H6 engine v. H4 in Subaru Outback wagon

[Yousuf Khan]

5. There's quite a bit of wind noise at highway speeds. Some is just
at the driver's side window (needs adjustment?), but there is also
some from the roof--maybe the roof rack?

My 2000 OBW H4 also has this tendency. It got better when they tightened the
windows down, but it looks like the windows have become loosened up again,
and it's back.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Todd H.]

My 2000 OBW H4 also has this tendency. It got better when they tightened the
windows down, but it looks like the windows have become loosened up again,
and it's back.

My vehicle's windows are still very quiet at highway speeds--I'll
count myself lucky! I'm able to garage my vehicle if that makes
any difference.

Since replacing those horrible Dunlop Sport A2 tire, I can hear a bit
from the roof rack in terms of wind noise.

 

[MDCORE]

2. Tailgate latch doesn't always latch tightly. The tailgate *feels*

latched, but the dash indicator light stays on and the dome light
stays on. It has sat that way all night, twice. Haven't had a dead
battery yet, though.

I find if the rubber cargo mat slides back towards the tailgate, I get the same
problem.
If I pull the mat all the way till it's touching the seatbacks, the problem
goes away (until it creeps back again).

5. There's quite a bit of wind noise at highway speeds. Some is just
at the driver's side window (needs adjustment?), but there is also
some from the roof--maybe the roof rack?

I THINK I've read somewhere that adjusting the outside mirror can ocassionally
help. And I got my car from the dealer with the front roofrack crossbar
installed backwards- it should be fat side to the front- and that helped cut
down on the noise. But unfortunately, it didn't go away completely.

Dukephoto
'91 vdc
82,000 miles

 

[MDCORE]

I would like to poll this group:
How many H6 owners have had any problems with their vehicles? I'll start:
2002 H6 VDC Sedan with 37,500 miles and 27 months old. Problems:
1 - Parking rod mechanism; fixed under recall
2 - Cruise control cable; fixed under recent recall
3 - I'm thinking....
4 - I'm still thinking....
5 - oh yeah, the automatic climate control drives me crazy; does that count?
6 - nothing else to report.

[/QUOTE]

I seem to have higher mileage than most respondees at 82,000 miles in 32
months.

I've had the standard recalls (rear suspension undercoating, parking prawl,
cruise control cable).

The thermostat went at around 50,000 miles. Fixed under extended warranty.

The steering is feeling some vibration (kind of like a bucking) at slow speeds
at close to being locked to the end (but NOT all the way to the lock point).
Maybe power steering pump. Will be bringing it in soon, if only to document the
problem.

The Macintosh head (the original, non CD-changer unit), is giving me
intermitent error messages- an ER-3, or an ER-6 comes up on the LCD, and it
just doesn't play. If I eject a half or dozen times or so it will eventually
play. But this only happens once a week or so. I contacted Macintosh, and they
said the codes indicate transport problems. I have to take it to Subaru, they
pull the unit and sent it to Mac. They either repair or replace it and send it
back. Supposedly takes about 10 days total. Of course, since the problem is
intermitent, it probably won't happen when I take it in for the dealer to check
out. I took pictures of the error message on the display so they can't say it
doesn't happen.

An occasional VDC and ABS light that stayed on after start-up. Turning off the
car and restarting would clear them. Only has happened half a dozen times.

Not so bad so far. I'm not sure I'll make out on the warranty- the stereo
repair has to be a couple hundred dollars (labor and repair), and the
thermostat saved me a hundred some-odd bucks. If it is the power steering pump,
I think I will have made out. Not that I'm hoping that it's the pump.

All in all it's been a great car, and I don't see why it made the list. I'm a
member of several VDC oriented groups, and have seen very few posts about
engine problems.I obviously spend alot of time in the car, and find it
extremely comfortable, responsive, great sound system (which makes road noise
superflous), and great engine!

I'm a long time subsciber to CR- although I obviously missed the avoid rating
when I posted earlier to this thread- but I would like to see what the
complaints were that led to the rating.

Dukephoto