Forester_Ranger

I've been experiencing some slow cranking on some mornings on My 98 forester. Currently I'm running and my second battery and is probably due for a new one. I also noticed the other night as I was going home from work the lights dimmed a little and the wipers slowed down while sitting at a red light with my turn signal on. I'm assumming the battery is worn out. But is this a sign of the alternater going bad. I'm planning on getting an Optima blue top D34M for a replacement. I due run allot of extra electronics. I currently have a high wattage stereo system, scanner radio, CB Radio, GPS, Radar dectector with amplified speaker, sirius and XM radio receivers. I am planning on getting a winch, and high power off-road lights as well. the Optima blue top D34M is just like a yellow top deep cycle except has a couple extra 5/32 threaded posts. I was wondering if these extra posts can be used to hook up some of the extra accessories. Also I've been considering replacing the alternator for a higher amp one. Does any have any recommendations on higher amp Alternators.

the only model I've built was the 1/24 scale tamiya impreza wrc 98 safari. I painted it purple and only put on the yellow subaru stripes and logo decals. I left all the sponsors and number decals off. I'm quite happy with it and would like to do some other 1/24 scale wrc models and a 98 forester (if they made one). Otherwise I'm an avid 1/64 scale diecast collector. most of my time goes to collecting and modifying 1/64 scale vehicles. The only other subaru models i have are 1/64. I have several street tuned 02 wrx's by funline mucle machines, a legacy gt wagon and a sambar bakery truck both made by tomica

I'm considering swapping my 2.5 dohc engine for something else since I think I have a blown head gasket and hearing all the bad things about this engine. I'm wondering which Subaru engine has the best Low-end torque. Someone suggested a 2.2 liter would be better. Or should I go with a 2.5 sohc or the new forester xt turbo engine?

so which LSD is better for off-road use. I would like to put LSD in my 98 Forester. I'm thinking of also doing center and front LSD as well

the major clearence problem for bigger tires is the rear struts. I'm assuming the tire and strut clearence is the same for outbacks as it is for Foresters. With my stock hieght the biggest tires I could fit were 27.1 inches. Look at the clearence between the top of the rear tire and the strut that overhangs it. with my 27.1" tires I could barely stick my finger between them. After I had mudrat79 lift my forester 2" I gained inch and half in clearence between the top of the tire and the strut. I figure now the biggest tire I can run maybe is 29" but still cant go any wider than 225. If you go wider than 225 the sidewall may rub on the strut. I'm planning on getting 27.7" by 215 tires my next purchase.

yeah I wish my forester had a turbo-diesel and low-range. Maybe then I can climb some of those steep hills I always have to carefully back down after bogging down. I sure hope they build a turbo diesel so I can stop lusting after the new twin turbocharged V-10 diesel VW Toureg with 550 plus lb-ft of torque.

My 98 forester came with bridgestone duelers 205/70r15. I replaced them with more aggressive Cooper discoverer 205/75r15 the last two times and are pleased with them. I use my forester off-road allot. I was getting allot of flats with the bridgestones. The coopers do allot better off-road. I just recently had the it lifted 2" and will be going more aggressive cooper discoverer stt's 215/75r15s

I don't have a d/r yet. I think mudrat79 will eventually be able to figure out how to put in a older model d/r or I will get one from Australia. There's also the option of lifting it more and putting in a low-range from a Nissan. I'm not so sure older subaru's are better off-road than a forester. They do have d/r but they also have less power. I've decided to go up only one size when I get new tires. Once I get a D/r and up the power on the engine I probably go up one more size in tires.

Yeah the extra wieght concerns me as well. especially since I think he will be building them from Steel. The Aussie ones are aluminum so they probably aren't too much heavier than stock. I know the Forester has better approach/departure angle over the outback that is why I chose it over the outback. I've chewed up my stock bumpers pretty bad off-roading and need stronger bumpers with better approach/departure angles which I know can be achieved with custom bumpers. we're planning on increasing the departure/approach angles and they will be much more smaller and stronger than the stock bumpers. because they will be so small I don't think they will be that much heavier and adversely affect the handling. My gas mileage will probably diminish somewhat after losing the aerodymics of the stock bumper. As far as putting a push bar on the front. I would like to keep it real close and rap it all the way under behind the oil pan and bolt on a heavy duty skid plate for protection. If you put a push bar over the top of a stock bumper you're diffinitly not helping the approach angle.

I think he is willing to make bumpers for any Subaru. He just needs someone willing to offer there first gen legacy to test fit the first one on. After that he will have the necassary measurments and knowledge of what needs to be done for future first gen legacy's.

Yeah a 7-seater car based SUV is nothing but a minivan in SUV disquise in my book. I remember hearing about Subaru talking about making a minivan a few years ago. Well here it is but they are now calling it a SUV because they know it won't sell if they call it a minivan. This thing is too mainstream just like the rest of the so called SUV's. Why should I buy this over a Lexus RX330, Acura MDX, BMW X-5, Volvo XC90, Mercedes ML420, Volkswagen Toureg, Nissan Murano and probably several others I missed that Subaru is trying to target. Subaru needs to make this a Subaru not another mainstream poser SUV.

im assuming you mean the Nissan murano. because montero is a Mitsubishi.

What do you need to do to make a bumper air bag compatible? Is this really important when putting custom bumpers on? I'm wondering what the effects will be to my Air bag when I get my custom made bumpers.

yeah I like white raised letters too. When I bought new tires I wanted something a letter more aggressive then my Bridgestone deulers 205/70r15. I had a hard time finding raised white letter all-terrain's small enough to fit. I ended up buying Cooper discoverer radials 205/75r15 the last two times. I like them better than the bridgestones that came on the car.

reminds me of the Acura MDX. sure doesn't look like a Subaru. I also don't like the idea of it being built as a luxury SUV. I sure would like a bigger Subaru SUV that is a good rugged off-roader.

I'm leary about schwab too. My sister had a bad tire on her Legacy and went to schwabs to buy a replacement. She has only about 10,000 miles on the other 3 good tires so tread wear is still good. Schwabs told her she had to buy 4 new tires because having one new tire and 3 old tires would screw up the AWD. She didn't believe it and asked for the car back. They refused to give it back and said it had to be towed because of the bad tire. She asked for the manager. Manager then said she could take the car since they didn't remove the tire yet. She then took it to schmunks who sold her a new tire with no problem.

Mudrat79 of Eugene, Or did a 2" suspension lift on my Forester. I highly recommend going with his suspension lift if you want extra ground clearence and room for larger tires.

I haven't seen any Foresters or Outbacks in Oregon with real brush gaurds either. Only pictures of Aussie ones on the internet. I'm still working out the design I want John(mudrat79) to make me. And he is still waiting on equipment to make them before he can start on mine. I'm not sure how much he will be charging me but it will be much cheaper than ordering one from Australlia.

yeah I notice most people have been saying ET. I wonder if the letters ER is code for the Off-set. I also posted this question on another automotive forum and I got an answer of 45mm. so I've got three different answers and not sure which is correct. Most custom wheels that I've found have been 40-45mm offsets. So I might be pretty safe with getting a 35mm wheel. choices are limited though. And the wheels that are 35mm are usually 6.5-7" wide so I pretty much loose my off-set advantage don't I?

I will be getting all new custom built bumpers and brush gaurds built soon for my 98 Forester by John (mudrat79) in Eugene, Or. Once that happens either John or I will have some pictures to post.

on the backside of the rim it reads "T 15x6j DOT 7 97 J6ER 4" on the wheel near the lugs it reads only "ER".

I currently am running stock 15x6jj wheels with cooper discoverer 205/75r15. I have a 2" suspension lift which has given me an extra 1.5" for tire hieght. I would like to put on cooper discoverer ST 225/75r15 or 235's if possible. The problem is width. If I put these tires on they may rub on the side of the strut tower according to the tire shop. I haven't test fitted them to make sure. I have probably about 1/2" clearence now between the sidewall and strut. the tire shop has suggested putting on negative off-set wheels. But they couldn't find any and said they would have to be custom built wheels. I've been trying to find negative off-set wheels for my car online. I know my wheels are 5 lug 15"x6" but what does jj mean? I think I also have 100mm lug diameter. What is the Off-set of my current wheels and how much of a off-set do I need to make these tires fit. Any suggestions on what wheels will work for this application.

30% Huh? Now were getting better. I didn't see any info about it though on that webiste.

Does the valve relay need to be replaced? Will replacing it solve the problem?

Well, finally got my car back from the dealer. So far I've spent $700 to get a new rear wheel bearing, new timing belt and replace front crank seal. The only thing they did with the ABS is pull three codes from memory-24, 51, and 26. checked connections and found OK and cleared memory. They didn't even drive a few miles to get the ABS light to come on like I wanted them to. Since I wasn't the one to pick up the vehicle I wasn't able to find out what the codes meant. Now I need to take it in again to get them to finish the job. Does anybody know what codes 24, 51, and 26 mean.