kalamater

Hi, new to all this forum busines so apologies if I am inadvertently breaking any etiquette rules.

2004 Subaru Forester, 2.0 X, European (Greece) model. The car bought in Greece went back to UK and was modified for UK (speedo changed to MPH along with the main instrument circuit board). We decided to return to Greece (UK did not suit - had only returned there for health reasons), on the way back to Greece, the speed dropped to zero as we were driving along through France and shortly afterwards, the yellow engine light came on.

I have just changed the circuit board and speedo back to the original (KPH) - and it went OK, but still no speedo reading (no yellow light - as yet). So maybe it's the sensor ? - any ideas, and just where is it located ?

Thanks in anticipation Glyn

kalamater

Thread Starter

Help, have I posted in the wrong place or can nobody help ?????

kalamater

Thread Starter

I'm not really going to get anywhere talking to myself am I ?

guroove

Did you get a code for the check engine light? I'm not 100% sure about this, but the vehicle speed sensor should be near the tailshaft of the transmission. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

__________________
2005 Obsidian Black Pearl XT w/4eat

kalamater

Thread Starter

First many thanks for the reply - I had begun to wonder if I was all alone out here.

My Forester does not give codes (I am pretty sure), local garage plugged in some hand held computer on the stem below the steering wheel and put the light out, but it came back shortly afterwards - is not always there, some days it lights up some 5 minutes after start up. I will check the location of the speed sensor (when it stops raining) - again thanks

Glyn

atkhobby

Hi,

I just got the same problem (and on friday 13. too, unlucky me).

Actually I think the problem might have started some days ago. My wife told me the Check Engine came on just as she drove into our yard. I when out and checked it out. Let the engine run until hot and then backed out and the light went off. Thought it was just something to do with snow on a sensor in the exhaust or something.

Anyway, today I see that the light is on again and no speedo og odo (but the tacho works just fine).

I will let you know what I find out about this but I suspect the sensor is gone. Hopefully it an easy fix for this.

BlueBrick

Give it some time. Not all the people who may be able to help hang out here constantly, they have other things to do too.

__________________
03 X Pacifica Blue Metallic Smooth Brick.

kalamater

Thread Starter

thanks BlueBrick - correct, yes a bit of patience is in order, but I see replies are starting to come - I'm not so lonely anymore.

atkhobby -sound similar to mine, but my check engine light came after the speedo failure, all other instruments working. All a bit wet here at the moment so don't feel like crawling under the car. Spoke to local garage who is not a Subaru dealer but is a big fan, he is fine on mechanicals but not electrics, so will go to a 'specialist' next week in Kalamata, hope to keep you posted.

Glyn

kalamater

Thread Starter

Some good (?) news - Subaru dealer confirmed the sensor / sender faulty - will be changed next week. It is actually a fairly flimsy thing, quite small and located passnger side on the side of the transmission / gearbox ? Yes they did the trick of connecting a 'borrowed' sensor (from a nearby Forester) and drill - but hey it works. Did not have a new par in stock so did not want to remove the old (it's some form of plastic - and if it broke / sheared I would be left with an unusable auto as the oil would spurt out from the hole. All very relaxed - stayed with them the whole time, sign above says no customers in the workshop for insurance / safety reasons - but it goes much better when you can be monitoring and feeding history. So, just the price ????? will let you know.

atkhobby

Hi,

I have still not resolved my issues. Using the speedo of the GPS at the moment. Have you gotten the new sensor and did it fiks it for you?

kalamater

Thread Starter

Sorry for the time away - family illness, now for an update - confirmed by dealer, the sensor which screws into the gearbox faulty, new part ordered. Difficulty getting the old one out - it's some form of moulded hard plastic so it broke. Then they discovered that the 'thing' inside the gearbox into which the sensor fits and gets its rotation from is broken - so I will return to garage next week, they need the car for at leat one day to drop the gearbox open up and replace the part, imagine the bill !!!!!!!!!!!! ( I just have to believe I suppose that the dealer is not bent or that they didn't screw the part up inside the gearbox.

As you can imagine, my opinion of Subaru is not the best at the moment, all this work and expense for a small part - is this mechanism designed with the correct materials ???????????/ seems a bit slipshod to me. Subaru - means something like 'goes on for ever'??????? - yes but not with a speedo reading. Hope your news is better

kalamater

Thread Starter

Driving cog/gear for the speedo replaced (at large expense) now I have a low whine. I consulted a friend mechanic - something about thrust washers on the differential maybe - he asked why the original plastic cog in the gearbox failed anyway ? probably a gearbox fault all along.

I bought a Subaru because they never break down and go on for ever - not this one. He likened the problem to a common problem on Mk3 Ford Escorts !!!!!!!!! I might as well have saved a bit of money and bought such a motor - so much for Subaru quality.

rubbrdux

You are not alone with this problem, kalamater!
Our 2006 Forester has been in the shop 15 days to fix the same no speedo problem.
Just got it back Thursday 04Jun..... the same problem recurred just this evening 09Jun.
I am fortunate to have the extended warrenty so costs to me are next to nothing.

BTW, the error code for our car read P0-502 which decodes to "bad speed sensor and/or bad/loose sensor connections and/or bad sensor lead".

The dealer said the repairs would have cost $3000 if it wasn't under warranty.
Wonder what he'll say when I call him tomorrow with the new bad news!

Well, here it is 05Jul09 and the 06 Forester is STILL in the shop! They have ordered more harness replacements and hope to return the (fixed) car to us on the 10th (Friday). I hope so for we have a scheduled vacation planned for Monday the 13th. My fingers, toes (and eyes) are crossed in hopethey are successful!