2002 Forester Tune up

[StructEngineer]

I'm looking for some basic tuneup/preventative maintenance advice for my 2002 Forester. This site has a lot of various info, but I just need to know what typically goes out on these cars. I'm a preventitive maintenance person because I do a lot of long drives through the middle of nowhere....so for example if coil packs tend to go out after so many miles, I'd flip the few bones and replace them to not get stranded.

 

She has 90,000 mi and has been fairly well taken care of, inherited from the in laws. Trans and rear transfer case fluid replaced 30,000 mi ago, plugs about 20,000. New axle boots. Coolant was changed when dealer had to put stop leak in to prevent headgasket weeping. Thats about all aside from regular oil and air filter changes.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[idosubaru]

Replacement items:

Ignition wires - they need to be Subaru or Magnecor only for this engine.

 

PCV valve (very easy and cheap), I would stick with Subaru on this one as well.

 

The small filter in line with the vacuum hose from the solenoid on the passengers side strut tower to the engine. About the size of a quarter with a piece of foam wrapped around the edge - about a $7 item.

 

Clean out the EGR valve and passages.

 

Most other items will give you fair warning before leaving you stranded. They don't fail very often, but occasionally, so it's hard to recommend a new coil but throwing an extra in the glove compartment or spare tire compartment might satisfy some people.

 

Other considerations:

 

Timing belt is a 105,000 mile interval item. It's typical to replace the water pump and at the very least any seals that are wet - oil pump and cam seals/o-rings since all of that resides right behind the timing belt. Also replace any noisy timing pulleys while you're in there.

 

The pump and seals aren't likely to cause issues any time soon, but with 105,000 miles timing intervals you won't "be in there" again for any reason until the next timing belt which is 200,000. So you're expecting your original pump and seals to make it that long, which is a bit risky. With such long timing belt intervals it's just easier to replace everything at once - and cheaper so you're not paying "timing belt labor = $500" to go back in to replace a $6 seal or $70 water pump.

 

With the older 60,000 mile timing belts it's easier to skip and recommend replacing every 2nd or third timing belt. Keeping in mind yours is an interference engine too - if the belt breaks (due to leaking seals or failed water pump) you'll likely incur substantial engine damage.

 

If you're doing the labor yourself and don't mind doing it again sometime down the road then you could just spring for the timing belt and necessary items now and recheck things at 50,000 miles. This is a good option to keep an eye on seals and timing pulleys.

 

Knock sensors are rubber and crack and give you a knock sensor code. Won't cause any issue like getting stranded, but it's only one bolt you can pull it out and check it. Lot's of posts and pictures on here about that.

[ferret]

The basic chart in the owners manual has worked well for me in the 30 yrs I've been a Subaru Owner.

 

Online it can be found at:

 

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/subaru_maintenance.html

[Subie Gal]

there is also http://www.my.subaru.com

 

where you can join for free, input your vehicle

and have access to manufacturers suggested maintenance based on mileages