brus brother

Spongy brakes?

Just in case your 1969 Subie 360 finally died and you were on your way out the door to replace her... http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/01/9148154-subaru-stops-sales-of-three-2012-models

So, which hose to disconnect? Any pictures for the cavemen among us?

OK so which hose do I disconnect for the "outflow"? I'm not sure how this is more effective. What is to say that the fluid added from the dipstick stays "unmixed" with the rest of the fluid? Can someone explain the anatomy of the fluid path?

Elegant in black! So glad that you got an 05 OB so I can compare notes! My 05 at 130,000 has joined the P0420 code team. You will find that the 05 is set up for low emissions (white sticker under hood proclaims Calif emissions compliant). Great since I live in CT! To achieve this gold standard, there are three cat converters and five O2 sensors. I may be needing a new cat since according to a number of other sites, the 05 is immune to the cheater on the sensor fix! Can't really complain though since otherwise the car has been great. Good luck with yours.

Drats! Recurring 0420 on 05 OB. MY 05 has 5 sensors and three cats. Sensors are located: 2 pre cat, 2 post cat and one atop the rear secondary cat. Under the hood it says Calif. emissions. I had the 0420 (bank 1 below threshold) so I had already experimented with the cheater on the passenger post cat sensor without success. Yesterday I installed a new oem pre cat sensor on passenger side (bank 1) hoping that it was getting lazy at 130,000 miles and if so prevent it from damaging the cat if this was the case but the code recurred. While trying to correctly identify the aftermarket sensors, I spoke with tech support at Bosch who was dubious that replacing the post cat sensor would help in my situation. (Remember it is in his interest to sell more sensors). He said that this sensor would become slower in response if failing and not more active so less likely to throw code. I reinstalled the cheater on the post cat sensor in one last ditch effort but it looks like a new cat may be coming in the future to eat out of my wallet!

That's great news Steve. Please update should the code recur. I will follow your lead and see if that fixes my intermittent 0420 as well.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=87708&highlight=delayed+engagement Link on Trans-X and delayed engagement above.

Just wanted to UPDATE the post for future searchers. I brought the car to the dealer. The tech did some testing and suggested that it was a defective (failing) unit which is contained in the overhead (map light) center console. Watch and wait was suggested due to intermittent nature of problem. Well it has been nearly 2 weeks and the airbag light that been occurring daily, has yet to come back on. If this continues, then the only thing that has remedied this was a reseating of the two connectors to this unit.

OK I'm thoroughly confused. I have P0420 code - for bank 1 (passenger side in US) catalytic efficiency below threshold 1.) MY 05 Outback has a total of 5 sensors. Since my 05 Outback has one precat and one postcat sensor and then another on the rear cat after the passenger and drivers pipes meet, do I need to change all three at 130,000 miles and while I'm at it throw in the drivers side precat and postcat sensor just because?? 2.) Are any of these critical OEM? Dealer told me I needed a new cat (maybe 2). YIKES x 2!

5 sensors total. This will add up to a tidy sum... Would you use only oem on front two precat sensors? What brand if not oem? Also what brand for two postcat sensors and the one that sits on top of the rear cat?

GD, Don't mean to hijack post but I've had the 0420 code for a while on my 05 OB. This vehicle has two front (pre-cat) and two rear (post-cat) sensors and one more on the rear cat. I tried the antifouler on the passenger (post-cat) rear sensor without success as it caused a different code to be thrown (2096). I removed the antifouler and installed black tape over dash warning lights. ;-) I haven't gotten around to trying the antifouler on the driver's and passenger post-cat sensor. With 130,000 miles on the car, is it advisable to change out the front sensors as a routine maintenance item or would they have thrown a different code than 420. Hate to waste the $ if they aren't at fault. Also hate to kill the cat.

Got it from their website but will be calling a rep today. UPDATE: Thank you for contacting Castrol North America. Castrol always recommends following the guidelines of the original engine manufacturer for the recommended fluid for use in your specific application. This information can be found in the vehicles owner’s manual or by contacting the manufacturer directly. According to Castrol’s ATF guide recommended for the 2008 Subaru Outback is the Castrol Import Multi-Veh ATF or the Castrol Dex/Merc Domestic Multi-Veh ATF. Both Castrol Import Multi-Veh ATF and the Castrol Dex/Merc Domestic Multi-Veh ATF meet the Subaru specifications and may be used in your application. Please find the product data sheets for the two mentioned products for your personal reference. Thank you again for contacting Castrol. Castrol Consumer Relations

Found this Castrol data sheet for their Multi Import trans fluid. http://www.castrol.com/castrol/liveassets/bp_internet/castrol/castrol_usa/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/p,q/pds_ImportMV.pdf All spec Subaru meet or exceed. $5.42/qt at local WalMArt Not bad IF compatible...

Did you replace O2 sensors (are there 2 as stated earlier?) and knock sensor or just O2 sensors?

List price $10 paid $8 per quart at my dealer here in CT today.:-\

Manual calls for Transmax J. Is there a WalMart substitute that does the trick? i.e. Castrol Multi Vehicle Import ATF made by BP says it exceeds JASO 1A and JWS 3309. Am I better off waiting until dealer opens tomorrow?

I went with WalMart as per car's rating on both of my 05 (OB and Legacy). It's cheaper than Autozone for same rating.

Like this?

OK to update, the airbag light on the dash board has been coming on (and going off) more frequently now. The horn and cruise control work when the light is on which from my reading seemed to eliminate clockspring. Yesterday when the light was on, I had the dealer read the code: 26 Passenger Airbag Indicator Failure. Tech told me to keep an eye out for when the light stayed on if the overhead console (by the center map lights) was still functioning as he has had to replace a number of these. Today, the lights were still functioning so the next possibility I'm told is something amiss in the seat belt tensioning mechanism/circuit for the passenger side. My understanding is that when the airbags deploy, an explosive charge in the seat belt mechanism is released to keep the passenger from kissing the airbag. Anyone have any idea where the connectors are located and how/if I should try and reseat the connectors? I would hate to have my monkeying around deploy the airbags. Apparently the dealer can test the mechanism by inserting a resistor in line?? I just thought I'd check the connector before going back to see if that solved the problem.

pun intended?

Snap trap (skull crusher) with peanut butter always worked for me and ant traps if the ants become a problem. Happy hunting.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1128610/ 3 M on sale at Amazon 9.95 after rebate. Wiping a few coats of liquid UV sealant available at Autozone etc. is a suggested way of prolonging the effects.

The best part of all of the above suggested methods is that you can do it without pulling the engine...

Check out ebay "headlight cleaner". There are kits for about $6 w/ free shipping or WalMart "headlight restoration" for about $15-20. They all work about the same. Mild abrasive/elbow grease and a sealant. You could try toothpaste/clear spray paint but kit would be cheaper. Be sure to mask off adjacent areas.