Expert Answers about Subaru Forester

• Recommendations for Removing Exhaust Rattle after Installing a Hitch on a 2007 Subaru Forester
• There are a couple methods for eliminating exhaust rattle after a hitch is installed. Check out the video I attached to see the recommended methods for doing this. Changing the exhaust hanger could work and is one of the recommended methods for eliminating exhaust rattle.
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• Troubleshooting New Trailer Brakes That Seem Weak
• Since you said the trailer is brand new that leads me to believe that your brake assemblies are self-adjusting assemblies that just haven't been activated enough times for them to find the right setting and work properly. What you will want to do is keep repeating the testing process you have done until you feel the brakes start grabbing hard enough to lock the brakes up. They should progressively get strong and stronger with each application of the manual override lever. Or, if the brake...
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• Troubleshooting Running Lights Not Working on 2007 Coleman Fleetwood Cobalt
• In order to determine the problem, you'll need to use a circuit tester such as # PTW2993 to test the connector on your vehicle after disconnecting it from your trailer. Check the wiring going into your harness from your taillights to see if those are correct, if not then the issue is with the vehicle wiring. If the signals going to your harness are okay, you'll need to test the signals coming out of the harness, and if they are correct then your issue is likely going to be with the trailer...
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• Trailer Lights on 2 Different Trailers Do Not Work When Connected to a 1999 Subaru Forester
• It is possible that there is an in-line fuse somewhere back from the 4-Way end on your 1999 Subaru Forester. You will need to follow the wiring back as far as you can to determine if there is indeed a fuse. If you cannot find one, then consult the vehicle owner's manual for all of the fuses/relays in the vehicle associated with the wiring harness. Some vehicles have wiring fuses under the hood and inside the in-cab fuse panel. If you have an aftermarket harness like # 33855 then you can...
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• Troubleshooting Brakes that are Locked Up on Trailer
• Trailer brakes are engaged by a magnet that receives power from the brake controller. If the magnet is receiving power when the trailer is connected, and the brake pedal is not pressed on the vehicle and the power setting is adjusted properly then there is a wiring situation that needs to be rectified. I would begin by checking the brake feed wire close to the trailer brakes themselves with a circuit tester, item # PTW2993 if needed, to see if there is power going to the trailer brakes...
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• Troubleshooting 2011 Subaru Forester Tekonsha T-One Wiring Harness
• The T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness # 118467 for your 2011 Subaru Forester has a mini fuse you might want to start off checking to ensure the module is getting power, and then there is also a fuse (I believe in position 1 of your fuse box but you need to verify that on your end) on your Forester that would be worth checking to make sure it is in good shape to send power back to the trailer light functions. Aside from that the next best thing is to test the various pins for light and power...
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• Troubleshooting Plastic Endcaps That Won't Stay In Place On Rhino-Rack Vortex Crossbars
• Regarding the endcaps popping out on your Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars - 49" # RRVA126B-2, this is not a common occurrence and I have not heard of this happening before. Make sure the rubber strip, or anything else for that matter, is not getting caught between the crossbar and endcap. Then make sure you are fully pushing the plastic endcaps into place and locking them all the way with the included key. If you are still having issues then let me know and we can dig deeper into the issues...
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• One Trailer Light Not Working After Wiring Harness Install on 2016 Subaru Forester
• If the yellow wire is bad on the # 118467 it could account for no light coming on, and I do assume you are referring to the trailer light and not the light on your Forester. The first thing to do is take a look at your owner's manual to locate any trailer fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need to purchase a circuit tester if you do not have one - the very handy Cordless Circuit Tester # PTW2979...
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• What Can I Do if I Do Not Cannot Clear My Rear Bumper with the Swagman XTC4 # S64665?
• I am so sorry about your rack not fitting! If you are having a bumper clearance issue with your Swagman XTC4 Bike Rack for 4 Bikes # S64665, the best solution is to get a hitch extender to extend the length of the XTC4's shank. For this route, I recommend the Hitch Extender For 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver 7" # HE06. The Brophy extender will give you 7 additional inches of length to clear your rear bumper of your 2021 Subaru Forester. This extender is the shortest extender that we have that...
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• Trailer Wiring Doesn't Work on Forester
• Thank you for your purchase from etrailer of the Wiring Harness # C56040. If your brake lights don't come on but turn signals do there are a number of wiring troubleshooting steps you will have to take. The first thing to do is take a look at your owner's manual to locate any fuses or relays and ensure they are all there and in working order. If they are, in order to determine the specific problem you will need a circuit tester like # PTW2979 to test the connector on your vehicle after...
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• Solution for Maintaining 2016 Subaru Forester Battery While Being Flat Towed
• I have a solution for you to prevent your 2016 Subaru Forester's battery from draining while you are flat towing your vehicle. The easiest way to maintain the battery charge on the Forester is to use a charge wire that connects your vehicle's battery to your RV's battery. If your 2016 Winnebago Forza has a 7-Way trailer connector at the rear, the 12V hot lead wire should already be connected from the RV battery to the trailer connector. To connect a charge wire to the Forester's battery,...
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• Is It Safe to Use My Yakima SkyBox 16 on My Inno Aero Crossbars?
• I have a solution for you. The question that you saw was correct that the Yakima SkyBox 16 # Y07335 will fit the Inno Aero Crossbars on your 2020 Subaru Forester. However, from the photos you provided, one of the mounts doesn't look like it's sitting on the crossbar completely. You may need to adjust the position of the mount and move the box or the mounting hardware into position. In addition, you can loosen the knob that allows a single mount to slide up and back to get the mounting...
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• Why Are My 53-Inch WingBar Evo Crossbars Not Fitting on My 2019 Subaru Forester?
• I have a solution for you. The reason why the bottom slots of the 53-inch WingBar evo crossbars # TH711420 will not attach to the Evo Raised Rail Feet for Thule Crossbars # TH710401 is because the 53-inch version of the WingBar Evo Crossbars are too long for your 2019 Subaru Forester. With shorter crossbars, you will not need to cut the attachment slots longer to accommodate the fitment. In order for WingBar Evo crossbars to fit your Evo Raised Rail Feet, you will need the Thule WingBar...
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• Battery Keeps Dying on a 2015 Subaru Forester While Flat Towing
• To keep the battery on your 2015 Subaru Forester from going dead when flat towing it you will need the Battery Charge Kit # RM-156-25. This connects to the pin of the socket on your Forrester that receives 12V power from your motorhome. If you do not already have a way to feed the charge kit to the 7-Way on your motorhome then you can install the Blue Ox 7-Wire to 6-Wire, Coiled Electrical Cord # BX88206 on your Forester. You will want to run the line from the battery charge kit from the...
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• TRAILER LIGHTS REMAINING ON AFTER 2010 SUBARU FORESTER HAS BEEN SHUT OFF
• It sounds like the converter box is not stopping the power coming from the vehicle to the trailer. I suggest checking your trailer wiring on any of the trailers you have connected wiring to before you pull them again. Bad trailer wiring is typically what will cause the malfunction. A wiring problem on one of the trailers has likely caused the converter box to short out. The converter box did what it was supposed to do by preventing back feed to the vehicle wiring. The short has allowed...
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• Troubleshooting Wiring on a Trailer with Separate Brake and Turn Signal Lights
• There are two things that may help to solve your predicament. The easier one is the converter. The converter that you used, part # 118158, is not compatible with LED lights. So, even if the wires all lined up where they needed to go, it wouldn't have worked anyway. We don't currently carry a 2-to-3 converter compatible with LEDs. As for the wiring, that's a little harder to figure out. From what I can tell, you might be using a wishbone 4-way harness on your trailer. These differ from...
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• Troubleshooting Scrubblade Windshield Wipers Streaking On a 2015 Subaru Forester
• I have a couple things you can try to resolve the streaking issue you are having with the Scrubblade Wipers # SC94FR and # SC77FR. First you will want to ensure your windshield is clean and does not use any repellants such as Rain-X or ceramic coatings. You can also try flipping the blades 180 degrees as this is found to help in most applications. You can do this by removing the connector clipped to the blades and reinstall them 180 degrees. If you find neither of these solutions help...
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• Troubleshooting Kwikee Electric RV Steps
• I recommend using the 4-Way Tester Plug for Kwikee Electric RV Steps - Packard Connector # LC379416. This 4-way tester plugs into the linkage assembly of your Kwikee Electric RV Step Complete Assembly - Double - 32 Series - 24" Wide # LC372261 so you can test all of the step components to make sure they're connected correctly. If there is not an issue with a bad connection you will probably need a Replacement Control Unit for Kwikee Electric RV Steps # LC379146. The motor may run or...
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• Draw-Tite Hitch Rattles on 2017 Subaru Forester with Dual Exhaust
• In regards to trailer hitch vibrations like with the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver part # 76182 on a 2017 Subaru Forester, we typically recommend bending the hangers for the exhaust away from the hitch slightly which in most cases, gets rid of the rattle. I have attached for you below a help article we did to help others with the same issue. If this does not fix the problem, you could possibly use some rubber hose split in half to place on the bottom of the hitch flange to...
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• Troubleshooting Tail Lights on Trailer Only Work When Running Lights Are Turned Off
• I tend to think it's a ground issue or potential short on your vehicle side wiring. Make sure that the vehicle side and trailer side connectors are clean and free of corrosion inside and out. The main connector ground should be attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces. Also, I would check the grounds for each of your tail lights. If the trailer has an aluminum frame, tilt bed, or folding tongue, any of these things can interrupt the ground. Running jumper wires from the...
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