Customer Reviews

Subaru Legacy & Forester 2000-2006 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manuals)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Typical Chilton manual. For basic maintenance, this will help you get the job done. Don't expect this to be a factory manual.

This book is identical in content (word for word) to the Haynes manual. Their layout is slightly different. Buy one, but not both. Chilton seems to have larger diagrams, Haynes has more efficient print layout. Take your pick.

My mom owns a 2001 Forrester and the check engine light came on. The car was idling very roughly and even blowing some white smoke.

The car's warranty had JUST expired. To make matters worse, I had read online that the car was prone to head gasket problems, and when I plugged the symptoms and make and model into google I came up with a ton of very bad scenarios.

My wife has started staying home with our kids, and we are on one salary. I've had to learn how to get by on less QUICK. Very recently I got a tool set and started changing my own oil and doing my own breaks (saving a TON). I read a great book called: Auto Repair For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) and had learned how to do breaks online on my own vehicle (Auto Repair for Dummies doesn't show you how to do breaks... but does teach you how your brake system works) So, I decided to go a step farther for mom and buy this manual and see just how radical I could get to save her some money. (She is retired and on a fixed income. The dealer she got the car from went out of business... AFTER raking her over the coals on the purchase! I wish she had told me about it before hand!)

So, I drove her car down to Auto Zone and had them check the engine with the computer. This is a FREE service (go AUTO ZONE!) I bought this manual, and I asked the guy at Auto Zone for advice.

He said the computer told him the problem was in cylinder three. I asked if this meant a possible head gasket problem and he shook his head and said, "Look; do cheap work first to eliminate simple possible causes. Only move on to the expensive fussy stuff AFTER you check the cheap and obvious. For now, change the plugs and wires and see what happens."

I had never done this before on any vehicle. This manual was awesome for vehicle specific advise to get my confidence up. I've pretty much read the whole thing and it is remarkable how detailed the instructions are. This manual is AWESOME! Of course, Auto Repair For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) had good instructions too. Between the two sources for learning, I felt plenty confident to do the job.

So, I got out my new ratchet and got to work. With the help of this EXCELLENT book the work was easy.

I got the job done, and at the same time did an oil change and checked the PCV. I unplugged and removed the battery to reset the computer and to help me get at the plugs (its a little tight in there).

Once the job was finished (it took me about 2 hours.... first timer!) I had mom take it out for a test drive.

She said it hadn't run better... ever.

The idle was smooth, all the roughness had disappeared. When I "read" the spark plugs (this book makes it EASY as there is a full color guide in the back of the manual) it became clear that because mom only does short mileage runs in town for low mileage the plug in that third cylinder had become carbon fouled. The plugs were all fouled to some extent, but the one in the third cylinder was NASTY.

I am now a huge fan of Chilton Manuals (not to mention that guy at Auto Zone who saved my mom more than a $1000.00 and told me how to proceed). I own one of these manuals for every car in our household. We have a van for the wife and kids, and my car, and my mom's (she now lives with us). I ALWAYS investigate to see if I can get the job done myself first when there is a problem with the cars.

This is a great manual.

This manual is significantly better the various other Chilton/Haynes manuals I've owned over the years. Usually it doesn't take long to discover critical information that's been left out- but I've had no such problems with this one. The photos and illustrations are plentiful and helpful.

In my opinion this manual is lame at best and largely useless to me because it does NOT cover all models. I bought it because I have a six cylinder L.L. Bean Outback and have waited 6 years for this to come out, and guess what? There is absolutely no mention of this engine in the manual and this engine has been around since 2000 or 2001. (Apparently I have a top secret engine in my 2002 Outback.) I guess if you have a four banger, it may be alright but I resent being snookered by the deceptive description of the contents. Shame on the author and Chiltons. Pass on this "manual." Spend your money on the shop manuals from Subaru and get something useable.

Manual is not very clear. Refers to non existant sections for additional information. Makes a good paper weight. Only experienced mechanics should consider this manual. Unable to determine if the manual is technically correct.

Nowhere in the description does it mention that this is for 4-cylinder cars only. In small print on the back of the book it says that it does not include 6-cylinder models. It would have been useful to know this before buying.

This manual is identical to the Haynes, word for word. Buy whichever is cheapest. I didn't know this beforehand and now have both sitting on my bookshelf.

Anyway, it's ok for a basic manual, but one of the first jobs I needed it for was a rear wheel bearing. They basically state that the job is too hard for you, so pull the housing off the car and bring it to a machine shop to have the bearing pressed in. I ended up finding instructions online and was able to complete it myself that way.

Basically, I'd say treat it as a quick reference, but don't expect a fully comprehensive, "bumper to bumper" service manual.

This is exactly what I need - to save money and become more proficient.
This is the clearest repair book I've ever owned.
Great job!

Pros: This manual can show you how to do just about anything in a fast\easy manner for your Subaru. Used it recently to learn all the tricks for changing headlight bulbs, took me a matter of minutes.
Cons: I have a 2000 and didn't like waiting so long for this manual to be released, I blame Subaru for making 6 years of similar cars, not Chilton.

As others have observed, this manual does not cover 6 cylinder engines, which wasn't obvious when ordering. I have a 2003 Outback L.L. Bean edition, which has the H6 3.0 engine, and this repair manual hasn't been very useful to me.

Even for repairs not specific to engine size, it has been of limited use. I needed to change the front wheel bearings - the manual says "take it to a shop." I needed to repair the cruise control - the manual says "take it to a shop." The manual hasn't satisfied my needs for a repair yet.

This manual may be reasonably suitable for 4 cylinder models, so I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1. Frankly I've found much more useful step-by-step repair information in online forums and other free online resources.