laserone

I'm talking air movement. The actual temp is fine, and I'm for-sure on a/c and recirculate, not fresh air. I have an oil change soon so I may ask to see the new ones or if there is an '05 on the lot to compare.

Last year I bought my new 2005 subaru outback wagon. I just don't feel that the air conditioning, when on high, is blowing nearly hard enough. It's weaker than my previous car, weaker than my hubby's new car, weaker than any newer car of friend's that I get into. Does anyone else w/ a new subie feel that their a/c doesn't blow hard enough? I may take it in and see if it can be fixed or replaced, but I wonder if that's just the way it is. If that's just the way it is, I wonder if I can buy a better blower or something (?). I live in south Florida, so I'm hoping I can rectify this.

Hi there! We are stopped in Georgia, driving from Florida to Canada. I'm a 'net addict so I'll be checking email each day. My 2005 Outback Wagon is a Legacy outback 2.5i. I believe that model above the 2.5i that has the integrated climate controls. But the 2.5i is different. When the car stereo place called Metra (the install kit supplier) they asked "does the car have dual zone climate control?" and I said "no" and they said "ok, we have an install kit for it". So the higher model (I think the one that comes w/ the factory cd changer) w/ the dual zone climate controls that they don't seem to have an install kit for yet. The stereo is the Kenwood EZ 500 ... http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2yphxLIApDH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=kenwood+ez+500&i=113EZ500 ..and I ordered it from http://www.Crutchfield.com and also ordered the ipod adapter from them too. Here is the ipod adapter: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2yphxLIApDH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=kenwood+ipod&i=113IP500 (search crutchfiled for "kenwood ipod adapter") Free shipping on the stereo! The car stereo place needed some kind of "plug" but it came with the stereo, as did the "stereo adapter". The "install kit" or "harness" was ordered by the car stereo place, and I'm pretty sure they got it from Metra. So if u go to your local car stereo place, tell them that Metra has it. They then ran the ipod cord to the center console for free, but they charged $60 or so to run put the aux cord in and run that back to the center console. The Kenwood EZ 500 has a port for the aux cord, so it's easy. Lauren

Hi all! In August I posted that I'd just gotten my new 2005 subaru outback wagon and could not get an aftermarket stereo put in. I'd called Crutchfield as well as the place that makes install kits for the local car stereo place and both said they did not make an install kit and they even said they didn't plan to (!). Well, I went back figuring it'd been a few months and their supplier of install kits (Metra, I believe) had an install kit for the 2005 Subaru Outback Wagon "but only the 2.5i". It took forever to get it, and then I ordered the stereo from Crutchfield (a Kenwood EZ 500) and now it's done and I'm all set to go! The Kenwood EZ 500 takes an ipod adapter (also got from Crutchfield, and crutchfield includes the "plug" they needed to install it, and some other cord) AND has an aux output. It's Sirius ready but does NOT have Sirius in it by default, which is better than the Kenwood EZ 700 because the 700 requires that you activate Sirius then deactivate it JUST to get the fm radio to work (!), so the 500 is better in my opionion. Anyway, it's all done and here are pix! :) http://images14.fotki.com/v247/photos/2/267201/1943672/dsc04246_std-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v256/photos/2/267201/1943672/dsc04247_std-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v249/photos/2/267201/1943672/dsc04248_stdb-vi.jpg I had them run the iPod cord (circled in orange) AND the aux cord (circled in red) under the center console and it comes out in the little storage area. The aux cord plugs into anything w/ a headphone jack (cassette walkman, mp3 player, laptop, pda, you name it), and you have to get the manual out and activate the "aux" setting on the stereo, but once you do that, "aux" works for the aux cord and "ext media" works for the ipod. The iPod cord makes it so you can control the ipod with the Stereo controls, rather than reaching for the ipod itself. Also, the ipod adapter charges the ipod and also pauses then shuts off the ipod when you turn off the car. It's great. This is great because today we are leaving to drive from Florida to Toronto so yay no more staticky crackly lousy fm transmitter for the ipod! I'm happy. Lauren

Well I'm back from service. After waiting for 2 and a half hours or more, it looks like all they did was the trick to get the alarm to stop dinging entirely, rather than fix it so that it works properly. I coulda done that and saved the time and trouble of going to the dealership, that and the fact that they ruined my car door handle and I have to get thar replaced now, too. Why they had to disable it rather than fix it is beyond me. It worked properly for the first two weeks I owned it, but they can't fix it to work that way again. Odd. Lauren

Good point! Lauren

I guess I'm wondering why you didn't read my whole post. I said: "I wanted a more powerful engine, but there was no way to get a higher model and keep the payments where we wanted them." Lauren

Hi! Not sure how to ask this without soundling like a newbie idiot. I AM a newbie, but I'm trying not to be a newbie/idiot. I just bought a brand new 2005 outback wagon 2.5i. I wanted a more powerful engine, but there was no way to get a higher model and keep the payments where we wanted them. Is there a way to mod the car and add just a little more power? I don't want to go super mega crazy fast or anything, I'd just like a little more power for pulling out into insane traffic, passing people (getting out of their blind spots before they drift into me!), stuff like that. I have the sports shift. My husband and I are computer geeks, but not car engine experts. If there are things we can do, my cousin can do the work, he's a brilliant mechanic. I just have not gotten around to calling him to ask him this same question. My husband guessed maybe a new air filter or intake, but that the parts are not made yet for this new model. I hope to get a more powerful model maybe in 3 years or so if I can pay down this one... but in the meantime, I'd just like to add a little power for pulling into traffic, passing, etc., if it's at all possible. Any ideas? Or did I just label myself the ultimate dumb-*ss NOOB? <ducks> Lauren

The dealer should be able to do a dealer trade, even from far away. My car was traded from several states away, on a truck, so it has no travelling miles on it. I know Bird Road Subaru in Miami, Fl. was working hard to get rid of their '05s. Maybe check their inventory online, I did that via cars.com and got a better deal than in my town (about 3 hours away from Miami). If you can find a dealership anywhere with your car, they should trade. Really the dealership should do the looking for you. (My family owns several car dealerships.) Lauren

Hi, I'm taking my new subie into the service dept. tomorrow, but I just thought I'd share this since I find it so odd. The seatbelt alarm won't stop going off every few seconds. It only stops when I click in the passenger side seatbelt in. So I guess it thinks I have a passenger, but I DON'T. Also, I don't have anything in the seat AND there is no seatbelt icon lit on the dashboard (like when I don't have MY seatbelt in) AND it says "passenger airbag OFF" so you'd think it'd KNOW there was no passenger. I've had the car about 2 and a half weeks (brand new 2005 outback wagon 2.5i) and this just started doing this 2 days ago. Very strange. I figure I'll take it in to service and let them fix it (the new dealership has free wifi, wheee!). Clipping the seatbelt in on an empty seat is just a band-aid, and I don't want to always have to do that when a passenger gets out... and what if it starts doing that w/ the backseats? Talk about inconvenient. So, I guess they'll fix this for me tomorrow. But I thought I'd share in case anyone else had a similar problem. I did see the "fix" for turning off the alarm for good (except on car startup) but I don't want to disbable it, I just want it to work the way it's supposed to. Lauren

Congrats! That sounds great! I have a 30-day unimited membership to carfax.com so if you'd like me to look up your vin for you, let me know, I'd be glad to do that for you. Lauren

What is the back door (hatchback door) of the 2005 outback wagon made of? I went to stick on my magnetic sushi fish emblem today and it didn't stick. Is that back door plastic? It stuck to the side panels, but not the back door. That's ashame cuz I REALLY don't want to stick stickers on my nice new car. Also, down here in Florida, people who put magnets on their paint and leave them in the same place are finding paint damage underneath after a while. So I like to put magnetic things on but not leave it on. So this discovery is a disappointment... but it's no big deal. I was just surprised. Lauren

Hi there! I got my first subie this past Wed. night, brand new 2005 outback wagon. I noticed that in some areas of the roof rack I thought there was powder, so maybe it's oxidation? What should I do to protect the roof rack, wax? armor all? Not sure what it's made of, it's a 2005. I want to take good care of my baby. Lauren

Hi there, I'm a newbie too. Is MySubaru.com a free site? I went there and clicked on the "Tour" but the page won't load in either browser that I use. Do u know if that website is free to join? Thanks, Lauren

Sure thing: http://www.myotherstuff.net/carfax/06/ Lauren