Need general Forester info

[joscurtin]

My daughter has a 98 Forester and is having some troubles.
I haven't seen the car, so I don't know much about it.
I would like to know if the Subaru repair manual is the only one
around, or is there a Haynes or other manual?
Also, I was wondering how trouble codes from the controller are read -
are there LED's on the controller, or does it require some extra
gadget plugged into it to read codes.
Also, if I can get trouble codes, do I need a manual to interpret
them, or is there a list on line somewhere?
The check engine light came on , and the problem seems associated with
the engine or exhaust, which could be O2 sensors, catalytic, or any
number of things. I thought the codes would be a good place to start.

Joe from Massachusetts

 

[Edward Hayes]

The codes can be read free at AutoZone and this NG has the code information.
I use the Haynes manual for the 1998 Subaru Legacy as the driveline,engine
and most other stuff is the same or very similar. I think I paid ~12 dollars
at a major autoparts store. ed

 

[David]

Also, if I can get trouble codes, do I need a manual to interpret
them, or is there a list on line somewhere?

All 96 and later (and a few earlier) US market cars use OBD-II diagnostics,
and the trouble codes can be read with an OBD-II scanner. I think there are a few
different physical interfaces for OBD-II vehicles, but my Forester (and my '95 Nissan)
connect directly to my ~$100 OBD-II scanner.

You can look up the codes on the web. For diagnostic procedures for a specific
trouble code, your best bet might be the factory service manual.