[pipsyp]

Hi folks,

Am back after quite an absence.

I owned a 2001 SF S Turbo a few years back and was fairly active on here with that car, but due to circumstance changes I didnt end up owning the car too long and it got sold.

Missed it ever since and hoped one day I might end up getting another, but honestly wanting a decent SG or SH XT next time around (love the SF as a plaything but didnt want to daily another one) the relative cost of buying a good one and the associated running costs (in the main immense road tax and not great fuel economy) it rather put me off. Through a bit of a twist of fate though it's happened!

After a couple of years of running around in a very good (if a little beige) 2005 A3 2.0 FSi Sportback which Ive been thinking about moving on anyway, the opportunity arose to buy a fairly tidy SG 2.0 XT manual off my brother in law. Having just bought a fairly heavily modified SF Stb this one was surplus to requirement and I just thought why not!

Its a late 2003 registered car, 5 speed manual (my SF was a 4EAT so quite a nice change) in silver. 145k miles, is for the age and miles very good condition, good history - appears to be a period of miles missing in later years but clearly has been well cared for over the years - came with all the books including an original Forester SG sales brochure from the period which is quite cool. Since my brother in laws had it, hes done alot of maintenance on it (full service, belt and water pump, new rad) including fitting a H&S centre section and (I gather quite rare) Fujisubo rear section. Looks cool and isnt particularly loud either.

I've determined its a MY04 (so has inlet AVCS), so isnt a terrible base for a remap, it could do with some better tyres on it, the rear suspension is tired (usual beginnings of sag) and needs replacing and I reckon the clutch is probably past its best (its bloody heavy with an unusual bite).

Ive decided Im just going to run it for the time being, maybe doing some little jobs on it and in time doing something about the suspension and tyres but it'll definitely have questions to ask at some stage!

 

[blastertrev]

Welcome back.

 

[Ace1981]

Do you have any pictures of your old SF?
Or of the heavily modified SF Stb your brother in law now has?

 

[pipsyp]

Do you have any pictures of your old SF?
Or of the heavily modified SF Stb your brother in law now has?

I do indeed! My SF was a nice example, but was a 4EAT...always kinda pined after a manual but in hindsight it was still very good! Bar a panel filter, silicone Y pipe and some better aftermarket discs and pads all round it was completely stock.

The SF Stb my bro in law has is really quite nice, about 300 brake which I guess is plenty! Doesnt exactly fly under the radar though! He loves them though, think this might be his 4th Foz?

 

[pipsyp]

Enjoying the car, need to bang a bit more coolant in it and also suffering the usual oil checking issue (with the stick appearing bone dry most of the time, though I suspect its fine). Looking back I recall I always had a bit of an issue checking the SFs level too!

Gonna try the leaving it on a flat surface for hours then a single dip, see how that goes.

I am finding that the combination of ditchfinder tyres and past-it rear suspension makes it rather "interesting" to drive if you push on a bit. Im also finding the front tyres will light up if provoked, in part probably because the tyres are toilet but also due to the rear suspension dropping. I definitely will need to sort both out at some point, though suspension wise not sure what to do really. I think I want to keep the stock height and definitely rid of the self levelling rear....anyone have any suggestions other than Pedders?

Done a couple of basics......replaced the brake and clutch pedal rubbers with some Amazon specials which actually appear as good and fit as well as the buggered originals, also have ordered some new tailored mats off of carmats4u....it has the factory carpet mats but the drivers one is fubared so figured it for 30-odd quid I should just change them. Ive used them for a few cars in recent years and they do great mats (better than most OEMs ive bought in recent years) and are great value!

Next thing will be to give it a bloody good clean in and out. Am also looking into getting it into a local specialists to get it health checked, an oil service and coolant flush and get the gear and diff oil changed (as no idea when it was last done), with tyres and suspension to be sorted down the line.

I do also want to remove the intake silencer, stick a panel filter in, do the y pipe, possibly do something about the downpipe (im assuming they have a pre-cat that can be removed without emissions issues?) and possibly get a remap. Im also toying with the idea of getting an eBay TD04 but I think the TF035 will probably do the job (230/235 brake'll do me I think). Im fortunate enough to live very near SMD, so they are a possible candidate for that.

 

[Ace1981]

Good looking cars all round.

Alternatives to Pedders: BC, Tein, Meister R.
Plenty of people on here who have coilovers from each of the above and will share the pros and cons.

I may be wrong but your SG may have three cats (up-pipe pre-turbo, downpipe and second cat pipe post-turbo). Don't count on being able to remove any of them and still sail through MOTs. You might get lucky on emissions if you remove just one, but it's unlikely.
Furthermore, even if the car passes on emissions, if a cat should be there and isn't (according to OEM spec), it's now an automatic fail in an MOT test.
There is another recent thread in the Europe forum on this very topic, as it goes.

L

 

[pipsyp]

Good looking cars all round.

Alternatives to Pedders: BC, Tein, Meister R.
Plenty of people on here who have coilovers from each of the above and will share the pros and cons.

I may be wrong but your SG may have three cats (up-pipe pre-turbo, downpipe and second cat pipe post-turbo). Don't count on being able to remove any of them and still sail through MOTs. You might get lucky on emissions if you remove just one, but it's unlikely.
Furthermore, even if the car passes on emissions, if a cat should be there and isn't (according to OEM spec), it's now an automatic fail in an MOT test.
There is another recent thread in the Europe forum on this very topic, as it goes.

L

Cheers man.

Suspension wise needs renewing, but really torn between keeping standardnride height (as it is useful) and lowering (it'll drive better). Cost will be a factor as I cant justify putting silly sums into it really.

And definitely, Im all for retaining emissions equipment where its needed....for what I want out of it I dont suspect the cats will ever be an issue.....also as a 145k mile car Im sympathetic to the fact it wont want to be chasing big power either. Once ive got all the mechanicals how it needs to be and know it has a clean bill of health, ultimately ill probably just chuck a panel filter on it, do the y pipe and get it mapped on the TF035. Its not massively slow as it is at all, but imagine it'd be quite a hoot with north of 200 brake with nice spool and low down torque. its what I wanted to do to my SF, but never got the chance to get there (that had a panel and y pipe and stock exhaust and it went and sounded a touch better just for those from memory).

 

[fpan]

Welcome back!
I like the SF, there was a guy on here (mykp I think?) that used to have a very nice modified green one.
Do you have any photos of yours or your brother in law's one?

 

[pipsyp]

Welcome back!
I like the SF, there was a guy on here (mykp I think?) that used to have a very nice modified green one.
Do you have any photos of yours or your brother in law's one?

Cheers man, yeah ive posted a couple further up. Mine was a 2001 facelift SF 4EAT, it had only done just over 70k miles and was in super mechanical condition (lots of recent Subaru main dealer work done on it...even a new OE catback!) - whilst they arent universally loved (and Id have preferred a manual) I actually grew to really like the 4EAT and thought it suited the car really well, went noticeably better in Power mode and was nice being able to manually shift between all four gears......pretty bulletproof too.

Having the manual now in the SG, I find the heavy clutch a bit tiresome and whilst the gearshift is quite short, its also quite notchy....I cant say right now if I prefer it to the 4EAT in all honesty (not something I ever expected to say!!!!). That car bar a panel filter, y pipe, black diamond grooved discs and pads all round and lepson-refurbished wheels it was stock. Was always my plan to map it or possibly TD04 it down the line but it never happened. Interestingly I did try to sell it on here but there were no takers!

The white one is a mid 90's (94/95) Stb, thats had quite a bit of money thrown at it and again has only done about 70k miles. Supposedly around 300 brake and mapped for 95 fuel, be surprised if it was still a TD04 but honestly no idea. Is a 4EAT as well. Its a bit extreme looks wise for me but its quite cool.

 

[pipsyp]

So got a few little bits straightened out.

Turns out despite having been serviced late part of last year (with decent Fuchs Titan Race 5w30) it was running a bit low on oil, so sorted that out. Also topped off the coolant.

Front wiper blades are a bit shot (work, but squeek) so got some Bosch Aerotwin retrofits to put on it. I might give the arms a light sand, cost with kurust and paint up with matte paint just to make them look a bit more presentable.

On the coolant front found something interesting, which might help others. My car has had its rad replaced fairly recently, and as a consequence has gone from having no radiator cap, to having one. As part of that the coolant return pipes had to be modified a bit from stock, with my brother in law having sourced an OE cap from a local subaru garage for it.

Ive found the rad cap has been letting off a bit of coolant against the bonnet. Turns out its fitted with the 108kpa/1.1 bar two-way winged cap that is meant for the header tank, whereas those cars with rad caps are typically fitted with a 1.3bar round item that is one way only. Some STi cars came from the factory this way so makes sense cars with a retrofitted capped radiator should be set up the same. ive bought the genuine part from ICP and intend to fit the round cap to the rad and use the newer winged on on it now to replace the older (likely original) one on the header tank.

This explains it better than I could!

Dual STi radiator cap?

your understanding of the cooling system is incorrect. the thermostat is what keeps fluid from circulating into the sytem. that is on the other side of the system. once the coolant reaches the thermostat's opening temperature("ideal" operating temperature), the thermostat begins to open. the...

www.iwsti.com

Still looking into suspension options and will have to do something about the tyres sooner or later as they are pretty dire. Does anyone have any suggestions for decent all season 215 60 16's that arent stupid money?

 

[Ace1981]

Ive found the rad cap has been letting off a bit of coolant against the bonnet. Turns out its fitted with the 108kpa/1.1 bar two-way winged cap that is meant for the header tank, whereas those cars with rad caps are typically fitted with a 1.3bar round item that is one way only. Some STi cars came from the factory this way so makes sense cars with a retrofitted capped radiator should be set up the same. ive bought the genuine part from ICP and intend to fit the round cap to the rad and use the newer winged on on it now to replace the older (likely original) one on the header tank.

Sounds right to me.

When I installed a Mishimoto alloy radiator on mine, it came with a clear instruction: the Mishimoto radiator cap must not be used on the radiator.
Seems odd at first, but they went on to explain that theirs is not the same spec as the OEM; to get round it, you have to use the header tank cap on the radiator, and the Mishi cap on the header tank.
It's been perfect since, so I presume there is science to it.

L

 

[pipsyp]

Mats arrived, as usual very well made and good fit as Ive come to expect of carmats4u. Bit of a shame as on removing the drivers mat, as the backing had gotten so bad its led to a bit of carpet wear by the clutch pedal. Still for a 145k mile 20 year old car cant complain really!

Ive also now fitted the aerotwin wipers, which definitely make it look a bit more modern (and hopefully wont squeek!!).

Noticed the tiniest bit of surface rust around the rear drivers arch which I can sort with kurust and by touching in (back to halfrauds for a touch up stick at some stage I expect) but reckon with a proper clean and some decent cleaner on the wheels she'll come up well....am actually surprised how good it is on the whole as normally with these the bumper corners are scraped and its door dings a plenty! This one has a couple of dinks here and there and a couple of minor scratches but the bumpers are great. Really quite pleased and on the whole cosmetically its better than my 70k mile SF was!!

Wifes just taken it on a tip run (appropriate use for the thing) so when its back think I will set about giving it a clean!

 

[pipsyp]

Gave it a half decent wash this afternoon, only slight annoyance was my Karcher removing a bit of paint from my bonnet scoop (doh!). Looks like the paint on that side of it is quite thin but never mind I'll touch it up!

Has come up nice otherwise

!

 

[TMX]

I definitely will need to sort both out at some point, though suspension wise not sure what to do really. I think I want to keep the stock height and definitely rid of the self levelling rear....anyone have any suggestions other than Pedders?

KYB Excel G shocks with Springcoil springs are an alternative route many of us have taken. You can keep the standard height but firm up the spring rate or go with standard spring rates.

If you have a search in the UK section, there's some posts by @Gigsy that worked with SpringCoil to come up with a solution for us.

SpringCoil springs don't have the best paint when it comes to rust protection though.

KYB do springs for the non SLS setup, which if you switched to their Excel G, would be non SLS too.

KingSprings do an application too from memory but they're more popular with the offroad crowd.

 

[pipsyp]

KYB Excel G shocks with Springcoil springs are an alternative route many of us have taken. You can keep the standard height but firm up the spring rate or go with standard spring rates.

If you have a search in the UK section, there's some posts by @Gigsy that worked with SpringCoil to come up with a solution for us.

SpringCoil springs don't have the best paint when it comes to rust protection though.

KYB do springs for the non SLS setup, which if you switched to their Excel G, would be non SLS too.

KingSprings do an application too from memory but they're more popular with the offroad crowd.

Cheers TMX, seems to be lots of options at least!!

 

[pipsyp]

So am on the hunt for some genuine tweeters and sail panels, will be calling my local dealer in the week to see if I can source them here still at sensible cost.....otherwise I might resolve to buying them from the US. I then want to change the lower speakers for something half decent (I quite like JBL, so probably the woofers from a reasonable component set and some coax 5.25's in the back) and think i'll probably get a double DIN android auto head unit fitted as I really want proper Bluetooth in it....its all money tho!!!

The 1.3 bar rad cap turned up, duly fitted and tightened up the clip on the overflow on the rad neck and it seems perfect now which is great.

Enjoying the car, grips well but with the rear shocks being pretty kapput she dont corner great. I dont feel it goes quite as well as it probably ought to.....thinking it might have a slight boost leak (as the Y pipe is probably quite knackered) also not sure the inlet AVCS solenoid is working all that well...not throwing any codes but just finding at times its flat spotting a bit. I did run some good injector cleaner through it on its last tank though and it seems a bit better for it. Any comments welcomed!

Brakes work well, came to realise the SG has better (bigger) front brake discs than the SF probably explains it.

I had forgotten how thirsty they are though! Seems OK on a good run, but A-B its not great. I guess I must stop driving it on boost so much!

 

[pipsyp]

Been a few ups and downs with the Foz, but were getting there!

After finding it low on oil and topping off, some days later it appeared to do the same thing. No obvious loss from anywhere so was a bit panicked at the time. Topped her off again and now she seems OK (checking the oil almost daily now and seems pretty stable). I dont like the dipsticks on these things, find getting a reliable reading is a right pain, one moment underreading, the next over.....still I think were in a better place now! Funnily enough after driving a bit odd since having it (she was hunting under acceleration and I figure the AVCS probably didnt like the low oil) and eventually throwing a camshaft position code, having cleared it, she drives very well now. Also changed out the header tank cap on the rad for the genuine 1.3 bar round cap and needless to say shes been good as gold on coolant ever since. I also now have a spare header tank cap which I guess is useful!

Been looking into suspension as it definitely all needs doing sooner rather than later, as the rear shocks are definitely done. Its a toss up between KYB and Pedders for the moment....have contemplated lowering it but I like the versatility the standard ride height offers. I think id preference KYB Excel G and K Flex springs, but they are trickier to source, whereas Pedders are easy peasy (and come all built up so just a case of popping them on). Decisions decisions!

I have however ordered some new tyres, 4 x Hankook Ventus Prime 4's as they were about the best rated Wet A rated tyre for the money and look fairly quiet - having had Hankooks on many cars before I dont think i'll be going too wrong. Nearly went for some Geolander A/T's but I expect in most situations bar mild mud plugging they'd be terrible so decided not to.

Was suffering the annoying aux belt squeek on start.....its had all new belts about 5 months ago, so no doubt its all down to natural stretch so I got the spanners out yday and adjusted the alternator - 10 mins later good as gold again.

Once ive sorted the suspension, ill get her serviced (incl. gearbox and diff oils), do a panel filter, y pipe and look to get it mapped, possibly with a 3 port solenoid..or so's the plan anyway

 

[pipsyp]

Well balls.....start her up just now, turn the wheel a bit and shes died. Now she wont start at all. She cranks but doesnt go.

I thought perhaps id overtightened the aux belt or something, so slackened it off (annoyingly damaging the alternator casing a little in the process, as needed to give it a little knock to get it to move again) but still no dice.

Awaiting arrival of the AA.....heres hoping its not terminal!

 

[TMX]

@pipsyp What was the verdict of the AA man?

It might be worth checking the fuel pump relay. A couple of FSTI owners have suffered that failure in the past

 

[pipsyp]

@pipsyp What was the verdict of the AA man?

It might be worth checking the fuel pump relay. A couple of FSTI owners have suffered that failure in the past

Morning TMX, no joy unfortunately. AA guy was a lovely chap and really helpful (spent ages diagnosing and trying to sort - was pretty old school) but in the end resorted to towing me to my mates garage (about 6 miles away) which was interesting hanging off the back of a Transit on a tow bar with no PAS! Wouldnt have wanted to do it during the day!

Im hoping it is nothing serious. It did throw a crankshaft position sensor fault several days ago but cleared it and had been fine since. Diags showed both cam and crank sensors were (or appeared to be) working. All the fuses appeared fine too. Its either a lack of fuel or lack of spark.

Interestingly could hear the fuel pump priming, but its very quiet - suppose its possible its packed in.

Thankfully my AA membership allows me a hire car for 3 days, also my brother in law has offered to lend me a car so I should be able to stay mobile whilst it gets sorted. Just hoping its nothing terminal as only had it 5 mins .