ccrien

Try Comma SX 75W/90, semi synthetic GL5spec and good price at my local place.

Think Ive read of a similar thing in Car Mechanics mag lately- on old style Vectra or Corsas, If parked up when brakes really hot the handbrake loosens grip when they cool. Worth a bit of research to build your case

Forgot to mention- try key in drivers door and wiggle/ switch back/forth a few times (give C. Locking time to work between switching) to see if that helps reset / bed in the microswitch, then use fob button as normal.

Had similar prob once, odd this only happened on really hot days - microswitch and wiring in drivers door was covered in grimy crud - could feel with fingers when inner door was panel off, but bugger to get into up at top rear behind metal panels, so loads of WD40 sprayed on over a few days and I got lucky, it fixed it. Try that first. Good luck

just happened to be reading the haynes US forester/legacy manual the other night and it seems you can loosen relevant bits off and then lift engine 2 inches up with a hoist to get sump clear of subframe to remove some sump bolts- so not quite engine out, but still a pretty big job. expect very similar with wrx, pity cos new sumps are relatively cheap at import car parts.

alternative- 29.99 plus 10 postage - may fit?

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Grade-A-Subaru/Alternators-/_i.html?_fsub=433526013&_sid=61387633&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Try Grade A Subaru, breakers with alternators available 20 to 30 pounds plus postage. Havent used them myself but seen them recommended, and are well established. Google or go to their ebay page. Hope you get sorted soon.

Is month 2s installment ready yet?

May be no use to you all with highly modded cars, but worth sharing my experience: I tried the Admiral multi car policy this year- for our Impreza GX (with non std alloys), the Forester and an Astra convertible (all bog std), switching from 3 different policies with D Line, Churchill and Asda, to their multicar policy cut costs to just over half of what we were paying for the full year.

Amazing.

Hi, Haynes in the USA do a manual for Foresters and Legacys - and quite a bit of it is directly relevant to the non-turbo Imprezas. (I havea non turbo forester and impreza blob-eye so know first hand. Got mine through Amazon a while ago. The US manuals arent quite as detailed as the UK ones but loads in there- and good enough to convince me cambelt is a simple - ish DIY job..

go home page then top LHS, 4 lines down, "join SIDC"

Mine is a 2005 GX impreza and just the same- drivers switch only, HOWEVER in my older Forester (2003) all the window switches illuminate, even the one in the passenger door handle. Always been like that. Strange- surprised your top of range STi is drivers switch only, thought the GX might just be from be saving a few pennies (or japanese equivalent) on the build cost!

almost 8 years Forester (110000 miles)still going strong, and 2.5yrs so far with Impreza

Panic over - the drop links have got rid of 95% of the knock, roll bar bushes will stay as they are. thanks for all the replies!

Hi, changed drop links on front anti roll bar, but found a VERY slight knock/play on bushes when drop link disconnected (nothing under load). just have an occasional slight knock on speed bumps/rough sections of tarmac, at slow speed. Thinking of changing roll bar bushes- but looks slightly awkward to access 1 bolt, can this be done with front end of car up on a set of ramps. my reasoning being that there is no load on the bar / bushes when wheels on ground. Any tips or anything to watch out for or is this an easy job? thanks. PS this is my 2003 forester not the impreza, but same design.

Lucky if I can get 33 mpg on motorway out of my GX- 30 mpg overall is more typical routinely, best is only 33/34 on a steady drive using super unleaded - (and I dont claim 350 bhp ha ha)

Hi all, just another new member. finally joined- have a forester owned since new in early 2004 and an Impreza (2005 model) for over a couple of years now. Although both non turbos, lots of experience with these scoobys - the forester has well over 100K miles now, some of it pulling boat or trailers of logs. Ive only had to replace front drop links, front discs and pads, and battery - until yesterday when new exhaust cost arm and leg, needed new sensors as well. If it goes another 7 years thats OK. Impreza is a great drive- Blue saloon with Rota GRA alloys. Both cars suited to use in Northumberland, borders and SW Scotland. Off to Border counties rally up in Kielder in a minute,

take care everyone!