[Ryguyry]

Hey all

Posting here as I have not seen posts with a 1997 prefix, is this the same car for 1998-2002???****

I picked up a 1997 Forester S/tb yesterday! It’s got a EJ20G, auto, 80,000kms, WRX suspension swap and a few other minor things. Engine just had a oil change with rotella, the previous owner said this was a good oil for the car and it burns no oil. My intentions buying the car was not to modify it but to keep it reliable. I have a 2016 Tundra work truck but wanted this for road trips and camping.

I have done some searching on various forums and have not found a “new owner maintenance guide”

After my inspections of the vehicles the only thing I could see it needing are :

Front Brakes pads - Have read that the part for these are the same as a 1994 legacy turbo... thoughts?

ATF change - Not a flush but a drain and fill. Appears it hasn’t been done, the fluid is still red but starting to dull in colour. Thoughts on what fluid to use?

Spark Plugs - No records of these being changed anytime. Thoughts on that?

Air filter and cabinet filter - Part numbers?

Throttle Body Service - pretty straight forward


I’ve been looking for the factory maintenance schedule with no luck. Is there anything else I should think about replacing due to the kilometres on the car? The car came with all the manuals but I don’t read Japanese. Besides those things the car seems solid. No rust and the body is 9/10. I’m aware the timing belt will need to be done at some point too. Look forward to learning more about the car!

Ryan

 

[Ryguyry]

Found this:

https://subaru.epc-data.com/forester/sf5/845-ej20g/


On this forum. Does anyone know about converting OEM parts to parts more readily available?

 

[2.5x_sleeper]

If you know what you need & don't mind used parts, you might check Car-Part.com. :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

 

[Ryguyry]

I checked it out, they don’t list a 1997 Forester.

 

[ForesterCub]

You might have some luck on ebay. A quick search turned up this, a more thorough search might produce more.

I think your car is what was sold in Australia at the time as the Forester GT, so you might have some luck pursuing searches with that model name.

Do you know the history of the car? Seems like you have a Japanese domestic market import?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-SU...3:g:CMQAAOSwD89bq533:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

 

[don1952]

A 1997 JDM S/Tb is a Revision "A" model produced between October 1996 and July 1998

As these have been regularly imported into the UK there are lots of threads relating to S/Tb and T/Tb models

Search result on S/Tb in the Europe forum

https://www.subaruforester.org/vbul...oplog_searchinfo=1&photoplog_searchquery=S/Tb

Best place for part numbers is https://jp-carparts.com

Specifically for the early S/Tb automatic...
https://jp-carparts.com/subaru/figlist.php?maker=subaru&car_baseid=F30002&type=S10&cartype=004

 

[don1952]

Periodic Maintanence will be the same as the 97 Impreza Turbo

 

[Ryguyry]

Thats awesome info thank you so much!

I went to a local NAPA store and had him run some model numbers on the computer. The brakes pad part number for a 97/98 forester are the same part as a 1994 Legacy Sport ( AWD Turbo) and 2003 WRX, which I have read and been told are compatible for my car. I will get the pads and try them and report back.

Part # TS-7589x $52.00 CAN

 

[Ryguyry]

DEX III suitable for this vehicle when doing a drain and fill?

Ryan

 

[don1952]

DEX III suitable for this vehicle when doing a drain and fill?

Ryan

As it's a Japanese Domestic Model, you should probably run it on the highest octane fuel available and/or use octane booster as they are OEM mapped for 99 RON fuel.

 

[Ryguyry]

So left and slightly ahead of the shifter in this automatic car is a small button that you can push down, I’d assume pressing it again turns “it” off?

 

[don1952]

So left and slightly ahead of the shifter in this automatic car is a small button that you can push down, I’d assume pressing it again turns “it” off?

I would think so, although not seeing a picture of it, cannot confirm if it's OEM or an addition.

In that region there are 2 AT related switches

"AT Hold" mode switch (next to handbrake and has a snowflake on it)

"Power" mode switch (next to gear selector)

Subaru - Power/At/Hold Button- trinituner.com

 

[Ryguyry]

Yes it’s the switch seen in the picture, “power mode” switch. The other switch is a rocker style that turns a snowflake on.

The other one I guess I’ll have to drive and toggle it to see if it’s on or off?

 

[don1952]

Yes it’s the switch seen in the picture, “power mode” switch. The other switch is a rocker style that turns a snowflake on.

The other one I guess I’ll have to drive and toggle it to see if it’s on or off?

There should/could be a Power indicator light in the combimeter. Same with the HOLD switch.

 

[Ryguyry]

Tried playing with it today is didn't notice a difference. No lights come on when I push it. Transmission acted a little funny today at about 105-110kmh. If I touched the gas pedal just a little, it downshifted and felt like it couldn't decide what gear to be in.

Its currently running 5w-40 T6 Rotella, but I want to experiment and use a more conventional, thicker oil. I have heard the benefits of using thicker to quiet the motor down a bit. I have researched piston slap, and I am sure mine does it when first starting. The noise does go away after the motor warms up.

 

[Ryguyry]

Was thinking maybe a 10/15w-40

 

[Ryguyry]

Bump

 

[don1952]

10W/40 should be fine.

 

[Ryguyry]

Where I live the temperature rarely goes below -10°c in the winter and the warmest I saw it get was 34°c in the summer but maybe for a week or two. It averages about -2 to +10 in the winter and 15°c - 25°c in the summer. Based on that even a 15w40 technically would be ok wouldn’t it?