joybell

Sorry, I put in an "s" where I shouldn't have. It is: http://www.carsurvey.org

Northguy: Check out http://www.carsurveys.org All the Europeans with 2.0L engines are happy customers.

If the Vehicle Identification Number starts with a one (1), then it is made in USA. If it starts with (J) it is made/assembled in Japan.

Where are the European Legacys/Outbacks assembled?

Go to carsurveys.org and take note that it is the models sold in North America that some people are disappointed in. All of the reviews I read from Europe and Asia are favourable. This could be because only North America (and since 2003 Australia) has to have that **^%#^&%&..... 2.5L engine. Is there any way to compare reliability between Subarus made in Japan and those made in USA? I blame SOA for the reliability downfall for the models made in USA, and for meddling with the engine.

A friend is looking at a used 2000 Outback and asked if there were any recalls. Didn't that model year have a problem with the front end (steering/suspension)? Where can I find out?

EXCEPT when the weather is hot and muggy. The sweat will run out from under your gloves.....yuk.

"Americans" are people who live in USA (can't call you USAers!) "Canadians" are Canadians "Mexicans" are Mexicans NORTH Americans include all of the above. VIN numbers starting with 1 are assembled in USA VIN numbers starting with 2 are assembled in Canada VIN numbers starting with 3 are assembled in Mexico

Question: My 2003 Forester is supposedly not affected, but subjected to the same coolant additive when I take it in for service? So does that mean that I get the extended warranty too? Actually, I would rather not have the stop leak coolant added if I don't get an extended warranty. How do I know if the dealer adds it or not? Different color?

A new North American Subaru with the EJ20? Which model? As for the demise of the EJ22 I think it was more expensive to build than the 2.5L. SOA wants visibile luxuries.

If you are in North America, the 2.5L engine is the one you will get in every Subaru. You could of course try to bypass SOA and import a Subaru from Europe or Japan. Those have the good engines. Check out carsurvey.org and you will find that every single Subaru owner outside of North America gives Subaru an excellent review. From North American owners there more than a few reliability complaints. So don't blame Subaru, blame SOA.

My mom is hanging on to her 1998 Impreza with the 2.2L engine. She was looking at trading but found out that the new Imprezas all have 2.5L engines. She has had no problems with this car other than rear wheel bearings which were replaced a long time ago under warranty. Now that's a Subaru!

Isn't the automatic AWD electronically controled, and the manual AWD mechanically controled? And isn't there a difference in the way the AWD works when the wheels slip? For the automatic, power is supplied to whichever wheel has the most traction (front or back and diagonal), and the manual power is supplied only back to front and front to back, not diagonally? I'm still not sure if this is correct. In any case, a mechanically controled AWD system as in a MT sounds more durable that the electronically controled AWD in an AT, although in theory the AT would have more traction.

I have had Subarus since the mid 80's. Whenever it is extremely cold, and I don't warm up the engine before hand and just take off, the engine complains off and on with the metallic whine and howling until it warms up, on every Subaru model I've owned. They were all good winter cars and never stalled, and never had much trouble starting even in cold temps with no block heater. I suppose it could be the fuel pump. It never does any harm so I don't pay attention to it. If you don't want to hear it, just warm up your Forester for 5 minutes before taking off. I also have a 2003 Forester.

For all of you that are mechanically minded: Is is possible to put a 2.2L engine into a Forester?

So what was changed in the later 02 head gaskets? I seem to remember something about a different gasket liner? Or was the gasket itself redesigned? IMO Subaru should just scrap the 2.5L and go with the proven reliable 2.2L. Can there really be much difference in power?

I don't think SOC has the Subaru Super Glue, only SOA. I'll find out when I take my Forester in this week. When was your 02 manufactured?

About this "Conditioner Coolant"......will my 2003 Forester need to have this coolant added as well? Or has the gasket or gasket liner been redesigned with these later Phase 11 2.5L engines so that there will no longer be any head gasket coolant leaks?

It is just out to the dealers now.

WWP-99 Service Campaign - Cooling System Conditioner Subaru has determined that certain 1999 through 2002 model year 2.5L equipped Subaru vehicles may experience an external coolant leak from the cylinder head gaskets. This is the result of normal relative thermal expansion and contraction variations of engine parts. As a precautionary measure, SOA is recommending that a special conditioner be added to the engine cooling system to prevent leaks from occurring or to correct existing leaks. Only early Phase II 2.5 liter engines are affected by this campaign. Phase I 2.5 liter engines (some 1999 model year and prior years) are not affected. Countermeasures applied to the manufacturing process for those 2002 and later VINS not affected by this campaign have eliminated the need for this campaign to be performed on those vehicles. In the future, it will be necessary to add Genuine Subaru Cooling System Conditioner to the SUBARU vehicle cooling system whenever the engine coolant is replaced. The updated recommended service procedure as well as intervals for coolant replacement will be added to all applicable service manuals. As a reminder, we will include an update page in the owner notification letters that should be added to the Owner’s Manual and Warranty and Maintenance Booklet. We ask you to keep in mind that replacement of fluids (including Subaru Cooling System Conditioner) during inspection and maintenance services are not covered under warranty. If the vehicle owner has this Service Program repair performed promptly, Subaru will extend coverage under the Subaru Limited Warranty on the vehicle for cylinder head gasket external coolant leaks to a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Warranty coverage begins on the date the vehicle was delivered to the first retail purchaser. If the vehicle was used as a demonstrator or company vehicle before being sold at retail, warranty coverage begins on the date the vehicle was first placed in such service. As a further condition for this extended warranty coverage to apply, the vehicle owner must have Genuine Subaru Cooling System Conditioner added to the vehicle at any subsequent cooling system services at the interval specified in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet under the heading “Schedule of Inspection and Maintenance Services”. Dealers will automatically be sent an initial quantity of Genuine Subaru Cooling System Conditioner. Dealer bulletins and affected VIN lists will be mailed to dealers in early February 2004. Owner notification letters are scheduled for mailing in stages.

Why didn't Subaru scrap the 2.5L and go with the reliable 2.2L? Is there all that much difference in power? Can the 2.5L engine in the Forester/Legacy be replaced with the 2.2L?

Since it appears that the 2.5L engine is much less robust than other Subaru engines, we might be a bit paranoid. I too had a problem with my 2003 last week, when the temp was -32deg C. I started the car then went into the house to wait until it warmed up. When I came back out the temp was over the halfway mark and I could smell what I thought was anti-freeze (coolant?). After I drove it for about 5 minutes the temp gauge dimped down a little to where it usually sits. It hasn't happened again since, but we have not had a day as cold as that one again. It's going to the dealer next week for a checkup. I only have 5,000k on it and also bought it last July.

I have a 2003 2.5x Forester. Yesterday it was extremely cold. I started my Forester and then went back to the house while it warmed up. When I came back out 3-5 minutes later, there was a coolant smell and the temperature gauge was up past the halfway point. I drove it anyway, and the gauge dropped back down to normal again. Today it is even colder and I don't dare even start it. THIS IS A 2003!!! I don't think there is such a thing as a reliable 2.5L engine. The good ones are the 2.0L and the 2.2L, and of course the old 1.8L. I would rather have them put a 2.2L engine in my Forester, if it is possible.

What about someone, like me, who takes 10 years to do 70K miles? And reading "99-04" tells me that the models now in Subaru showrooms are still prone to headgasket failure? Why did they not put the 2.2L engine in the Foresters and Legacys? And here is a question that has bothered me for a long time. Is the 2.5L engine a true Subaru engine?

And I found out that I had heated outside mirrors! Duhhh.....