jcole01108

The 2000 Outback Limited came with a cd/tape player and weather band radio. It also came with heated seats, leather interior, heated windshield, heated outside mirrrors, power front seat, etc. If there is no cd player it is likely that the former owner may have removed it and put their own unit in its place. The radio was a nice feature. I should know, because I drove one for four years. It was a nice car even with the piston slap problem.

I have mine a on a timer. It goes on at 4am and off at 10am. That gives me a large window in the morning. It means that the car is not fully warm, but it warms up as it would on a 40 degree day. Makes as real difference, but I don't use it unless it is below 20 degrees.

2004, 3.0, 6 cylinder Outback. I am getting a deep throated groaning sound in the steering at first startup. It goes away after warm up. I brought it to the dealer and they said they found nothing wrong. If I take the car out of drive it goes away. I am going to bring it in again and be there when they start it up. It does disappear after the car has been driven a short distance. Anyone else had the problem.

No, actually the RSI's are the studless snow tires of choice. They are snow and ice grippers and Q rated. The WR's are like the Dunlop M3's and H rated, but are not "real" snow tires. They are designed as an all weather tire with a strong snow tire-like capability. The Nordmans are old fashioned snow tires with big lugs, hard rubber, and you can put studs in them.

I had the problem in a 2000 Outback Limited. There is a TSB for the fix, which is to apply silcone sealant around the sunroof. I had one other interesting issue with my sunroof. It opened by itself and I had to use the manual crank to close it. This was water related as well. The sealant fixed both problems.

True enough. Wanted to save the trip into the dealer if it was something minor.

Checked it. It is okay.

I have been getting a growling/buzzing vibration in the steering wheel at idle while the engine is warming up, especially present when I turn the steering wheel left or right. Any idea what this might be? As the vehicle warms up and the idle drops, so does the vibration. If I put the car into neutral it pretty much goes away. The vehicle is a 2004 3.0 6 cylinder Outback wagon with 5900 miles on it.

Anyone know the lug nut torque for a 3.0 Outback wagon? It is not in the Owner's manual.

You can buy refinished/resurfaced rims at http://www.wheelcollision.com/subaru2.htm for about 155 a rim depending on the size and model. Try ebay as as well.

Anyone know if an Impreza 02-04 RS 16 inch wheel will a 2004 outback wagon? I assume the offset will be the issue.

Has anyone used a 215x65x16 tire size for a Subaru outback snow tire instead of a 225x60x16 or a 215x60X16 listed in the owner's manual? Tire Rack folks suggested this would be a better snow tire size.

Subaru recommends a 215x60x16 snow tire in place of the 225x60x16 all season tire, which is not all that available a size. I was thinking about the Dunlop Winter Sport M3, but it is not available in that size.

I know Nokian tires are good. I have heard good things about the Hakka Q's, but they appear to be ending production of that tire.

I have 2004 H6 3.0 Outback with H rated tires. I want to get a set of winter tires and steel rims to use up in Vermont. I used to own a 2000 Outback and put Michelin Arctic Alpin tires on it. I was not impressed with their abilitity in slush or heavy snow. I have been reading that an H rated tire should be replaced with an H rated snow tire. I have also read that Subaru specifies 215x60x16 snow tires. What has been your experience with Q or T rated snow tires. Have you used 225 x 60 x16 snow tires? Do they cause any rubbing problems? That size seems more available.

I have had both a 2000 4 cylinder Limited wagon and now a 2004 3.0 - 6 cylinder Outback Wagon. The power difference is substantial. The 3.0 is a quiet powerful car and it is very smooth. The 4 cylinder was okay, but when I got up in the mountains, it had to work. The 3.0 just moves along almost effortlessly. Passing another car on a 2-lane highway had to be planned with the 4-cylinder. With the 3.0 it is much easier. Yes, Premium fuel is recommended, but not required. For me it is worth it.

The movement on my seat is more than a 1/16 th of an inch. When I get in the seat, it moves down and then makes the clicking sound as metal contacts metal.

I have a question about the driver's seat (cloth) on a 2004 35th anniversay edition outback. My seat has up and down movement on its right side, so that when I get in the car there is an audible click to the seat. I can move the seat up down a bit on the its right side by hand. The dealer has told me that this is normal. I had a 2000 Outback limited and I don't remember any movement like this. Is this movement normal?

You know, I left the dealership and the first thought that entered my head was, why just the left hand side of the engine? Next time I am at the dealer I will ask the question. The car is dramatically quieter.

Just thought you'd like to know that I got my car back from the dealer today. They spent two days replacing the #2 and #4 pistons to fix the psiton slap issue. So far, so good and it seems to have a bit more pep than it had before. The entire process started quite a bit ago. It took a while to get the zone rep in to look at the vehicle (over a month) and then a couple of weeks for the dealer to get the parts in, but now it is done and all under warranty.

Anyone know the location of the 2004 Outback seat heaters? Are they in the cloth/leather or in the foam? I am considering a 35th anniversay edition 6-cylinder wagon and want to replace the cloth seats with leather. I was told by an auto upholstery company that there are leather kits they can purchase. Anyone have any experience with them?

Anyone know an inexpensive source for 2000 outback interior trim? I need the lower trim piece in beige replaced before I turn my lease vehicle in.

I test drove an '04 today...I know I should have tried out the '05, but I am not interested in buying a first year redesign, as nice as it looks. I found the MT to be notchy and to have significant vibration transmitted to it, unlike honda's MT which is very slick. Does the MT loosen up. It also seemed quite stiff. I currently drive a 2000 autoT. I have heard that Subaru 2nd gen clutches don't last too long. What has been your experience? It did have a lot more pep than the autoT I have.

Thanks for the info. I do have some concerns about the work being done properly. I thought I would have my independent tech take a look at it after the work is done. A complete teardown as the service manager said is not minor surgery.

Has anyone here had Subaru authorize installation of countermeasure pistons using a "piston kit" in their exisiting Outback's short block? Just had a Subaru regional rep okay their installation to get rid of piston slap in my 2000 Outback. He also said that if the cylinder walls don't meet spec, that they would install a new short block. My major concern is obviously whether the dealer can do the work properly, though the dealership is highly regarded here in the Massachusetts and the work is warranteed by Subaru.