I don't know that much about cars, which is why I purchased what I thought would be a very low maintenance/reliable car 3 years ago. Up until April of this year everything was great!

 

In April, my OBW would occasionally, upon starting, be very sluggish (felt like starting out in 3rd instead of 1st) and the speedo would not work at all. Then the next time I started it would be fine. Then the check engine light came on and I took it to the (subaru)dealer. The dealer told me that when running diagnostics they kept getting a "nonexistent" code and that they had to keep calling the tech line for assistance. They ended up replacing the tcm, then they got another code and replaced the inhibitor switch.

 

The car was fine until about a month later when the same thing happened again. They looked at it, drove it and told me they couldn't duplicate the problem. Then just a few weeks ago it happened again. They got another "non-existent code" on July 2nd and said they would call the tech line and get back to me (I kept the car as I have twin babies and I just hate taking those car seats in and out).

 

So over the weekend this happened 3 more times, and I noticed that it seems to occur whenever I would turn off the car and restart it within 10 minutes or less. The speedometer doesn't work and it's very sluggish, sometimes the engine light comes on. If I wait an hour or so it's fine. So maybe it's heat related? Apparently (according to the dealer) the tech line takes a while to call them back.

 

Has anyone heard anything like this? I am clueless (and apparently so is the dealer). I need this car fixed it has been in the shop a total of 3 weeks so far this summer. I really need a reliable car when toting around the munchkins and I love everything else about this car but I don't know if I can take it anymore!!!!

Sort of sounds like a speed sending unit problem. I think that your car has two of these.

 

99obw

yeah....either a speed sensor, or possibly the ECM is on the fritz.

Sorry to hear about your problem with the car. Even the reliable Subarus have problems at times.

 

I agree with the other posters about the problem area and just add, it may be a faulty wire connection in those areas that could causing this to happen, since it is a intermitant problem. Subaru wiring is usually very good but sometimes "things happen".

 

Glen

Well, after 2 1/2 weeks of struggling to get through to the subaru tech line, the dealer replaced the speedometer. On the way home from picking it up tonight, I stopped to get something to eat. When I got in the car again, the speedo did not work and I had to drive all the way home in what felt like 3rd gear. I am totally fed up - I first took it in for this problem 3 months ago. The dealer has been helpful and nice but I don't think I can take it anymore.

 

I took it back up to the dealer and they are stumped. They have been waiting days/weeks each time (total of 4 times) for Subaru tech line to call them back because of this bizarre problem.

 

I am calling Subaru tomorrow but I'm not sure what that will even accomplish. Any suggestions? Should I look into another car? It's been 3 months, a new TCM, a new inhibitor switch, and now a new speedo. We were supposed to take this car on vacation (we leave Saturday)but I don't think that' s a good idea. I didn't expect this kind of trouble at 35,000 miles. |I

 

Allison

Definitely have the dealer replace both the VSS(s) (Vehicle Speed Sensor).

 

Paul

Sorry for my ignorance - so the vehicle speed sensor is different than the speedometer? I'll ask him about it tomorrow. I'm now on a first name basis with the service manager after 3 months. Thanks

the vehicle speed sensor is that sends the signal to the speedometer. in the old days, there used to be a cable from the transmission to the speedo, but they have since switched to an electronic sensor and electronic speedometer. this signal is also used by the transmission computer, to help decide on the best gear for your current speed. your dealer is a complete doofus if he has not replaced it yet...

Thanks for your suggestions. The dealer replaced the VSS that goes with the speedo but not the one in the transmission (how he explained it to me) so he will now be replacing the second one.

 

I also called Subaru of America today and told them my tale of woe - they are opening a "case" and supposedly will be involving the regional service manager. I have no idea what this means - if anything will come of it or if this means he just wrote it down on some piece of paper. Hopefully it will be fixed soon, although after three months of craziness I am not holding my breath.

Hi, i was interested in knowing if the problem got fixed.....?

At the moment i am having the same problem, My speedo isn't working and my odometer is on but it's stuck on the last number that was on the screen before the problem started, also the engine light is on...

One other thing is that i have a modified exhaust system on my forester 98 and it's making a lot of popping sounds, the car has just been completely serviced and need spark plug leads and new sprk plugs have been added, the exhaust it self is in perfect condition, it has benn checked by a exhaust specialist........

Please help

Thanks, Michael