Strakes

Since that last post, I thought I'd better make sure that they are still in business since I haven't lived there in a while before I send you on a wild goose chase...so I went to the cartalk.com site to look them up. here's a link: http://www.cartalk.com/ct/mechx/shop.jsp?id=10707 Good luck! Rotors rusted? Go far far away from stoleman!

I used to live in Annandale, VA. Stoleman had a lousy rep when I lived there. I would recommend this place: Backlick Road Service Station 4715 Backlick Rd Annandale, VA 703-941-9848

Blue's gonna look great! Post a pic if you get it painted like that! I'd love to see it!

I think it has to do with the individual(s) who own the Subaru dealer and their ability to set up an environment that allows workers to enjoy work. Here in Knoxville, TN...Grayson Subaru (which owns BMW, Jeep, and Pontiac dealerships here also) just plain sucks in customer service. Getting work done through them is like pulling teeth. I've been flat out lied to about a particular service bulletin on my 2002 among other things. The turnover is high, because I never seem to meet the same employee again...and then see them working at another dealer. However, 40 miles away in a very small town (Harriman, TN) Earl Duff Subaru has great customer service. It seems that the turnover is low there because, I've seen the same faces for about 6 years. Some manufacturers have more of a controlling interest in their dealerships. For example, Lexus & Infinity. They come down hard on their dealerships if customer service is not up to a certain level. I don't know if Subaru is that way though.

Yup, sounds like that clutch is almost dead.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26754&highlight=Hella check that thread out and see if it helps you any.

My opinion is that the Hella's are better. Their reflector and light broadcast pattern (?) is far better than the stock lens. The Hellas are really durable too. Don't know how many arms and legs it would take to put those on your car. Since you've got the factory wiring in place, then you've got half the job done already. You'd just have to find a suitable way of mounting the lights. Good luck!

Huck369: Do you have a link for more info on the Dragon meet? Thanks!

There are drain holes that can get blocked. The real rocker panel is covered by a large plastic ground effects thing (plastic rocker panel cover). This thing has two drains in it...and is mounted to the rocker panel with (I think) 6 snaps that go into holes drilled into the side of the real rocker panel as well as a few clips in the wheel well/mud flap area. If the panel's drain plugs get plugged up, then the plastic cover and the rocker panel fill up with water. Just sticking a screw driver up into the holes doesn't always do the trick because I've removed my entire plastic rocker panel cover and found all sorts of dirt in there. I think that method allows the water to come out until the leftover debris plugs up the drain again. The best way to fix it is to remove the whole cover and clean it out instead of just sticking something in the drain holes. It's a really easy job to do yourself. Is it a common problem? I only have that problem in the fall when shards of leaves somehow work their way into the rocker panel cover. good luck

Go to the dealer and harass them. I think that there were a rash of defective sunroof glass panels installed in 2000-2002 models. Something to do with the glass manufacturer not getting the layers of lamination to bond properly or something. Here's a link of a similar problem: http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/printthread.php?threadid=447&s= http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=982#post982

We've driven our FWD 93 Wagon in 6 inches of snow with all season tires...No problems, if you plan ahead. With that said, my opinion is that the best solution is getting dedicated winter tires. That would have made a huge difference.

My parents are from India (I was born and raised in the USA, but have visited India numerous times) and some of our family in India love the Chevy Forester so much that my parents are considering a Subaru Forester for their next car. If that happens, that may mean that an Indian Chevy just sold a Subaru to Indian-Americans in Houston, Texas. The forester is perfect for the market in India because most of India's roads are not paved...mostly gravel and dirt where ground clearance is really important and sitting up high is nice to see over all the cows and water buffalo blocking the road. Chevy rebadging it was great, because more Indians from the region where my family comes from in India know of GM and Chevrolet than Subaru...it's a brand recognition thing. Chevy had tried to sell cars there before the Japanese ever did.

I had an ipd skid plate on my previous Volvo 850. The way it was made protected all the vital components, but allowing access holes to get to oil filters, drain plugs, and etc. So for that car, I didn't have to remove the entire thing to do a 15 minute oil change. I bet if you call them up, they might be able to answer your question about accessibility. When you find out, let us know...I'd be interested if I didn't have to remove stuff to get at maintenance items.

The last two times I've replaced my filter, the directions with pictures were included in the box. (This was an OEM filter bought from the dealer, I don't know if there are any aftermarket ones available.)

You may already know this, but you may want to add Subaru WRX on that list...SAAB's 9-2x is just a prettier/rebadged Subaru WRX...but the Subaru is about $3000-$4000 cheaper.

I'm using Axxis/PBR Metal Masters right now and love them. I've used their "Deluxe" and liked them a lot also. The Deluxes were the best at putting out the least amount of dust. The metal masters put out more dust. No squeaks or squeals on either the Metal Masters or the Deluxes.

Is there a small hole in the exhaust somewhere?

The forestor has the aerodynamics of a brick or a school bus (tall and square like old Volvos)...I bet that has something to do with it. Plus a little bit can be attributed to the AWD.

We have a 1993 Legacy with about 157,000 miles and the radiator's original. If you end up with damage in it by following an overfilled gravel truck, then that's another story.

I've started to buy them from ipd at http://www.subysolutions.com

Wheel bearings maybe? Taking it to a reputable mechanic can narrow that down.

That thing deflects larger solid particles from entering the intake. It works quite well, with a slight decrease in ram air during high speed driving. So if you remove it, the only thing you may experience is a slight gain in power during highway driving.

TSB are covered until the warranty runs out. You have to tell them to fix it per the TSB. If the warranty runs out, and you want to perform a TSB, then you have to pay for it. So, if this is an emissions problem, and you're under the 100,000 mile emissions warranty, then manufacturer should cover the fix even if the fix includes a TSB. It does gets confusing, because we have a 3 year/36000 mile bumper to bumper, a 5yr/60,000 mile engine powertrain, and another for rust/paint for 7 years or something, and the emissions for 100,000 miles and on top of that some of these are tranferable to a second owner, some aren't.

Ah ha! I found the documents in the glove box with the Owner's manual and the warranty supplement. Yes, the emissions control systems (which includes the catylitic convertor and O2 sensors) are covered to 100,000 miles. And that's from my 2002 Legacy GT Wagon. So I assume yours would be the same warranty. The booklet said that this warranty is under "federal regulations" so that would apply to you in New York as well. Also, there are places on the web that you can look up all recalls and Technical Service Bulletins for your specific make and model.

Seems like the dealer likes to sell high priced items at the car and hopes you pay for it. I am pretty sure that by federal law the emissions systems components are covered by warranty until 100,000 miles...so if they want to replace the O2 sensor and/or the catalytic convertor, they should do it under the emissions warranty on their own dime. How many miles do you have on the car? And is it still possible for you to get the exact code number?