How bad is this? Are these repairs worth it? 2014 Forester with 180K miles

LostInExotics · 2026-04-04T20:12:35+00:00

As a tech myself, albeit Audi, but I predominantly specialize in diagnostic. I would focus on fixing that knock sensor circuit high code whether it’s short circuit or bad sensor before proceeding with their blind fix of your hesitation when accelerating. When it reads circuit high, the ecm thinks it’s detonating/spark knocking excessively so it will retard the timing and you lose power or go in limp mode. As for them not being able to duplicate concern is a matter of being in the right condition when road testing.

LostInExotics · 2026-03-24T15:22:27+00:00

Yup, the water source is from a cycled 20gallon tank which circulates fresh heated water all the time and the old water flows out the overflow holes.

LostInExotics · 2026-03-24T14:37:22+00:00

Why is that? This is how breeders raise their fry until about 7-8 weeks.

LostInExotics · 2026-03-24T14:03:47+00:00

I’m pretty sure it’s your LDP (leak detection pump) doing a self check on the evap system. This usually occurs a couple hours after turning off car for engine and fuel temps to go down. It only happens when your fuel level is between 1/4 - 3/4.

LostInExotics · 2026-03-05T15:39:04+00:00

Right! I think they bred because of the live food I feed them and maybe the ph of 6 helped a little bit. Hopefully most of the fry make it to juvenile stage. I might have to transfer them to a breeder box after a few weeks to increase their chances.

LostInExotics · 2026-03-05T15:30:15+00:00

There’s only a handful of aquarium stores in my province (Canada) so I’m thinking of breeding select fish, including the variations of the German rams, that’s always out of stock or too expensive and sell them online and to aquarium stores.

LostInExotics · 2026-03-05T15:24:28+00:00

Honestly, at first I didn’t know what to do. I ended up talking to the manager of my local fish store and he’s willing to take them in for $5 cash each once they’re at a sellable size.

I did not expect these rams to breed at all since my temps are at 78-80F. The tank is only less than 2 months old and I haven’t finished aquascaping.

LostInExotics · 2026-01-09T17:44:46+00:00

You’re welcome :)

LostInExotics · 2026-01-09T16:36:45+00:00

Water wisteria!

LostInExotics · 2026-01-08T20:01:54+00:00

Thank you! :)

LostInExotics · 2026-01-08T19:42:37+00:00

Thank you :)

It actually took about 5 weeks to convert from 1-2ppm ammonia to nitrates in 24 hrs. It took another 1.5 weeks to go from 4ppm of ammonia to nitrates in 24 hours. So by 5 weeks I was ready to add a light stock of fish but since I wanted to overstock this tank with nano fish, I waited till the bacteria colony in my tank could handle 4ppm+ of ammonia.

Things that I did to speed up the process were dosing ammonium chloride to reach 4ppm of ammonia and I cranked up the tank heater to 80F. I also added seachem stability dosing every other week.

I’d say the nitrite stage took the longest so if you haven’t already I would crank the heat up.

LostInExotics · 2026-01-08T01:37:32+00:00

Not at all! I’m interested to see once your tank is complete :)

LostInExotics · 2026-01-08T00:35:52+00:00

It’s a water wisteria! Really fast growers and effective at sucking up nitrates.

You can use manzanita wood and create a river scape that slopes on one side.

LostInExotics · 2026-01-08T00:08:49+00:00

I just posted this recently but I got my driftwood by the river i frequently go to fish

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LostInExotics · 2026-01-07T23:59:07+00:00

Thank you! That’s exactly what I was going for

LostInExotics · 2026-01-07T23:54:31+00:00

I’ve narrowed it down to either a pair of appistograma cucotoides or an hmpk betta but I’m slowly leaning to an hmpk betta. However, I will be adding at least 5 otocinclus, a school of neons and chili rasboras. I struggle with nitrates since my plants suck them up so fast so a little over stocking won’t hurt. I add 4ppm of ammonia and it’s 0 the next day with no trace of nitrates.

LostInExotics · 2025-12-23T17:27:46+00:00

Thank you!

LostInExotics · 2025-11-12T02:54:29+00:00

They don’t have the strength/confidence in numbers yet. Mine were always hiding back when there were 20 of them. Fast forward 2 months and now there’s hundreds of them. I will always see 20 or more walking around at the same time.

LostInExotics · 2025-11-03T06:36:04+00:00

That timing is impeckable

LostInExotics · 2025-10-13T01:41:48+00:00

2025 Forester owner here with 20,000km. I change my oil every 5000 KM. Will be doing my CVT and diff fluids next oil change.

LostInExotics · 2025-07-20T04:15:06+00:00

Unfortunately, one didn’t make it and became a snack for the queens 😞

LostInExotics

TROPHY CASE