[m121180]

Bought an early 2005 Forester XT Auto - The same shape as 2004.
Bought car from wholesale car yard (not subaru dealer) and it has 3 year warranty. Warranty works performed by nominated repairers. Not subaru dealer.

At full lock there is a shudder. Does not sound like power steering & shudder can be felt throughout car. Shudder only light.

Put car into FWD mode and problem goes away. From this, I concluded (based on read posts on this website) that it was the transfer solenoid.
I rang Subaru dealer and explained problem and FWD mode. He also said transfer solenoid.
Took car to warranty recommended mechanic.
He concluded same thing as me. Transfer solenoid.
Mechanic rings subaru dealer to get new part. Dealer says no such part for this vehicle. Part exists for other Subaru but this one.
Mechanic confused so he takes it to another mechanic to get second opinion. This is where my car is now.

Am I missing something here?
Can somebody please help me?

Thanks

 

[pleiad7]

The problem is with the dealer. Evidently the parts monkey there doesn't know his rear from a hole in the ground. :biggrin:

 

[m121180]

The problem is with the dealer. Evidently the parts monkey there doesn't know his rear from a hole in the ground. :biggrin:

Are you serious?
Do you know the part number that I need?
As I seem to be getting nowhere with this problem.

 

[m121180]

I managed to download the 2004 Forester service manual.

The section on the transmission clearly states that the Transfer Duty Solenoid applies to Non-Turbo versions only.

If I'm reading this right, the dealer was correct and also really! controls this on the Turbo version?

 

[m121180]

Well I can confirm that on the early 2005 forester XT Auto does NOT have a Transfer Duty Solenoid.


3 different dealers and a subaru specialist all have confirmed this.

Apparently its all controlled via a shift control unit or something - $3,500 +

None of the Brisbane (Australia) dealers have ever sold this part and nobody in australia stocks it so apparently my shudder is unlikely to be caused by this unit as none of them have ever seen or heard this part failing.

They reckon to fully flush ATF 2x and change ATF filter and see what happens.

 

[pleiad7]

Interesting... let us know what comes of this.

 

[m121180]

Did the FULL ATF flush.
Approx 20 litres - Subaru brand fluid. Cost an arm and a leg to get it done.

The fluid that came out was black. very burnt.

Shudder, binding, whatever you want to call it has now been solved.

There you have it.
2006 XT Auto does NOT a transfer soleniod and binding issues can easily (but not cheaply) be solved by a full ATF flush.