Bmm001

Turns out my brother bumped the "lock" switch by accident, simplest fix ever!

never mind figured it out. Mods feel free to delete this post!

My dad has a 2015 Crosstrek. Compared to my '14 Legacy I would say it's slightly noisier inside, but that's mainly due to the engine having to rev a bit higher during acceleration. It's not objectionable or obnoxious though. As far as wind/tire noise cruising down the highway, it seems just as quiet to me. Both cars are light years quieter than my '03 Outback. As far as space goes, they've fit a La-Z-Boy recliner in it with the seats folded flat. I will say that the trunk isn't very big if you don't fold the seats down. It's tall and boxy, but not very deep front-to-back. So when the 4 of us went to the beach, with 4 beach chairs, a cooler, beach bags, etc. it was up almost to the roof. Brian

Another voite for the CS4s from me. 20k on mine so far and still at 9/32". Quiet, good wet/snow traction.

Nope, definitely water, not antifreeze or gas. I'll check out the plugs and wheel well. It is starting to get a bit rusty so wouldn't be surprised.

With all the snow/rain we've been getting recently, I noticed the floor on the rear passenger side is sopping wet. I do not have a sunroof, and the only area of the car getting wet is the 15"x15" or so area on the floor board. Way too much water to just be snow melt from the floor mat. Up front on the passenger side is bone dry, my first thought was a clogged A/C drain line. The door frame/trim there is also dry--I thought it might be leaking through there somehow. How else could the water be getting there? Thanks! Brian

My '95 had 82,000 miles when I got it back in 2004 and now has over 212,000. Past two inspections it hasn't needed a thing. Biggest unanticipated repair I've had lately was a right front wheel bearing last month--left one is starting to get noisy so that one is next but can't complain, stuff wears out! Do all the regular maintenance and don't let little problems turn into big problems and you'll be fine.

My car is a 2003 OB Limited Wagon with 74K. One of the backlight bulbs lighting up the left portion of my instrument cluster seems to have died (fuel gauge, lower left part of speedometer). For the last few months it would intermittently not work, but could be resurrected with a whack to the dashboard. This morning, no such luck. How difficult/labor intensive (expensive?) of a fix is this? How many bulbs are there? The right side (temp gauge) occasionally needs a dashboard whack, so I'm thinking it might be on the way out too. Probably a good bet to replace them all at once? Thanks, Brian

Posted in the wanted, we're checkin' some hubcap places too. Trying to cover all our bases

I already posted in the classified, but was curious if anyone has had success or knows of a brand of aftermarket hubcaps that would work for a '97 Impreza L? My dad's missing two, and the set we tried from Autozone did not work... tabs were too long and there was no way those buggers were going on! What a bad idea on Subaru's part! Brian

This is what I've heard too. My independent Suby shop says they've only had a few after about 2004 models.

What is the percentage of EJ25's that have had HG problems vs. the total # of EJ25's on the road? Anyone know? More specifically, compare that percentage for Phase I vs. Phase II. Now compare the percentage of owners/posters on this forum, or any other Subaru forum to the total number of Subaru owners. So how bad is it really? Many times, but not always, people gravitate to forms to find an answer to a problem, so I'm asking if the perspective could be a bit skewed? I'm not denying that Subaru could have handled the whole situation better. I think they were in denial too long, and took too long to fix it once they admitted the problem. I'm also not denying that overall it seems that the EJ25 is not quite as bullet-proof as the EJ22's, particularly the pre-interference iteration of the EJ22. But every time I drive my '03 outback, which did have a HG external leak at 30K that was fixed, I realize how much smoother and quieter it is than any of my family's EJ22 Subarus. Plus, it gets the same gas mileage with 30 more hp in a big heavy car like the OB! Just trying to provide another point of view for the OP. Brian

I thought Subaru had a TSB/Recall program for this issue in their Turbo motors? Anyone? Brian

I'm not disputing the ice instability of the '05's, as I have no knowledge to say one way or the other.. sounds like a suspension geometry design flaw, but I also wonder whether Subaru's tire/wheel choice exacerbates the inherent instability? I agree with this. Even my '03 OB that has much larger tires than our other Subarus (mid-late 90s Imprezas and Legacies) is less sure-footed in bad weather. The solution: slow down. Back to this situation: an outback isn't a sports car. It's a tall, heavy quasi-suv that probably shouldn't be driven this fast just because it can be. Should it be behaving this way? Probably not, but I think a little common sense should rule. Brian

Of all my family's Subarus (an Impreza, Legacy, Legacy wagon, Impreza Outback, Outback), I think my dad's 97 Impreza sedan is the least reassuring in the snow. I think it's mainly because of the short wheelbase, performance all season tires, and the lack of ABS. We should probably all remember that just because we're driving an all wheel drive car doesn't mean we can drive faster than "regular" cars in the snow. Brian

I have an '03 OBW and and my independent Subie shop had this same issue when they went to replace my inner cv boot--I think they detached the control arm and somehow did it a different way. Interestingly, they say they experience this problem much more frequently with the newer Subies compared to the 90s ones. Their therory is that perhaps tolerances are tighter on the '00 and newer models making them more susceptible to this issue. Brian

A few weeks ago, my '03 outback started missing/stumbling when it was cold. Interestingly, it didn't throw any codes. Turned out the #4 spark plug boot was torn, and the valve cover gaskets were leaking a bit. New wires/plugs, spark plug grommets and VC gaskets, and now it runs beautifully! Brian

Thumbs up for: 6-spd manual Bigger trunk Front end styling--I like it, a evolution of the current car Going back to 16" wheels on the base model-save the aggressive, expensive 17" summer tires for the Turbo Thumbs down for: Bland rear end styling that looks like an '03 Accord/Hyundai Sonata--less aggressive and chiseled than the current car Increase in size (weight too?) but carryover base engine No regular automatic in the base model (unless I read this wrong)--Is a CVT in a heavy AWD 170HP flat 4 going to be pleasant from a NVH standpoint? Seems to me that engine will be working pretty hard. I hope the mileage is good.

Sorry I haven't updated, but wanted to wait until I had an update to post! It is the headgasket. Last time I had it over, I was under the car with them and we didn't see any evidence. They replaced the o-rings on the crossover pipe, thinking that it could have been dribbling down (looked a little wet on the driver's side end). Left the under cover off, and when I took it back for them to put the cover back on, we saw it clearly, damp driver's side headgasket, dribbling onto the cross member and jacking point behind the oil pan. I'm taking the car in on Tuesday for them to repair. They've been talking to Subaru to see if they will do it (I'm doubtful, but it's getting fixed either way). While they have it, I want them to check out the front suspension/steering and wanted some input. Here are the symptoms: 1. A loose on-center feeling, even at speeds of 30-40 MPH. A side-to-side vibration through the wheel can be felt when you gently move the wheel side to side. 2. At highway speeds, the side-to-side "wobble" is much more pronounced, even on smooth highways, and can also be felt when braking, like slowing on an exit-ramp. Braking from slower speeds doesn't cause any pedal or steering wobble. 3. On rough patches of road or manhole covers, there seems to be a lot of "play" and kickback through the wheel, jiggling it around in my hand. 4. No unusual noises, clicks, clunks, etc. No unusual tire wear, they're OE Potenzas with probably another 15,000 miles of life left and have 33,500 miles on them (like the car). Had the wheels balanced 2 weeks ago and that didn't resolve, mechanic said they weren't really "off". I realize on rough roads there is going to be some vibration up through the steering wheel, but I don't think the looseness and shimmying is normal, and it didn't do this when I first bought the car (4,000 miles ago). Something just doesn't feel like it should... my '95 Legacy with 147K and original shocks & suspension components didn't feel like that except when it needed a new driver's side axle! Just want to get an idea what to ask them to check. Brian M.

McBrat did a USMB decal for my old '95 that looked great. I'll be contacting him soon for a decal for my new ride! Brian

I took my '03 OBW Limited through the automatic car wash this morning. During the wash, water started pouring through the hole where the rear center seat belt shoulder harness comes out of the ceiling, above the cargo area during the hard spray portion of the wash! I've never noticed any leaking when it's raining, or when the car was washed by hand with the wand, etc. That leads me to believe it partially had something to do with how the water was aimed. Is something blocked or not sealed properly? My first thought was the rear sunroof but that doesn't seem anywhere close to the seat belt hole and there was no evidence of water that I could see near it, but I can certainly look closer, I was on my way to work and just gave it a quick look when I got there. My second thought is the rear hatch. Thoughts? Thanks, Brian M.

The OE Potenza's on my recently purchased '03 Outback are OK... until it snowed. They're quiet and nice for dry and wet, were pretty awful in the snow and ice we got this week. Granted they have 30K on them (still have probably 7/32" of tread or so on them), but maybe I expected a little more since the OB also has a limited slip rear axle compared to my '95 Legacy? We've had very good results with Kumho tires (they're on all 4 of my family's other Subarus). I'd check them out, their pricing is usually very competitive, especially from the Tire Rack. Of the different models we've had (Touring 732, Touring 795, Solus KR16), they've all been quiet, given good traction, and worn well. Brian

Thanks for the quick replies! When I call on Monday, I will be setting up a time to take it over when I can be there with them showing them exactly what I saw while it's up on the lift. Are any of these in the area that i'm describing the leak? I know where the water pump and T-stat housing is, and they're bone dry... the leakage visible is further back, dripping onto the steering rack boot for the driver's side wheel, so I'm thinking it's leaking somewhere in that area, down onto the boot and dripping down onto the jacking point behind the oil pan. Again, thanks for the great input, I'm just trying to go in "armed" with as much info as possible! Brian

No bubbles, no oil film, no odd temp. gauge behavior. It's always pegged right in the middle. Brian

Picked up an '03 OB Limited a few weeks ago (30K, 5-speed). Everything was fine for the first week. Then, noticed a coolant smell, and drip marks under the car, and could see a green droplet clinging to the center of the plastic under-cover. Took it back to the place I bought it (independent dealer who only sells Subarus), they saw no evidence of leakage, tightened all hose fittings, ran a pressure test (also fine), ran it up on the lift, and were unable to duplicate anything. They perform 30K service on all the cars they sell, and confirmed that the Coolant Conditioner was used. Gave it back to me without the under cover, said to look for leakage. Didn't notice any at first, until I was filling up my tires today at the gas station, and could see a small drip coming from the driver's side onto the left exhaust pipe and then down to the ground. I can see coolant clinging to the bottom of the jacking point behind the oil pan, and around the driver's side steering rack boot. Questions: 1. Do external HG leaks in phase 2 EJ25's typically leak right after the car is started and running in the cold (I warmed it up for about 2 minutes and drove 1 mile to the gas station, it's about 14 degrees outside today)? Does the leak "go away" temporarily once it's heated up? 2. If by chance it's not the HG, what else could possibly leaking from that area? I tried to crawl under and take some pictures if that helps at all. Not sure how to link them up but PM me and I can e-mail them to you. I'm going to call the place first thing Monday and take it over to show them with me there what's going on, but wanted some thoughts from people who know a lot more than me! Thanks, Brian