Fuse For Spare Is A Poor Design

[busterb]

If I got a flat in my 04 OBW I would just put the spare on and drive
away happy. I had no idea that I had to mess with fuses. Subaru gave
me the spare it should work fine. Maybe they should just give a full
size spare and avoid the problem. I know if I changed to spare and
then had AWD issues I'd bring it in for repair under warranty. Subaru
would pay $$$$$ to repair my AWD when they could have just given a
full size spare and avoided problems.

 

[Cam Penner]

If I got a flat in my 04 OBW I would just put the spare on and drive
away happy. I had no idea that I had to mess with fuses. Subaru gave
me the spare it should work fine. Maybe they should just give a full
size spare and avoid the problem. I know if I changed to spare and
then had AWD issues I'd bring it in for repair under warranty. Subaru
would pay $$$$$ to repair my AWD when they could have just given a
full size spare and avoided problems.

Or you could read your owners manual.

 

[Todd H.]

Or you could read your owners manual.

Agreed. Why should product designers have to idiot-proof the world
when doing so adds unnecessary cost for those who actually read the
documentation on the products that have unique features not found on
other items in the class?

Now, more constructively, Subaru could certainly stamp a reminder on
the jack case cover or near the spare tire compartment for next to
nothing. But then again, when I got my flat I consulted the owners
manual to a) verify the jack point locations and b) get help finding
the service jack's black crank which is niftily hidden on the black
background of plastic tire well cover.

Best Regards,

 

[Cam Penner]

Agreed. Why should product designers have to idiot-proof the world
when doing so adds unnecessary cost for those who actually read the
documentation on the products that have unique features not found on
other items in the class?

When I picked up my car, the dealer walked me through all
of the unique features and their requirements. Granted,
this doesn't help the used market, but when buying a car,
shouldn't you be reading the manual before driving it much
anyways?

I don't actually think that there will be significant
damage to the drivetrain if the temp spare is used as it is
intended to be. Short distances, low speeds. I'm almost
willing to bet the fuse is there so that when people use
the temp spare for days at a time that damage will not
occur.

 

[Jkpoulos7]

Agreed. Why should product designers have to idiot-proof the world

when doing so adds unnecessary cost for those who actually read the
documentation on the products that have unique features not found on
other items in the class?

What unnecessary costs? A full size tire on a cheap steel rim cannot possibly
cost much more than the cheesy donut. I normally never buy a vehicle with a
temp spare as it shows cheapness and lack of attention to detail bt the maker.

Now, more constructively, Subaru could certainly stamp a reminder on
the jack case cover or near the spare tire compartment for next to
nothing.

A full size spare prevents this totally

But then again, when I got my flat I consulted the owners
manual to a) verify the jack point locations and b) get help finding
the service jack's black crank which is niftily hidden on the black
background of plastic tire well cover.

Thats normal. But who would think a fuse is necessary? I'd rather make subaru
eat the cost of repair for their stupidity.

 

[Mike]

I used to work p/t in a tire shop. Jeep says do not go over 50 miles
on the space saver spare. We had a customer who drove 500 miles,
screwed up his viscous couplings, & Jeep denied the warranty because
of "abuse".

Read the letter re: head gasket leaks. Subaru says if you let the
coolant get low & overheat the engine (even though it's caused by bad
head gaskets) it's "abuse" & not covered.

BTW - has the recall sealer added & bought a spare bottle - all of
$1.49 with tax.

Mike
'01 OBW

 

[Cam Penner]

What unnecessary costs? A full size tire on a cheap steel rim cannot possibly
cost much more than the cheesy donut. I normally never buy a vehicle with a
temp spare as it shows cheapness and lack of attention to detail bt the maker.


A full size spare prevents this totally

I personally hate full size spares[1]. Why should I lug
around a beast of a tire for the one day every 5 years I
need it? I'd rather not have the weight in my trunk. I'd
rather have the extra trunk space for regular stuff.
Shrink those spares I say. I know where the fuse is.

[1] Which I wouldn't be surprised to find out are actually
cheaper.

 

[Rob Munach]

Or you could read your owners manual.

I agree with the original poster. It should be idiot proofed because
there will always be a situation where the driver does not know about
the fuse - such as if he loans the car to someone. My nissan 4x4 came
with a full size spare. They could have easily said in the owners
manual, "don't use 4x4 when the spare is installed". Instead, they did
the common sense thing and gave me a full size spare. Come to think of
it, I believe my Forester has a full-size spare - it has to or else the
viscous couplng in the center diff and rear diff would get fried.

-Rob

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester has a full size spare which is the same tire Model & brand
as the 4 on the ground. My 95 Jeep used a "full diameter" spare which I
think is a good solution.

 

[John O]

Or you could read your owners manual.

I *DID* read the manual when I got my car. The fuse info is on the last page
of the section, the left-page as you look at the manual opened up. If I
wanted to hide that info that's exactly where I'd put it. Once they told me
where the jack and such were located, and where to put the jack, it's too
late.

The fuse info is not prominently presented anywhere, which to me means it's
not very important. If it was, then there would be a sticker on the spare
tire itself.

-John O

 

[coustanis]

What unnecessary costs? A full size tire on a cheap steel rim cannot possibly
cost much more than the cheesy donut. I normally never buy a vehicle with a
temp spare as it shows cheapness and lack of attention to detail bt the maker.



A full size spare prevents this totally

I personally hate full size spares[1]. Why should I lug
around a beast of a tire for the one day every 5 years I
need it? I'd rather not have the weight in my trunk. I'd
rather have the extra trunk space for regular stuff.
Shrink those spares I say. I know where the fuse is.

Actually, where IS that fuse stored when not in use?

 

[Cam Penner]

Actually, where IS that fuse stored when not in use?

Mine is under the hood in the fusebox that you have to open
to put the spare in.

 

[Xtranet]

What unnecessary costs? A full size tire on a cheap steel rim cannot possibly
cost much more than the cheesy donut. I normally never buy a vehicle with a
temp spare as it shows cheapness and lack of attention to detail bt the maker.

Nothing wrong with a donut spare as long as it is the same
diameter (at normal air pressure) as the other wheel on the
opposite side of the differential.

A full size spare having a wrong diameter or used with low air
pressure is worse than a donut spare with the correct diameter
used at the recommended air pressure. Width isn't everything!

There are tradeoffs.

 

[anon]

My 2001 Liberty Wagon (Australian name for the Legacy) has a full size
spare & identical tyre. Being a wagon, there is obviously plenty of
room under the rear floor panel to store it.

Don't know about the Aussie spec Liberty sedans - obviously don't have
that space available in the boot (trunk) so I'm not sure if they have
space saver wheels or full size

Spinifex
92 Liberty RS Turbo Sedan Manual 2.0T
85 Leone Sedan Manual 1.8L
01 Liberty Wagon Manual 2.0

 

[Dan Duncan]

the common sense thing and gave me a full size spare. Come to think of
it, I believe my Forester has a full-size spare - it has to or else the
viscous couplng in the center diff and rear diff would get fried.

My 2003 Forester has a full sized spare. It's been on the car for months
after one of the original tires picked up a bolt from the road. The spare
was the same model and size of tire as the original. The original was
repaired and became the spare. No, the rims don't match cosmetically.

-DanD