I seem to have a problem with my 5-speed Forester. Whenever I'm in a high gear like 4th or 5th, and I try to accelerate, it will accelerate normally for a second, but then the engine will start to race and it will barely accelerate. I'm guessing it's the clutch. In 2 days, I'm going in for my 3,000 mile routine service... what should I tell them? It's especially annoying when I'm using the cruise control as it takes much longer to get up to speed, and I'm also worried about the excess strain on the engine and how it will affect my gas mileage.

I seem to have a problem with my 5-speed Forester. Whenever I'm in a high gear like 4th or 5th, and I try to accelerate, it will accelerate normally for a second, but then the engine will start to race and it will barely accelerate. I'm guessing it's the clutch. In 2 days, I'm going in for my 3,000 mile routine service... what should I tell them? It's especially annoying when I'm using the cruise control as it takes much longer to get up to speed, and I'm also worried about the excess strain on the engine and how it will affect my gas mileage.

First off, 3,000 miles on an 01? I think you meant 30,000. . .

Tell them to replace the clutch as it is slipping, and it is way too early for that, so they should do it for free under warranty. . . I don't care how bad you drive (or they say you do) 30,000 miles is too fast for a clutch to die. . . .

It's my 3,000 mile oil change, but my Soob has about 74K on it.. I'll talk to them about the clutch though.

definitely sounds like clutch slippage to me

 

74k is good mileage on a clutch.

sounds like it's time for a new one!

 

Jamie

OK, thanks, y'all have been a great help. Boy am I glad I found this site!

(Bought used)

 

Who knows how badly it was treated, through neglect or incompetance. After you get a new clutch, drive with confidance. I bought an '87 with 130,000 miles on it, and a clutch of unknown history. When I sold the car at 212,000 it was still going strong on the same clutch (and brakes, for that matter). In the last six months I had the car, I drove it from Montana to Maryland and back (and went bashing around in the NJ Pine Barrens with the East Coast Gang, uncluding train-tugging a stuck sedan out of the sand).

I see the car running all over town, with no problems this winter.

According to CarFax, it was owned by an elderly gentleman who did a lot of highway driving, not some fearless teenager like me tearassing through the mud. However, I've heard a lot on this board that Foresters have been known for clutch issues, and I guess mine is no exception.

about 89,000 miles if I recall. Get the latest variation of clutch kit which actually seems to work and chatters less. Apparently Subaru tred an organic lineing that did not work out so well for chattering and longevity.

I usually get about 150,000 miles from a clutch and pull them out to inspect. On my last pickup it looked so new I could have reinstalled it.

I hope to get a lot more miles on this Forester clutch.

The final verdict was that I need a new clutch after all. $850 for parts/labor. The mechanic that worked on it said that since I do a lot of stop-go city driving, this is fairly common. The pressure plate was pretty heavily worn down, and they have to replace it all because it's in a kit.

The final verdict was that I need a new clutch after all. $850 for parts/labor. The mechanic that worked on it said that since I do a lot of stop-go city driving, this is fairly common. The pressure plate was pretty heavily worn down, and they have to replace it all because it's in a kit.

OK, I checked out the LUK clutches I could find on the web. The only one that listed my car was the direct swap one that performs just like the OE one, but costs less than the Exedy (180 vs 215), but they also have a line that is supposed to last a good bit longer under hard driving conditions, called ProGold (or somesuch). They did not give any way to tell if it is available for which car, however, so I'm a bit miffed at them for that. I would have wanted to compare the cost, as that seems to be a better clutch. . .

 

Oh, and the LUK clutches are made in Germany, if that makes any difference. . .

Oh, it's no problem... Subaru of Dallas has it taken care of, and my Forester will be ready in a few hours. Thanks for your help.