Hughieboy

I'll see if i can do that if halfords have the plugs..... Just one more question.... If I change the plugs and don't see any visible tell tale signs of failure on any of the coil packs, do I order a set and change them all at that point? Or is there a way of testing them off the car? And what would be the ideal socket/extension set up for doing this? Think I have most of it covered but I'll check before going in to town. Cheers!

Thanks again Mr B, I really appreciate all your help with this...I'm going to go out this morning and see if the code comes back up when the engines cold first, I guess that will tell me whether the pumps knackered? Mechanic did say he was unsure how well it was working. I've looked at the YouTube videos so I will then assess the coil pack/plug change. So do you think I should pick up some plugs today and change them, inspect the coil packs while I'm at it an then if I see an obviously damaged one buy a replacement? Or maybe it could just be plugs? I guess that would make senses, a bit more leg work maybe but no point buying things I don't need and it will be quicker stripping out the second time having done it once. I expect I can get plugs from Halfords on a Sunday...

I have plenty of tools and a couple of different sized plug sockets/extensions etc, I'll have a look at YouTube. I found a video or two on there but haven't watched them properly yet, some American fella has two showing replacing both sides. The missing doesn't happen when ticking over but will be intermittent when cruising at low and higher revs and sometimes it will feel like it's going to stall momentarily if you put your foot down suddenly, it kind of stutters and then picks up. Nearly came unstuck the other day trying to sneak on to a roundabout, saw a gap, right foot down and ...... well, it was a hairy moment as it nearly stopped when it was supposed to go! Regarding the coil packs, without wanting to waste money I just thought that if I was going to go to the bother of taking them all out I may as well just fit all new so that it's done as I can't test them. I'd rather do it once if possible and then I know they're all good, is that not a good idea? The labour element isn't going to cost me anything.... plus I really only have Friday afternoon/Saturday morning to sort it out before we go away, I'm working all week then it's Xmas.. was hoping to cover all bases...

Thanks Mr B, I'll follow your advice I plugged my new OBD toy in this afternoon and the fault code was P0410 which I Googled and it said secondary air fault...... Aaagh! I deleted it and it didn't come back again today but maybe that's because the car was warm. And the misfiring is getting on my nerves. Soooo...... I'll see what it does tomorrow but I don't understand why I'm getting that code as that is supposed to be fixed! And the mechanic can't look at it again until the New Year and we're supposed to be going up to North Wales in it for a few days after Xmas..... so I'm debating getting some plugs and coil packs an fitting them myself, I think the spluttering and misfiring might get on my t*ts on a long journey (although the Wife thinks I'm making too big a deal of it). I'm ok with tinkering (mostly on old scooters and bikes though, not high tech Japanese cars!) so if it's an 'on the drive' job I might have a go...... is there any reason I shouldn't do you think?

Thanks for that, I appreciate it and it gives me confidence in the car. The moneys done now on the secondary air issues and I'll put it down to experience and 'rabbit in the headlights' syndrome as I didn't know any of this at first. If the pump goes as well at any point I'll get a secondhand one, I just don't understand the justification for the sky high prices on parts that are known to be problematic..... Thanks Subaru! However, after coming from a fairly new car which although it gave me no problems in 3 years also had monthly HP payments and no real character, the grin factor I get from this thing is immense! It's been a frustrating start but as you say, with a bit more time and money (hopefully not too much!) it should be a good 'un....... and without the monthly payments and depreciation of something newer to suffer. I have taken your advice (funnily enough my mechanic suggested it as well yesterday) and bought a cheapy obd reader off Amazon, I hadn't even realised they were that readily available. On a brighter note, I stuck a set of Pedders struts on the back last week as it's a*** was dragging in the weeds a bit and what a difference that has made! Totally transformed the ride height and handling and worth every penny. We like a bit of a project I guess, keeps things interesting..... ;-)

Just watched a YouTube video on it.... see what you mean, not horrendous but definitely a faff..... I think I'll put up with it for a couple of weeks and let the garage do it, they can check the coil packs as well, I wouldn't know what I was doing with those...

Thanks again Mr B.... I spoke to my mechanic again earlier and it's a shame I (or he) didn't realise this earlier about the secondary air delete option..... it was a local Subaru main dealer who he went to with the codes that advised changing them and supplied the !Removed! things! By the time I discovered the delete option via being on here etc the parts had been ordered and had to be paid for. However, to be fair to him, that cost included a service but plugs weren't supposed to be needed on this one. I think he's pretty !Removed! off about it as the valves themselves were something like £220 plus VAT each so I guess he's been as reasonable as he can, I know he wouldn't want to overcharge me. However, when I spoke to him earlier, he also said he wondered if the last plug change had been 'overlooked' as it's such a ****** of a job so he's going to have it in in the New Year and change them and check the coil packs. I asked him if he would rather I took it to a Subaru specialist but he said he'd like to have another go at it first so I think he'll look after me on it. I don't know what the fault code it's throwing up now is as I can't check it and I don't have time to take it in again this side of Xmas. So, on one hand I feel like I've bought a bit of a pup but in its favour the car is in really good condition inside and out and as long as it doesn't cost too much more to get it right I will still be happy. I've looked at ones in worse condition cosmetically than mine that were up for nearly a grand more than I paid. So I think he's now thinking what you're saying. Thanks for your advice and we'll see what happens when the plugs are changed.

Evening All.. So I just bought a 2006 2.5xt and some of you may have seen my earlier post that the day after I bought it the engine light came on, I took it into my local mechanic and after diagnostics and a phone call to Subaru (he's not overly familiar with Subaru's particularities) the secondary air valves were diagnosed as knackered and needing replaced. The car also had an intermittent stutter/misfire that wasn't apparent on the test drive but became noticeable on the drive home. So the parts took two weeks to arrive, has duly been fixed and 5 miles and £783.00 after collecting it the engine light is back on..... and although not as bad, the stutter/misfire is also still present.....! I really don't know what to do. The mechanic, who is a good and genuine bloke who I've been using for years on other cars didn't seem over confident when the car was collected. He said it looked like someone had 'had a bit of a go' at 'fixing' the valves before and there was a split pipe and bolts in the wrong place etc. He just wasn't that happy and now nor am I! He said if I had any more problems we might need to replace the secondary air pump as it didn't seem to be doing much but that if that happened he would be concerned at how much money it was all going to cost and I should look for a used one. Regarding the misfire, I had read about problems with coil packs but he said that they and the plugs aren't due to be replaced for another 20,000 miles and as they are expensive and awkward to get to he left them as they were. So...... Is it likely that the air pump would throw up another code if it's playing up? And is it likely to have anything to do with the misfiring (I don't understand that bit, I thought it was all to do with emissions....)? I'm going to have to go back and speak to him as I've spent so much money already but I don't want to start spending shed loads on guesswork. Should I cut my losses and take it to a Subaru specialist? I've just found out there's a place called ED Motorsport near me who work on Subarus amongst other things. Can anyone with a bit of knowledge and experience of these cars advise on what might be the best course of action? I'm sorry for the long post but I bought this car with full service history for £2800 and have done less than 500 miles in it so I'm feeling a bit lost for what to do for the best. Hope this all makes sense, I just need it to work as it should. Thanks, Hugh.

Thanks Mr B..... I had a look under the seat and it all looks to be plugged in as it should be but I gave it all a bit of a waggle. Going on a run up to Daventry this evening so I'll see if they're working, I didn't have a lot of time to fiddle about today....

Thanks Mr B...... I'll check it out this morning, hope it's the connector! 👍

Thanks, I'll start there. I'm not a wizard with electrics, just wondered if it was a common fault with a usual remedy.....

I'm struggling with it too! On top of the £800 it's going to cost to replace the secondary air valves and I've only had the car a fortnight! And I know the system can be taken off but I only found out after asking the garage to order in the parts..... so my bargain Subaru is not working out to be such a bargain at present. But I plan on keeping it a couple of years and do a fair amount of long distances in the winter so I want it right.... ho hum...

That does seem good..... but the Michelins get great reviews and the tyre place can fit them today so I'm happy to go with them.

Evening All, Can anyone point me towards a fix for an '06 Forester heated seat that doesn't seem to work? The light comes on at the switch but the seat stays cold (Drivers side) Many Thanks.....

Thanks guys..... I shopped around online and then phoned my local tyre shop, Bicester Tyre & Exhaust who are doing the Cross Climates for me at £148.00 per corner.... I phoned asking about the Maxxis but after a chat He convinced me to go with the Michelin and the price was a bit better than most places wanted.... Thats another job ticked off the list!

That's great, thanks. I was looking at those but wasn't sure if they would be the correct type. Nice looking tyre as well!

I need to get a new set of tyres on my 2.5xt, I just bought it and it has a bit of an 'assortment' fitted, shall we say! Looking on the web, various models of Yoko Geolandar seem to be recommended but I don't know the difference between them and I wondered what others are using? I want an all season tyre I think, I can't be doing with changing the tyres twice a year any more and I will be doing mostly main road/motorway and country lane driving with a bit of farm track thrown in..... we live out in the sticks and if we do get snow here it's a bit of a nightmare so a good all rounder is required. Also I don't want a noisy tyre with poor fuel ratings if at all possible. I love the look and write up of the Nokian all season tyre but it's not available as a 215/55 17 (its 225) so I gues that's no good. Its a bit of a minefield, recommendations will be gratefully received! Many Thanks.

Thanks for all your help and replies guys... I spoke to my mechanic who has already orders and paid for the parts so I'm going to have to go with it and get them replaced........ This isn't a great start! I hope I haven't bought a bag of nails!

Hi All, Well, about 20 miles after picking up my 2006 Forester 2.5xt the engine light came on.... Great! I took it to my mechanic who got the codes and it needs the secondary air valves replacing. That's going to cost me about £800 all up and I haven't even done 150 miles in it! Searching online I see that some people are just removing the system due to these rather expensive to fix problems, in fact I did a similar thing on my Triumph Thruxton motorbike but I don't carry out car mechanics so much. Can anyone tell me if I am better to have the parts replaced properly in order to keep it as Subaru intended or should I just get a blanking kit and ask my mechanic to remove it all? It's my main car, not a toy and so I don't want to mess it up but equally wonder if there is any harm to be done saving a few quid and doing away with it or benefit to keeping it? The car is also 'holding back' a little and a bit jerky when pulling away. I wondered if that is likely to be anything to do with it. Is it safe to drive it before it's fixed? I hope someone can advise, it'a been a bit of a crap start to ownership really..... Thanks, Hugh.

Hope so Geoff.... Fingers crossed :)

Well actually..... In the last 24 hours since I bought it the engine management light has come on! It seemed to develop a slight misfire on the way home after buying it, I put a post up about it but got no replies as to what it might be..... I have a nasty feeling my love affair with owning a Forester might turn sour very quickly but I hope not! I'm going to get my local mechanic to give it a going over but he's not a Subaru specialist. I hope I haven't bought a pup!

Evening All, I'm new around here and have today bought a 2006 Forester 2.5XT. I've looked around before buying and am really happy with it, it's in straight order, FSH and not silly money. I got the train up to Birmingham, test drove it, all was well so I bought it and drove it 70miles home down the M40. I'm going to get it in ASAP to have a service and check over but I'm sure I noticed a slight misfire. 70 - 85mph cruising in top and there seems to be the odd bit of what I can only describe as 'holding back and then letting go' if that makes sense.... nothing dramatic but definitely noticeable. I mentioned it to my Dad who, in his 70's isn't that mecahanically minded and he said 'sounds like coil packs, same thing happened on my Jag...'! Anyone recognise this and is he likely correct? I want to make sure I get the thing right before using it in earnest. Many thanks, Hughie

Thanks guys.... will post pics when I get chance, it was dark when I got home after picking it up. I think it needs a bit of a looking at as well as there is a very slight misfire so I need to see who the best Subaru guys are near me. Anybody know? (Bicester, Oxon)

Just dropped by to say 'Hello'! I've just got home after becoming the proud owner of a 2006 facelift Forester 2.5XT manual. Been looking for a while and most of what I've seen has either been a bit rubbish, totally overpriced by used car dealers or both so having found this one I am a very happy bunny at last! Looking forward to some fun times, this car definitely gives the grin factor AND I will be able to get all my crap in the back AND not get stuck where other cars might get stuck! It's been a good day! :) Hughie.

That's interesting, why is that? Obviously with an older car with a quickish motor I don't want to buy a load of trouble.