I got my first Forester 6 months ago (2016, used). The AC stopped working right, so I brought it in today and was told the compressor, evaporator, and a few other parts need replacing. The quote? $2,200.
I’m thinking of checking with some local shops, but a friend once told me you should always stick with Subaru for service or you’ll regret it. No clue where he got that from, but now I’m unsure.
Would love to hear what others think.
Any good mechanic can handle a Subaru. They’re not that tricky. I do a lot of work on mine myself when I can.
Pierce said:
Any good mechanic can handle a Subaru. They’re not that tricky. I do a lot of work on mine myself when I can.
Same here. I’ve got a 2015 Forester. Unless my guy can’t do it (like trans work or tire stuff), I stick with him. Only been to the stealership twice—once for a recall and once when my mechanic had already closed. They gave me a long list of things to fix and I’ve been going through them one by one with my regular mechanic 
@oddah
I got one of those FIXD computer gadgets and it’s helped a lot. One thing I learned though—if you see a bunch of codes after a long drive, especially for transmission, check the fluid. Change it and clear the codes. Easy.
@Bell
What brand/model is that adapter you’re using? Would love to grab one.
Pierce said:
Any good mechanic can handle a Subaru. They’re not that tricky. I do a lot of work on mine myself when I can.
Yeah, as long as the mechanic is solid and someone you trust. I had a bad experience with a Chevy stealership messing up my Subaru AC.
@Tenzin
Funny you say that—my brother just had his Chevy messed up by a Subaru dealer. Wild.
Brady said:
@Tenzin
Funny you say that—my brother just had his Chevy messed up by a Subaru dealer. Wild.
Yikes. Maybe the systems are just really different and they aren’t trained across brands.
If it’s just the AC, go with a local shop first. Way cheaper.
Trevor said:
If it’s just the AC, go with a local shop first. Way cheaper.
If it’s the evaporator, be ready for a big job. Most of the dash has to come out. Might actually be easier for a dealer.
Trevor said:
If it’s just the AC, go with a local shop first. Way cheaper.
Had the same thing happen with my old Hyundai. Dealer wanted $1300 for an old car. My local guy fixed it for half. Planning to switch to a Subaru next year.
AC shops usually know more about AC than dealership techs. A lot of times the dealer just throws parts at the problem. AC techs usually fix what’s actually wrong.
Dara said:
AC shops usually know more about AC than dealership techs. A lot of times the dealer just throws parts at the problem. AC techs usually fix what’s actually wrong.
Yep. I had an AC guy come check my 04 Forester. Dealer said replace the whole compressor. AC guy just changed some o-rings and recharged it. Good as new.
Dara said:
AC shops usually know more about AC than dealership techs. A lot of times the dealer just throws parts at the problem. AC techs usually fix what’s actually wrong.
Subaru does require training for dealer techs though. Might explain the higher cost.
@Hutton
Those trainings usually just tell techs to replace whole systems. Like with CVT valve bodies—they replace the whole unit instead of just a solenoid. It’s more about covering their bases for warranty than fixing the actual problem.
@Hutton
Never heard of a company paying dealers to go to training. My industry (electronics/software) always had us cover our own training costs. Curious where you got that info from.
Caden said:
@Hutton
Never heard of a company paying dealers to go to training. My industry (electronics/software) always had us cover our own training costs. Curious where you got that info from.
Tech training is definitely a thing in the auto world. That’s how folks become master techs and stuff.
@Spencer
Yeah, I’ve seen those but usually it’s more like a marketing event with some snacks and maybe a free shirt—not actual serious training.
Caden said:
@Hutton
Never heard of a company paying dealers to go to training. My industry (electronics/software) always had us cover our own training costs. Curious where you got that info from.
My family member has done multiple Subaru trainings. The dealer got paid by Subaru to have someone attend.
Dara said:
AC shops usually know more about AC than dealership techs. A lot of times the dealer just throws parts at the problem. AC techs usually fix what’s actually wrong.
My parking brake issue was totally missed by Subaru. They just replaced the brakes and called it good. Local shop figured out the real cause—drag from a stuck brake.