Mdon

Hi, where are you base pal? Or where would these picked up from?

Doing what she does best

Looking to carry out a few upgrades, more photos to follow.

Thanks for the advice Mr B. I’ve started using millers and going to changed the glow plugs. Only thing is and I’m quite embarrassed to admit, we can’t seem to see them on the engine itself, don’t suppose anyone has a diagram? Secondly, I’ve looked and better looked through the service book and can’t see a mention of a timing belt renewal for my 2012 2.0D. Has it got a belt or a chain? Thanks all.

That is for the reply, I wasn’t interested in the petrol as I have a mate and a friend of a friend who’ve had no end of troubles with their legacy’s 2.5 petrols (average spend for one is £800 per year for the last 3 years of a 2010 model). The choice was either a Hyundai ix35/Kia Sportage crdi or the Subaru. The Hyundai/Kia has a hell of a lot more bad reviews/horror stories so decided to go for the Subaru as it’s just a nicer car. I’ve had my fair share of troubles with this Skoda and a previous Volvo 2.0D so hopefully the Subaru will be better and I’m holding the old theory of people who have good experiences with their cars rarely leave a review or write or forums, only people who feel aggrieved by the reliability make the effort to search and write tales of woe. That’s my hopes anyway, I hope you won’t be bothering you guys to much with problems.

Hi all, i had an 04 Subaru Forester 2.0 petrol a couple of years ago and loved it, change in circumstances meant I couldn’t afford the 26mpg on my 50mile commute anymore so I swapped it in for a Skoda Octavia 4x4. Worst decision of my life as it’s been nothing but issues. I’m glad to say that’s all over now as I’ve just put money down on a 2012 outback diesel with low mileage, FSH and 12 month warranty. Just wondering if if there’s anything to look out for, or anything preventative to be done. cheers. mike.

I have no idea, plus it was up a very steep winding road with cars parked all over the place so I don't know if they could actually get a recovery trick up there. I offered a tow and for him to use my phone to cancel them but he declined. Pity, I was going to get my mate to photo it, it would have made a good picture watching a forester rescue another forester. I felt sorry for the chap, a few folk made comments and he looked rather sorry for himself standing there as we left. Hope he got out ok.

Has stants has said. It can only be one of two things if it's not even firing. Must be either a power/spark problem or fuel. I'd try the jump start first then. Always start cheap and work up.

Came across a 55 plate forester stuck in the verge up the fells. Gentleman had a Subaru hat on. I offered to tow him out but RAC were already en route and he didn't have any phone signal to cancel them. I'm sure I've seen the car before on here. If he is, did the RAC get you out ok in the end?

Likewise, I work shifts as well, can't believe how mild this winter has been, only defrosted the car a hand full of times so far. This time last year I was up to my ankles in snow in the fells.

Cheers mate, it's in need of a good polish but still chuffed with it. I was hoping for more snow this winter but I don't think we'll get any.

Got bored the other week so fitted some led number plate lights and some amber sidelights to try and give in an imported look.

Photos of my amber side lights.

Apologies, I forgot to reply to this, I just got the cheapest ones off eBay as I didn't know if I'd like the look. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400501140213

Tidy looking motor. I think they are the best shape, slightly biased since I have a 04 plate one, I bought it as it short term motor originally but I've fallen for it so want to keep it at least a couple of years, they're brilliant all round cars.

I use a Bluetooth fm transmitter, got it off eBay it's called a X5.

Mine had white 501 bulbs fitted however I replaced them with amber ones. I just fitted standard 501 amber bulbs, didn't bother going for LEDs. I got a pack of ten from eBay for about £4 or £5. I think it looks quite smart.

Managed to find a very small covering of snow today in the Lake District. Even though there was only a little covering of the stuff I was still surprised and chuffed with the grip, managed no bother going up the mountain passes where others wheels spun.

The tow has been removed however the socket is zip tied up under the bumper, I'll have a check. I doubt it is that though as the code that pops up is P0519 idle air control system. Thanks for the advice though, it's worth a try.

I was planning on drilling through and bolting the lightbar onto the crashbar behind the bumper to keep it secure, I didn't think about it sticking out even further than the bumper. Have you got any photos of what you've done?

I prefer the look of the older Subarus, I wanted a cheap ish 4x4 just to play with over winter to replace a extreamly annoying and problematic low mileage Volvo v50 2.0D. I had to get a car with isofix for my daughters childseat and was delighted to find that the second generation forester had them. I've recieved some excellent advice from this forum so opted for a 2.0 petrol late model pre facelift SG on a 04 plate as I think they just look better than the softer shape that came in circa 2005. If was only ever meant to be a 6 month car to get me through winter however I like it so much that I've just had the rust that was just beginning to show on the rear arches sorted and hope to keep it a bit longer. I am really impressed with it, the only annoyance has been a reoccurring engine management light that's popped up every now and then but I know it's not serious and the exchaust is rather loud for my taste but I can live with that. I think for my next car I will probably go for a legacy, I don't know if it'll bet a 2.5 petrol or a diesel, depeands how much I I have to play with, I've had diesels for the last 9 years, my commute to work is now a 55 mile round trip so it would help going back to diesel however I've read some real horror stories for the pre 2010 diesels, I don't know if they've sorted it for after 2010 or not.

Fingers crossed then Mr B. No doubt I'll be back on here when it comes on again. I'm going to sort the neutral switch anyway if it comes back on or not. I got the car back tonight, haven't been able to look in the daylight yet but she appears to have two rust free and smooth rear wheel arches. These are the lights I'm looking at, mounting bar: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252448992992 Lights, either a 14 or even better a 20" led bar something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172245707559 Or a pair of hella compact spots something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252681462170 Which do you think would look better? I also need to workout how to wire them up, if just using leds may put them to the full beam circuit or separate switch, I don't know if the current wiring to the full beam would take the extra load for two spots or a 20" LED bar, have you any suggestions? I don't have any blanks anywhere as all switch slots are taken up with cruise control etc etc so I would have to cut holes in the dash.

I know is probably going to jinx the whole situation however the EML and 519 code hasn't popped up again since I had the gearbox and rear diff oil changed. Fingers crossed and touch wood that has something to do with it, it's been 3 weeks now. Does that sound possible Mr B? the car has gone into the bodywork garage today to get both rear arches done, once done I indeed to perhaps fit some all season tyres as per your suggest in the other thread and I've found a light bar and some spotlights to fix on by the number plate, I've already found and bough some genuine front rubber mats (can't find the rear ones though) and she has some nice new roof bars for my kayak and mountain bike. The car is almost complete.

Hi all, my forester currently has some cheap ditch finders fitted fitted by the dealer I bought it off. I'm looking to replace them with some all terrains, ones that will take a little bit of snow driving in the fells and will cope with a muddy track/verge or two. Anyone got any suggestions? Our tubs of lard at work have run flat toyos open country A/T fitted that seem to do a half decent job of keeping their 5&1/2 tonnes on the road, maxis 771 bravos and continental cross contact all come up within budget. Has anyone got any experience of these? cheers mike.