TECHTIPS July 2013 (SUSTIPS 0712)

TECHTIPS JULY 2013

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

05 TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE

If you have a customer complaint of when using the paddle shifters in "D" (Drive Mode not Manual Mode), the transmission does not automatically return to "D" as indicated in the instrument cluster following use of the paddle shifters. The condition may be a result of a variation in the tire circumferences. Confirm all four tires are of the same brand, size, and circumference. If a variation is found, then the recommendation would be to review with the customer their need to replace the necessary tires to arrive at a matched set (or return to the tire store where the recently purchased mismatched tires came from for correction).

02 FB ENGINE UPPER OIL PAN NO. 11120AA111

A manufacturing change was made to the upper oil pan used on FB engines. Previously, there were 4 holes drilled and tapped for the 4 bolts used to secure the crankcase oil baffle plate. The replacement part has 3 holes drilled and tapped. There is no need to drill and tap the 4th hole. Simply use 3 bolts to secure the baffle plate. FHI has notified us this was a planned production change and not an error in manufacturing.

01 USING STIS, THE "WHAT'S NEW" SECTION AND TECH TIPS

In monitoring Techline calls for quality assurance purposes, we sometimes notice callers are unaware of recently published information. It is important that Subarunet and the STIS site be reviewed on a regular, if not daily, basis. By reviewing the information found on these sites on a regular basis, (for example: the "What's New" section) your Technicians will have the most updated information on repair procedures, Service Manual corrections, Technical Service Bulletins, and Tech TIPS. As you know, having this information readily available, increases Technician efficiency (not to mention customer satisfaction).

In addition to searching for Tech Tips, please be aware that there is a Tech Tips Article Locator document that breaks TIPS down into 17 different categories. This allows you to look directly for a TIP in any area of the vehicle for the problem that you are working on. It can be found by searching the On Line Reference Column on STIS, then select "Other/Misc" then click on the first search box. At the bottom of all of the documents returned from your search, you will find the TIPS Locator document. Once you open and view it, you can scroll to the particular area you are looking for to see if there is a TIP on the subject matter. The TIPS Locator document is updated quarterly.

Any data files you send to Techline can be sent from a desktop computer to tech@subaru.com  or, if you are using your CF19,  click on "Tech Support"  . This will ensure that they are delivered to the Techline mailbox.

02 TOO MUCH OIL IN THE ENGINE

How much is too much? What can happen if you put too much oil in an engine? If you've ever seen an engine that had way too much oil added, you'd say a lot can happen and all of it is very bad and expensive. What if it's just a little over full, say by half a quart? Shouldn't hurt anything... right? Excess will just burn off... right? Wrong. What if we told you that an engine just half a quart over full could result in a drivability concern? It can. If you encounter a concern of sluggish operation, hesitation, or surging on a vehicle you may want to check the engine oil level when the engine is cold. If the engine oil is over full, drain the excess oil and see if the condition is corrected. Conditions like this will generally be most noticeable when accelerating up a grade. If you are monitoring the ECM using the SSMIII, you may notice knocking correction occurring at the same time you experience the surging sensation. We are aware of concerns like this occurring in the field following both dealer and aftermarket oil changes. Always confirm the engine oil level is correct following any service. What if the car is new? What if the mileage isn't near the service interval? Don't discount the possibility of someone adding oil to an engine between services. After all, if it's down half a quart why not just add the whole quart. It's only a little over full. What could it hurt? Now you know. It could hurt drivability.

07 REVISED OIL CONSUMPTION FORM

Please be advised there is a revised Oil Consumption Document on Subarunet. Once you open the site, click on Service/Forms/Oil Consumption Test. The majority of the form and the evaluation and testing procedures remain unchanged for the most part. The most significant addition are the lines for listing cylinder leakage test results. While a common practice used for evaluation, the old form did not have a place to list those results. The balance of the form remains unchanged other than the addition of supplemental instructions for test completion and calculation of the test results which was not outlined in detail on the old form. A copy of this new form is provided below for your reference.

00 STIS RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 06/01/2013 TO 07/03/2013

15-159-13R;  Technical Service Bulletin, Tire Rubbing Sound from Right Front

07-75-13;  Technical Service Bulletin, DTC P0606 after Vehicle Battery Is Reconnected

09-55-13;  Technical Service Bulletin, Fuel Tank Insulation Pad / Fuel Delivery

E201SSC300;  Accessory Installation Guide, Forester Fender Flares

WQH-44;  Subaru Product / Campaign Bulletin, Genuine Subaru Carpeted Floor Mats

11-132-13;  Technical Service Bulletin, ECM Reprogramming Availability for DTC P0244

2013 Calendar of Subaru Holidays 

Independence Day 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Labor Day 

Monday, September 3, 2013

Thanksgiving Day 

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Christmas Eve 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Day 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013