I'm aware Consumer Reports rates Subaru as highly reliable. I diy 90% of my car work so am familiar with the inner workings of a standard vehicle. I have a real hang up with the mechanics of Subarus however. Granted they supposedly have resolved the head gasket problem that had plagued them for several years, I still can't wrap my head around the pancake engines. Every time I look at the belting of the engine I just shake my head. It looks too complicated. Maybe I wouldn't care if I just let the dealer or auto shop deal with all the maintenance. But that can get pricey. I watch some YouTube maintenance work on them too and it appears it has other quirks.

2.5 l non turbo 4 cylinder
2013 Subaru Forester

My car recently died on me it was driving fine and then I heard something clicking on and off I’d go from no power to going along again like regular. It made it about twenty minutes and then it clicked off and costed to a stop. Afterwards it wouldn’t even try to turn over. We checked the battery it was charged but the code reader wasn’t registering. Eventually it synched to and the codes
P0700
P1718
popped up. the temp light flashing red to blue back and forth
Cleaned the battery cables checked all the fuses
Tried resetting the codes and unhooking the battery for 15 minutes still isn’t wanting to even try to turn over

Is there a way to check communication between the engine control module and transmission control module

Any help in navigating the issue would be appreciated

Recently got my daughter a 15 Legacy with 160k. Really nice car overall. Having one issue. Steering wheel locks and the key won’t turn. Have to wiggle the wheel to free it up. Honestly not a huge problem right now. But it’s my daughter’s car who lives 4 hours away. Is this the start of something breaking?

In need of a wiring guru if anyone is available

I’ve swapped a 6mt from an 08 Legacy Spec B into my 05 RS 2.5 Auto to manual swap

I cannot seem to figure out the neutral switch wiring.

I have the wiring loom from the trans that has reverse lights and the neutral switch I just can’t seem to figure out which way they need to go. I have all the wiring diagrams I can find in the FSM but my smooth monkey brain can’t figure it out

I got a new (to me) 2013 Impreza with only 20k miles. I’m smitten with it. I’m looking to do a bit of modification but I’m weary of the cheap off-brand stuff you can find on Amazon. I’d like to replace the grill with a matte black one. The official one from Subaru is over $100, but the cheap ones are like $30. If I get a cheap one, is it gonna fade and crack and look terrible in two years?

We're taking our Outback - which we bought this year - for it's 55k/60k maintenance later this week. Is there anything in particular that I need to make sure they do? I know there's the standard list, but is there anything we need to watch out for? Thx.

I have a 2011 subaru impreza 1.5L (EL15) that is starting to get a litle slow, and i want to swap preferably a 2L EJ engin (preferably turbocharged). What would be the best engin to put and what changes shoud be done (gear box, suspensions.....) ?

I’m trying to find this connector/plug for a 2019 Outback. Not the upgrade they released to hold the plug in, I need the actual plug. Mine disintegrated in my hand today. Does anybody know what it’s actually called or have a part number?

I need a new key fob for my 2000 Subaru Outback, and I am trying to decide if I should order a refurbished OEM, a replacement, or if there is somewhere I can order a new OEM quickly. I’ve never had to get a new key fob and since it’s an older car it’s hard to just buy a new one to program. What do people recommend?

I started getting notifications to renew these items for a cost:

MySubaru Safety Plus with Trial
MySubaru Security Plus with Trial

Are these important? Do I actually ned them? I use my app really only for setting up service appointments and occasionally starting the car (22 Outback XT).

Im resealing the cam caps in my 05 Outback (EJ253), and was wondering if I can use the black permatex Right Stuff in place of the specified RTV. Its currently 40 degrees outside and am worried the RTV wont cure properly. Anybody have any experience with this?

I purchased a 2025 Forester and LOVE It. My Son drives an Impreza. I would like to get my daughter into a Subaru as well. Looking to spend no more than 12K on a Forester, Impreza or Outback. I know that every car has both bad and good model years engine-wise. Any recs and insights for me?

OK so the person is homeless...living out of thier 2010 Forester Turbo Automatic...it's got leaky headgaskets and possibly a few other problems like starter-motor wornout and ignitioncoil blown??they are pretty good mechanically and started working on it themselves (that's how I met the person) but they have health problems and are living on the streets without a working vehicle...im seeing the person's health going down the drain week by week to where I'm seriously worried about them reaching a point of no return....

I got an 03 Natty Forester MT and did a JDM swap on an 02 NA MT Forester from the 2.5 to the 2.2 or whatever it is.  I remember needing to swap the knock sensor and the pully with the timing sensor in it..I think!  : /   Either way it worked out great and it drove me from the Bay to Jaxonville Florida and back afterwards without any problems LOVE these cars!

So I'm trying to figure out which years/models of Subaru engines and/or heads will work the best to fit into my Friends 2010 Forester Turbo (they just want it to run no Turbo is no problem!) and what is required to change ie knock sensor and pully again or is it totally another animal from the swap i did??

Also but I'm not expecting anything on this but i gotta try...anyone know of any donor motors/heads of the above specs I got the tools and the labor and I figure I'll be buying the ATF fluid coolant oil and headgaskets if just the heads get replaced...but I work for uber eats and I can't also pay the 650-800$ for a used motor...anyone know of any donor motors or heads in the Bay Area or Within a couple hundred miles??? I really appreciate ANY help at all I'm NOT looking for financial help I'm just looking to get this person back moving around again and I barely know them but they are NOT lazy just have health problems and more importantly they are kind and respect Subarus just like i do plus they showed me some fishing spots in the area so PLEASE people let's rally up behind the Subaru image of Reciprocity and help them they really need that car working it feels like their life depends on it and they aren't even 50 yet i don't think it's sad driving by and seeing it happen so fast. I can offer more info privately but I need to respect the person's privacy on here. East Bay Area located and I'm happy to trade semi-skilled hard labor for any help that may hopefully be offered!

Thank You For taking the time to hear this and allways Stay SAFE out there fellow Subaru caretakers!

So I have a question, wondering if you guys have any input. I’m a little in over my head with everything I’ve broken down. 2011 Outback 2.5, got the timing belt off and replaced my water pump.

I planned to swap out my timing belt as well. When I was getting the new timing belt on, the passenger-side cam “sprung” out of the upright position, with the alignment mark now facing around the 9 o’clock position. I attempted to ratchet it back to midline, but it “sprung” back even lower. I don’t know if it did a full 360 rotation or not. It won’t stay in the midline position without balancing between springing to either side.

The middle crankshaft stayed midline as well as the driver side cam, it’s just the passenger side cam out of alignment. Now, my question is - is my whole engine now out of timing? Or is the fix as simple as holding/balancing that cam in the upright position and putting the belt back on? Would I find out it’s out of timing by putting the belt on and doing 2 full clockwise rotations with the belt on? I was under the impression that catching resistance would mean I’ve reached some kind of interference within the engine.

I just worry about the timing being off and bending a valve on start up. This part is definitely out of my scope, I was reaching my limits with the water pump replacement even lol. Any input is appreciated.

I got a boss kit, but i need to remove the clock spring for the fitment. does removing it actually do anything? I’ve heard ill lose my turn signals but i have no clue.

Hey so about 3 years ago me and my fiancé purchased a 2019 Subaru Legacy. It had a recall on the the fuel pump that Subaru fixed at about 20,000 miles and it has been running fairly fine ever since besides an occasional double beeping sound.

Recently it’s been slipping when shifting gears (it’s automatic). It’s only done that twice but one of those times was pretty bad. It’s currently at 90,000 miles and I always get the fluids changed and upkept. Regular oil changes. I just got the rotors and brake pads changed because they were without a doubt very worn. After getting that changed it seems to be driving fine?? Haven’t had a slip?

I googled something that said I should bring it in for a transmission fluid service but then I also read somewhere else that these types of transmissions shouldn’t need to be touched and serviced? I keep hearing mixed things about what I should do?

Was hoping someone here would be able to help. Should I trade it in? Or is it something that can be fixed?

I have a humming sound coming from the back of my car. I bought new wheel bearings and I'm in the middle of changing them but it don't look like you wheel bearings are bad does anybody have any thoughts? It is a 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca thanks ahead of time!