Advice for Subaru Outback owner

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Advice for Subaru Outback owner

alligator

20 posts

Geek

#195313 15-Apr-2016 09:59

Hi there,

I last posted a query on Geekzone five years ago and got excellent advice (the laptop I purchased is still going strong; I've given it to a friend now on long-term loan). Now I have another question.

I've just bought a Japanese import 2005 Subaru Outback, 2.5L tiptronic auto, with a good AA report, new NZ tyres, and a three-year warranty. The belt is not due to be replaced for another 80,000km.

I'm a hobbyist landscape photographer, so I frequently drive on gravel roads and in light snow / slightly icy conditions. I don't do much around-town driving because I walk to work.

The car didn't come with a manual, but I've found a PDF for a similar US-spec Outback online.

My questions are...

1. Do you have any general advice for owners of Subaru Outback owners? Eg maintanence, fuel economy tips, or general issues to be aware of? (I'm using 95 fuel and have been getting 9.5L/100km with a mix of city and highway driving.)

2. I'm thinking of spending ~$55 to buy a translated Japanese manual from JPNZ Manuals - does anyone know if their translations are good?

Cheers!

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17944 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1533468 15-Apr-2016 11:02

I have found the manuals to be pretty good aside from sometimes not covering every variant of a vehicle. For example, I have a Toyota Alphard Hybrid and the manual translation covers the non-hybrid vehicles. Obviously many functions etc are the same but the specific ones to the hybrid functions are missing from the manual and they do not produce the Hybrid manual.

alligator

20 posts

Geek

#1533493 15-Apr-2016 11:42

Thanks Geektastic, that's great to know. I think I'll proceed with buying a manual from them.

shortcircuit

86 posts

Master Geek

#1533499 15-Apr-2016 11:58

I've got a PDF for 2006 legacy/outback owners manual (in English). If you want to PM me your e-mail address I'll send it on to you.

My outback I had no real probs with, regular servicing is the key as with most modern Japanese cars. Then can get a bit whiney in the wheel bearings but never had one fail.

As a side note I've had 7 Subarus, legacy, outback and Impreza. They are the only cars that I haven't had big problems with and cheap to service/parts compared to a couple of 'Euro' cars I've had

alligator

20 posts

Geek

#1533502 15-Apr-2016 12:20

Thanks shortcircuit, useful information, appreciate it. I'll PM my address.

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1533516 15-Apr-2016 12:52

fwiw I have a BP legacy wagon - and love it, even though it is getting a little long in the tooth. No problems with it at all, and still going strong. Just put petrol in it and go. Oh and the regular servicing :)

I got one of those manuals when I purchased the car, and have not looked at it since initially getting it and scanning through it. tbh the car isn't that complex that some basic common sense wouldn't cover most of the questions those manuals offer answers to anyhow...but thats just my 2 cents :D

networkn

Networkn
32362 posts

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#1533519 15-Apr-2016 13:03

Subaru Outbacks are fantastic cars. Can't talk transmission as I always buy Auto/Tiptronic, but in general it's a car I'd buy again and again.

alligator

20 posts

Geek

#1533569 15-Apr-2016 14:24

Thanks that's all really good to know. Maybe I can make do with the PDF (thanks again shortcircuit).

One more question: The car beeps when I lock/unlock it with the remote. I've tried two different methods I've found online to stop this:

Unlocking with the remote, then simultaneously pressing lock and unlock for a couple of seconds
Sitting in the driver seat, holding the unlock button on the door, inserting the key in and out of the ignition 6+ times within 10 seconds, then opening and closing the door

Neither of these have worked. Has anyone had any luck stopping the beep on a Japanese import?

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Inphinity

2780 posts

Uber Geek

#1533573 15-Apr-2016 14:29

alligator:

My questions are...

1. Do you have any general advice for owners of Subaru Outback owners? Eg maintanence, fuel economy tips, or general issues to be aware of? (I'm using 95 fuel and have been getting 9.5L/100km with a mix of city and highway driving.)

2. I'm thinking of spending ~$55 to buy a translated Japanese manual from JPNZ Manuals - does anyone know if their translations are good?

1. Don't skimp on maintenance.

2. They are generally pretty good, I have had several of them in the past, and they are generally very accurate.

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1533579 15-Apr-2016 14:44

alligator:

Has anyone had any luck stopping the beep on a Japanese import?

Huh - never felt the need to remove the beep, so no idea there :O

alligator

20 posts

Geek

#1533581 15-Apr-2016 14:49

Haha the beeps are fine during the day but on a quiet night they seem so so loud.

Also I've started doing a double-take if I hear someone else lock their beeping Subaru in the same carpark :)

Regular servicing will be fine; it's a requirement of my warranty that I don't slip up there.

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1533589 15-Apr-2016 14:57

stop loitering in car parks then :D :P haha (sorry I will stop trolling now)

shortcircuit

86 posts

Master Geek

#1533593 15-Apr-2016 15:03

alligator:

Thanks that's all really good to know. Maybe I can make do with the PDF (thanks again shortcircuit).

One more question: The car beeps when I lock/unlock it with the remote. I've tried two different methods I've found online to stop this:

Unlocking with the remote, then simultaneously pressing lock and unlock for a couple of seconds
Sitting in the driver seat, holding the unlock button on the door, inserting the key in and out of the ignition 6+ times within 10 seconds, then opening and closing the door

Neither of these have worked. Has anyone had any luck stopping the beep on a Japanese import?

No problem on the PDF... I realized afterwards might not be much better than the US on-line one.

Method 2 for the unlock from what I remember was the one that worked. Also from memory it was not the number of inserts indicated, ie 7 instead of 6.

Jap import outbacks also 'usually' come with an immobilizer alarm which is disabled by default (because there is no theft crime in Japan apparently!). Instructions to enable/disable are in the instructions page 2/14

alligator

20 posts

Geek

#1533596 15-Apr-2016 15:11

Method 2 for the unlock from what I remember was the one that worked. Also from memory it was not the number of inserts indicated, ie 7 instead of 6.

Cheers, I'll give it a go tonight.

alligator

20 posts

Geek

#1533597 15-Apr-2016 15:11

stop loitering in car parks then :D :P haha (sorry I will stop trolling now)

Yeah it's a bad habit...

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1533598 15-Apr-2016 15:12

seriously - how do the engineers think up these 'routines' when making the systems in the cars...hahah....

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