Subaru Forester Stuff To Do!

While trying to jump start the Buick Encore project car yesterday, I realized I had put off dealing with daily driver Subaru issues.

There’s quite a bit of known repairs on the horizon that I’m waiting on parts on, so I may as well add some other minor repair/clean up issues involving the battery that has crept in over the past 2 years.

So we have the following to get to:

Battery

• Remove battery and clean all terminals and connectors of corrosion.
• Remove, clean, and repaint the existing Battery Holder
• Replace the broken rear holder bolt and nut

Drivetrain

• Driver Side – Replace front axle
• Driver Side – Replace lower ball joint
• Driver Side – Replace lower strap thingie (I need to determine this part)
• Passenger Side – Replace front axle

Exterior

• Driver Side – Replace entire side mirror (the replacement mirror will not lock properly into the mechanism)
• Passenger Side Rear – Determine what to do with the paint scrape from backing into a pallet of bricks
• Driver Side Rear – Determine what to do with the paint scrape from unknown damage
• Windshield – Replace due to ever growing crack

Interior

• Driver Side – Figure out how to patch/cover the damage to the leather seat
• Driver Side – Replace door rubber seal (on car) that is degrading

Other

• Replace front driver side turn signal lamp

All in all it is about $1200 worth of work if I do some of it myself, and have a local place do the paint repair to the rear. I don’t really know if investing in repair of those scratches makes much difference. I’ll likely drive the car until it dies since it is paid off. I would consider trading it in for something newer with far better fuel economy but I really don’t want another monthly car payment for years.

I suppose, when thinking about it, the $1200 repair work is indeed worth it compared to a $4000 or so per year for a new car payment.

Oh. And I went ahead an ordered my usual oil change kit parts from Amazon yesterday to do an oil change later this week.

Even with 2 OEM parts it is always less costly than having a Valvoline or similar oil changing place do it.

Maybe, towards the end of the week, I’ll also pull everything out of the car and do a detail interior cleaning like it deserves.