ON AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP (17000 MI), IN OUR NEW 2005 OUTBACK, WE WENT THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP CORRECTED THE ALIGNMENT, WHICH WAS SEVERELY OFF THE FIRST TIME (AFTER 5000 MILES.) BUT THEN AT ABOUT 16000 MILES, THE SECOND SET WAS SEVERELY WORN OUT. WE HAD THE ALIGNMENT REDONE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN WHITEHORSE, CANADA BUT WE DID NOT REPLACE THE TIRES AS THE WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED AT THAT DEALERSHIP. THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ABOUT 400 MILES FROM ANCHORAGE. WE PURCHASED A USED TIRE AT A GAS STATION AND LIMPED ON TO ANCHORAGE, WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT FOR THE SECOND TIME, THIS TIME WITH A LOADED BACK SEAT. WE HAVE SINCE PUT ABOUT 6000 MORE MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS NOT SHOWN SEVERE WEAR SINCE THAT RE-ALIGNMENT. *JB
2012
POWER TRAIN
I WAS SETTING THE HOMELINK MIRROR ON MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE A PARTICULAR GARAGE DOOR OPENER. THE MIRROR IS POWERED SO I NEEDED TO LEAVE THE CAR IDLING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BEGAN THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS. THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO ENGAGE THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER FROM THE MOTOR HEAD. TO PREPARE TO DO THIS, I EXITED THE CAR AND MOVED ON FOOT INTO THE GARAGE TO LOOK FOR A STEP LADDER. AS I WAS SEARCHING FOR A STEP LADDER AND AFTER A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE FULL MINUTE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO "DRIVE" AT WHICH POINT THE UNOCCUPIED CAR DROVE INTO THE GARAGE AND HIT THE REAR WALL. *TR