
..Mike
I guess JDM Legacies get a manumatic, huh?
Craig
Anyone else notice the Avignon in the annual report? Brother.
-juice
I emailed a dealer in England but so far no reply.
Cheers Pat.
Cheers Pat.
Ed
-juice
Craig
..Mike
..Mike
-mike
Honda was easy since they have a frame on the window.
Cheers Pat.
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
-juice
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
Cheers!
Paul
-juice
Has anyone done this.
Polanco55- try www.i-club.com. I am sure someone over there knows. Just don't ask about GT seats
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
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.