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Hello all, I really hate the code reader I bought from Autozone. The interface is crap and it's just really junky. So I've been reading about smartphone-based code readers. I have an iPhone 6. We are a two-Subaru family. Any suggestions for which app to buy? Any suggestions for which plug-in module to use to send the info to the smartphone? Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Regards, Jeff in Boston

Hello all, Got an engine light on my 2001 Legacy, base sedan 2.5 liter engine, 5 speed AWD. The code reader says, P1101 MOD $E1. Any suggestions as to what it is telling me? I erased the code and the check engine light hasn't gone back on. Thanks in advance, Jeff in Boston

Hello all, Thank you for the great website suggestions! Really good tools. To recap: I am now running the stock '01 Legacy steel wheels with 205/60 R15s. The Forrester rims I am considering have 215/60 R16s. (One of my postings was incorrect, good catch Olnick.) The tire comparison tool seems to indicate that clearance around suspension will be fine, but I might have wheelwell/fender clearance problems. One ambiguity is I am not sure of the offset on the stock setup. I think I will have to ask the seller for a swap and a ride prior to purchase. We are meeting at a WalMart halfway between our homes. So it won't be terribly convenient. But I'll bring my shop jack and my lug wrench. I guess I also have to wonder if the stock nuts will work with the alloy rims... Thanks for all the help. Jeff in Boston

Can anyone say DEFINITIVELY if the 215/60 R16s on the forester rims will fit on my '01 Legacy sedan which now has 205/60 R15s? I will probably not have a chance to road test them... Here is a link to the listing which shows how they are being used on an Outback wagon: http://tinyurl.com/nxrebbk And here is a photo: Thanks again for your advice, Jeff in Boston Jeff

Hello all, Thanks for the very useful suggestions. Particularly the Craigslist suggestion! I found a guy not too far away selling a set of Forester alloy rims with 85% good tires for $100 less than the cost of new tires alone. (I think it's a good deal, and it'll be great to get rid of the super-rusty original steel wheels.) Question: Are there any issues with switching from the original 205/60 R15s to 225/60 R16s? Will the speedometer read a little less than actual speed? Thanks in advance, Jeff

First of all, these seats look pretty good for an 11-year-old car with 120,000 miles. If you want perfect leather seats, buy a new Outback for $30,000. Secondly, you should get some leather treatment to nourish the leather and bring back some of the cracked areas. I have used this with good results: http://www.lexol.com/product_leather_conditioner.aspx Good luck with the car. Jeff in Boston

Hello all, Can anyone recommend a cheap set of tires for a 2001 Legacy sedan. This is my spare car. It has 80,000 miles, runs like a top, but needs tires badly. I think I'll be driving about 3,000 miles a year on these, including some winter driving. Can't seem to get a quote of less than $375 for a set from any of the local tire shops. Any suggestions? Jeff in Boston

Hello all, I posted a message two weeks back about problems with my rear wheel bearings, which fail repeatedly. Someone told me about a warranty extension on 05-06 Outback wheel bearings. I am now "dealing" with Subaru of America to have them make good on this warranty extension, which I was never notified about. I had to take the car to the dealer to have them "diagnose" the bad wheel bearings (yes, I know they are bad). Had to put up with a lot of guff from the service advisor about using aftermarket parts, yadda yadda yadda. We'll see what they say about that. BUT THE REAL REASON I am posting is the service manager told me a recall is coming for corroded brake lines on my car -- it hasn't gone out yet, he said -- so I will have to make an appointment for that problem. Just a heads up, in case anyone is dealing with corroded brake lines. Jeff in Boston

Hello all, Sorry to bother with a Dumb Question, but I don't have a shop manual for my '01 Legacy L sedan. Is it possible to adjust the parking brake cables from the parking brake in the center console? It looks like I can remove the part of the center console around the brake lever pretty easily...just want to tighten up the parking brake and I want to do it quick and easy. Can anyone send any tips on removing the console items to get access to the cable? Thanks, Jeff in soggy Boston

Hello all, I have a 2005 Outback wagon, base model, 60,000 miles, standard transmission. My wife uses it to commute to work. We are the second owners, bought it with 11,000 miles on it. About three years ago, I started getting loud whining from the rear end, which increased with speed. Sounded like bad wheel bearings. Took it to Midas, it was bad wheel bearings and they replaced both sides for $500 or so. About 9 monts later, the noise stared again. Took it back to Midas, they cheerfully replaced both sides under warranty. Couldn't explain why they can gone bad so quickly. About 9 - 12 months later, same thing. Took it back to Midas, I think they only had to replace one side. They used a different aftermarket bearing which they said they had better experience with. No charge. Nice guys. Apologized for the inconvenience. Now, we have another bad wheel bearing. I'm starting to wonder why this keeps on happening and if there isn't something that these guys are getting wrong. I was speaking last week someone who used to run a Subaru parts counter; he said there are seals they might not be replacing properly........? Does anyone have any thoughts as to why these rear wheel bearings keep going bad? Is there something Midas needs to knoiw? Is there a bad aftermarket brand that should be avoided? Should I insist on OEM parts this time around? My patience is wearing thin. As much as I like the guys at Midas, I'd like to see them a little less frequently. Thanks in advance for any help. Jeff in Boston 05 Outback 99 Audi A4 Avant 72 Citroen SM

Should I clean the IAC or remove and replace? New one $177 at Autozone. Also, what do I have to remove to get at the IAC? Thanks for any tips. Jeff

Hello all, I have a 2001 Legacy sedan, base model, 5-speed, only 80,000 miles. Recently, the idle has been erratic. Sometimes it dips down below 500 rpm and the car will stall out. Then it will jump back up to standard idle, ~750-800 rpm. The engine check light is NOT on and I can't find any codes with my code reader. I have solved the stalling problem temporarily by raising the idle with the accelerator cable adjustment. Inelegant, but it works. What are some likely culprits? Is there an idle enrichment solenoid? Mass air flow sensor? Another sensor or elecctronic doodad? By the way, before this problem came up, I noticed that when the engine is cold, the idle would often go WAY UP to 2500 rpm plus for the first three minutes running until the engine started to warm. Maybe related? THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS! Jeff in frigid cold Boston

Hello all, I want to send BIG THANKS to everyone on the board for all their help. Went to AutoZone, got the code, which read crank position sensor. They had the part IN STOCK for $22.99. Had some trouble getting the old one out. Wound up removing the belt guards, radiator fans, air intake to get the 10mm nut off. The sensor swivelled but wouldn't come out. Finally pried it out, but the aluminum housing stayed in the block. So I had to remove the alternator to get the aluminum housing out. Put everything back, it started right up and I let it idle for 1/2 hour, everything looks and sounds good. All in all, a lot easier than working on my Citroen SM! THANKS TO EVERYONE. Jeff in Boston P.S. Did I mention the car has 80,000 miles on it and I bought it for $500? :-))

Thank you all for the suggestions. An OBDII reader is on order from the bay. Can anyone tell me exactly where the crank position sensor is, so I can start spraying it? Thanks in advance, Jeff

Hello all, New to the board. Just bought an '01 Legacy sedan, 2.5 engine, manual transmission, 80,000 miles. On the way home, after five minutes of driving, the car stalled out. Just stopped running. Engine will crank readily, but will not catch. I popped the hood and waited 10 minutes. Car restarted. Drove another 1.5 miles. Car stalled out again, would not restart despite lots of cranking. Did the same thing: popped hood, waited 10 minutes, car started again, got it home. Any thoughts? I'm guessing something finicky in the fuel or ignition system? Flaky fuel pump or fuel pump relay? The check engine light goes on when it stalls, goes off when it restarts, so I'm not sure if I can get an error code. Also, just as a precaution, I should probably change the fuel filter...where exactly does it live? Thanks in advance for any advice! Jeff in Watertown, Mass. '01Legacy '05 Outback '99 Audi A4 Avant '72 Citroen SM