All Wheel Drive Auto: Independent
Seattle Subaru & Toyota Service

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Helping Subaru Owners

We are still here for you and your Subaru

Helping Subaru Owners in need

For the last couple of weeks, I have been trying to figure out where my small business fits in terms of being able to offer any real help. We have a healthy staff most who do not fall into any high risk category, but we did put a few staff members on standby to limit the number of people in place during the need for social distance and to be honest we just are not seeing our customers at the volume we were prior to the shelter in place order.

I’m not about to have my guys learn how to sew masks or attempt to make ventilators, but there has to be something we can do right? I’ve seen other businesses offer free this or that for front line workers, but what about someone who has lost their job?

We have met some great people through the years, people that have been good to us, and it’s those people that I want to help the most. So if you are a Subaru owner and you have found yourself unemployed, put on standby, furloughed etc. I want to change your oil for free. This one’s on us, and we can all look for brighter skies around the corner.

We are going to put a limit of 10 free oil changes a week on this and on a first come first serve basis.

For how long I guess depends on the length of the shelter in place order combined with the local economy reopening and people getting back to work.

All Wheel Drive Auto is a small business and doesn’t have unlimited resources, but we do have engine oil, oil filters and a staff that loves your Subaru.

I Hope this helps those that need the help right now and we hope to see everyone of our customers soon.

-Justin Stobb

You can schedule below or call us at the shop 425 828 3600

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13 Responses

  1. Justin, I’m way up here in palmer alaska and need a replacement 2.2 for a 95 legacy sedan awd auto. I’d like to find a good used motor as its not worth putting a 4k new longblock into a 26 year old sedan with 150k. Got any resources for a used 2.2 thats worth taking the time to ship north and have me put into this car? thanks very much Hal

    1. Hey Hal,

      Let me look around the container when I can, I may have some help here for you.

      Ill email directly if I can

      -Justin

  2. Hey Justin,

    I am glad that I found your blog and website. I am in Florida near Tallahassee. I have what I think is a power steering issue. I have reviewed your blog post and video on power steering issues. Mine is a little different or maybe it advanced past the point on the ones that you described.

    I have a 2003 Subaru Outback Limited, auto transmission, with about 225,000 miles. I have owned it about five years and got it with about 170,000 miles on it. My kids drive it. It was previously owned by my mother in law since new and dealer maintained until I got it.

    In the past, I have had occasional belt noise. Recently, over the last few months, the steering slowly gave issues where I assumed that it was low on fluid, but not to the point that it prompted action on my part.

    Day before yesterday, my wife and kids were out in it. They messaged me that the “power steering was gone” and it was hard to steer. A few minutes later they messaged me that it was dead and would not restart.

    Here is what I found when I went out. The battery was dead, but would take a jump start. It would move in reverse, but when I gave steering input it stalled out. I jumped it again and gave steering input in park, it stalled again. I jumped it and gave steering input in park with RPMs b/w 2,500 and 3,000. It did not stall, but it was tough to turn the wheel and gave a strong pulsing feed back with steering input. It was giving a little bit of belt noise while running, but not much.

    I opened the PS reservoir while the engine was idling and observed both with and without steering input. The fluid appeared normal and did not smell burnt. There was no foaming.

    I had it towed home on a roll-back and haven’t gotten back to it messing with it, yet.

    I would like to hope that this is just a stretched out serpentine belt, which would explain both the lack of PS and undercharging by the alternator leading to a drained battery.

    The only other thing of note that comes to mind is that my daughter said she saw a AT OIL light before it shut off. I am not sure it that is due to the alternator/battery undercharge, unrelated, or what. It was not there when I restarted it or previous to this incident.

    Any way, any thoughts, advice, or input that you can offer would be much appreciated.

    Regards and thanks in advance for whatever you may be able to suggest!

    Thanks!

    Eric…

    1. Hey Eric,

      Did you look to see if the belt is still there? A common thing is for the Dampener pulley at the crank to come apart. Its actually quite common around 200k +.

      Thanks

      -Justin

  3. Neighbor drove from N.M. to Cal with mismatched tire. Shop says rear dif . damaged. what are the chances? I would think the coupling . maybe. Why not the trans? Car is 2018 automatic AWD. Thanks, Geo.

    1. Hey Geroge,

      Hard to speculate on failure that I have not looked at.

      If the tire that was mis matched was on the rear, the diff may suffer prior to a Transmission failure due to heat.

      Best guess

      -Justin

  4. Hi Justin,
    I have 2009 subaru forester 2.5 x limited VIN JF2SH64619H748159 and while I was evacuating last week due to hurricane Laura, my engine started making knocking sound. I took it to the mechanic and without looking at it, they are saying need to replace the engine. Just wanted to know your thoughts if it is worth replacing it.

    1. Hey Sam,

      Its worth fixing for sure, and that is unfortunate, if it ingested water and you have full coverage insurance they may cover it? Something to look into at least.

      Hope it turns out well

      -Justin

  5. I’d like to pick your brain about the new models. I’m looking at a new Outback but I can’t decide between the 2.5 NA or the 2.4 XT. Do you think the turbo would have any longevity problems? I tend to try to keep them for 150k miles or more. I would prefer to have more power but not sure if the turbo is as reliable or more reliable than the 3.6 it was designed to replace.

    Thanks for your thoughts!

    1. Hello Matt,

      The 2.4l is here to stay. This is in the Ascent, the Outback XT, will be in the next Gen WRX.

      My Favorite engine is the 3.6l. I personally couldn’t own the NA 2.5, because not having any action when I press the go pedal drives me nuts. The 2.4l will probably in the long run need more Maintenance and Repairs than the NA, but it’s still my suggestion to buy what you like and suits you the best. If you are going to want more power than the 2.5l, you will never be happy with the car.

      Hope that helps

      -Justin

      1. Thanks! I’ll look at the 2.4 turbo trims. Do you suggest more frequent service (5000 miles vs 6000 etc)? I remember the older XT turbos used to be either a 3000 or 3750 interval.

        Any tips to keep the CVT in good shape as well, like a drain and fill every 60k?

        1. If you buy any turbo model you need to change the oil every 3000 miles/3 months and use Synthetic oil. So cost of ownership is going to be a little higher.

          Thanks

          -Justin

          1. Justin, I may be a 1 off situation but not sure: I have a 2002 forester 2.5L standard automatic. I had the timing belt and gear change done at 110000 miles. I had at the same time put a larger radiator installed with trans intercooler as well as had the shifting solenoids replaced. that was the last I had done to the car other than regular oil changes coolant changes and trans fluid and filter changes. it is now at 345988 miles and I am doing the timing again. this time the head gasket went which sparked the work. so I’m gonna pull heads sleeve the block then bore .002 over replace pistons rings bearings crank and cam basically I’ll be doing a recondition.my point is my 2002 had the original head gaskets in it for 346000 miles without issues and I have even raced it a few times and even got 8.096 sec at 142mph on a 1/4 mile so no I haven’t babied it at all. incidently I was racing a mitsubishi and I beat it. its all about the power level and how fast you get off the start line. lol so yeah oh when I did the timing the first time I did retorque the head bolts but that’s all i did. I still own her and I also own a 2019 forester too. I love my subi’s. I used to be a ford man but yeah F**** ford. its now a 4 letter word to me. hehehehe thanks for your tidbits of wisdom on subi’s I’m expecting another 350k miles outa my 2002 once she’s done and I’m aiming for her to kick out a bit more power too…..but It will be done the right way.

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