howards11

Is it possible to upgrade the intermittent wiper control on a 2000 Forester L? These intermintent wipers are not variable like those on the better S model. I read either here or another board that it was just a matter of changing out the control lever. Does anyone have better instructions? Thanks ! ~Howard :cool:

Dawn ? Dish stuff ? ~Howard :-\

My 2000 Forester is nice and cold ! I do notice that the compressor does cycle a bit more than other cars I've owned. But as long as it's cold I'm not complaining. I agree that the AC kills your gas mileage. Maybe it's the 4 cyclinder engine. My V6 Camry doesn't seem as bad on gas mileage with the AC on. ~Howard :cool:

The good news is I'm exchanging the 5.25" adapters for 4" adapters at no additional cost. With the 4" you do not have to drill holes in your doors. Now I have to order 4" two way speakers from Crutchfield. I'm looking at Sonys. ~Howard

Here's a link to some good information: http://autorepair.about.com/cs/productreviews/l/aa052601a.htm ~Howard

The saga continues........ The rear speaker upgrade is beginning to sound like a soap opera. I got the adapters today (7/3) and I am very angry. In the instructions they want you to drill four 1/16" holes in your doors ! I sent an e-mail to the company for a better explanation. I thought the adapters were just a "plug and play" situation. This is something I want to avoid. I can picture going back to my body shop and having holes repaired. The Blaupunkt speakers I wanted to use are too big for the adapters. If I do somehow manage to use the adapters WITHOUT drilling I will probably use Pioneer speakers. If I do have to return the Pioneer speakers I will just settle for the speaker upgrade kit from Subaru. ~Howard

I believe there are disclaimers on the package. ~Howard

I ordered adapters for the rear speakers. Now I can use 5 1/4 inch speakers ! I'm probably going to go with some inexpensive Blaupunkt ones from Crutchfield which would still be tons better than the factory version. ~Howard

I appreciate your suggestion however I see nothing at the web site you suggested that will adapt the 5" subaru mounts (rear speakers) to accept 5 1/4 speakers which are a standard size. ~Howard :cool:

I found adapters for the rear speakers: http://www.iaperformance.com/ ~Howard

Best of luck with it. I got a 2000 Forester L about a year ago and it's wonderful in the S N O W....a four letter word. ~Howard :cool:

The best way I can describe it was a dimple. It would come and go. One time I'd see it on one tire and then the next time on another. I was told by a manager at GY that it was ply seperation. Another manager at GY then denied it. The second guy claimed it was the way the tires were stored before mounting. They did replace one tire as a "customer courtesy". The problem continued. Then GY closed all their company stores and referred me to Just Tires which is their operation. At Just Tires they just wanted to replace one tire and not both on the same axel. (This was a Mercury Sable. Not a AWD Subie) The original tire model was discontinued at that point. Just Tires said that the tread pattern on the new model was close enough to the original tire. They wanted me to have a mismatched set of tires. I said NO WAY. The problem kept happening until I finally got rid of the car because the transmission went South. ~Howard

REGATTA ! I think that's it ! GEE......you have a good memory. :cool: ~Howard

I really don't remember. The line has been discontinued. They kept developing bulges in the sidewalls. They replaced it once for me but then they claimed there was nothing wrong with the tires when it happened again. They said it was due to how the tires were stored when they were at Goodyear ! ~Howard

I have Bridgestone Turanzas LST on my Forester. They were GREAT this past winter. I put Firestone Affinitys LH30 on my wife's Toyota Camry LE V6. They were also good too. I do not like Goodyear. They are highly over rated and over priced. I had trouble with their products in the past and they would not honor the warranty or the extended warranty. This was from their own company store. ~Howard

Gee........a Subaru ONLY magazine. Imagine that ! W O W ! ~Howard

When my Forester hit around 30,000 miles I had: both diff fluids changed the air filter replaced the ATF fluid changed along with the filter the fuel filter changed new plugs replaced the coolant drained & replaced the brake fluid oil change & filter tire rotation PCV valve replaced Does the car need this much service? Well in my opinion if you want to keep it for a while you have to treat it right. For instance I have been told that the brake fluid should be changed because not doing it can damage the ABS system which would cost $$$. How much did this all cost? Around $800. ~Howard

What is LPS ? :-\ ~Howard

Here is Triflow's web site: http://www.triflowlubricants.com/ ~Howard

If you need a spray lubrication like WD-40, I would strongly suggest using PB Blaster Penetrating Catalyst. I picked up the stuff at Auto Zone. It's around $4.00. So far I've used it on two problems and it really does the trick . It cleans the area and also lubricates it. The link for the company is shown below. http://www.pbblaster.com/ ~Howard :cool:

Here's some good information on antifreeze: http://autorepair.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/aa052601a.htm ~Howard

JOEK39: I tried using another spray PB Blaster Penetrating Catalyst. This seems like really good stuff and appears to be doing the trick. More gunk came out of the latch. Here's the web site for the new spray: http://www.pbblaster.com/ I am not the adventurous type and I will leave the bolts just where they are......... in the hatch. I don't remember the hatch light dimming when you close the hatch. The dome light dims. ~Howard

It was the front pads. I had them replaced with Akebono ceramic pads. They seem great ! ~Howard :cool:

FindingForester: Your help is most appreciated. Would you please get back to me if you find something or not ? Thanks ! ~Howard

JOEK39: I used some WD40 tonight and THE LIGHT WORKS ! Now the only problem I have is when I lift the handle the light appears bright and as I raise the hatch, it gets dimmer. Would more WD40 help ? I also gave the latch a shot of spray teflon. ~Howard :cool: