Subaru Oil and Filter and Virginia Safety Check

It’s not quite six months since our last oil and filter change, but the Virginia Auto Safety check was due this month. So we made an appointment for this week to get both things taken care of. We arrived for our one o’clock time and checked in. I also found a ten percent off coupon on the internet that always comes in handy these days. The attendant said it would take about an hour and a half, so we knew we would spend that time walking in the surrounding Tyson’s neighborhood. It’s not exactly the most pleasant place to walk because there is a lot of traffic and noise. At least the rain had stopped but everything was still pretty wet, grey and gloomy. After checking out the Container Store, we continued up through all of the auto dealerships along the metro rail roadway, then turned back toward the Subaru dealership and the Boro. Since we still had another thirty minutes to go we diverted to more of a neighborhood street which was on an incline and getting harder and harder to walk up. When we came back we stopped in the showroom to see if there was anything new for Subaru Forester in 2024/25. Our Subaru is 2016 and will probably need to be replaced eventually. There was a hint that a hybrid vehicle might be available next year - which would be nice since we don’t have a plug to park in our condo parking space, but could be plugged in somewhere if we needed. So we killed three birds with one stone - oil and filter, vehicle safety check, and daily walk. It’s feels good to cross the tasks off your list. 

Flu Vaccines, Subaru Check, Last of the Eye Drops

It was a day to get tasks completed. Slowly but surely we are catching up with the mundane activities that just need to get done. This morning we needed to drive to the Subaru shop for a six months check. I made the appointment last week even though you can just drive in. We had the 90,000 mile review back in March so we lucked out with just the routine oil and filter and general inspection. At the same time we did our morning walk and as we were approaching the shop we got the call that the car was ready. I brought in the ten dollars off coupon. Gone are the days where these sorts of things were fifty dollars. On Tuesday we picked up papers that need to be filled in for flu shots at the Giant when we went for groceries. For whatever reason the neighborhood CVS a wasn’t taking appointments so this is our default pharmacy. We submitted the paperwork but we’re told there was an hour wait. So we went home, had breakfast, and returned. We were immediately attended to - I was surprised it wasn’t busier since lunch time is always more traffic. I don’t know how our arms are tolerating so many vaccines. We got our RSV and Covid vaccines three weeks ago and now the flu vaccine. All I know is I was summoned to jury duty for next week and will feel more protected having got the vaccines. And this week marks the last week for cataract eye drops. I’m down to one drop a day - things are looking up!

Stohlman Subaru Checkup and the Boro

We always make appointments for car check ups. But we thought we might try the Express Service for a much needed oil and filter change and multipoint inspection for our Subaru Forester. So we drove over to Stohlman Subaru in Tysons and it must have been at the right time. The car was checked in at 9:45 and it was done at 10:15! We were told it would take about an hour and fifteen minutes so we were pleasantly surprised. That has never happened before when we had appointments. We need to come back in six months for tires and use a $150 coupon we got because of an incident last year before it expires. While we waited for the car we took our morning walk around the “Boro” - a new neighborhood that is near the metro stop and a lot of traffic. We realized that the Chick FilA has pick up order parking so we might try it one of these days. This store doesn’t have a drive thru so I wasn’t sure how it worked. Then we crossed the very busy, noisy and smelly thoroughfare over to the Boro neighborhood where newly built high rises and shops and restaurants converged on a single street. An Ethan Allen furniture store anchors the corner. There were “fake” streaming wisteria or cherry blossom trees positioned every few feet. The neighborhood probably would be lovely without a pandemic. The area is just too congested for our taste, but handy for our Subaru needs. So it was an interesting experience all around. So for the time it took to get the car taken care of and walk was no longer than our usual morning activities. And we were home in time for lunch. 

Dreaded Subaru Check Engine Light and Eagles

It seems like we have been in the Subaru service area too much lately - first for a tail light that was out, and then for a cracked windshield. Driving home last week after lunch there was a funny noise and then the dreaded check engine light came on - but not just that one. The eye sight, three other ones, plus one more blinking were enough to make you a bit nervous. So we turned around and headed to the Subaru dealer in Alexandria to get it checked. The guy attached his equipment to where all the fuses are by the steering wheel and did a quick diagnostic check. Then he looked under the hood, he heard something, and asked if we take a lot of long trips followed by “you’ll need to make an appointment so we can figure out what the problem is.” So we set a time up for this morning with a rental. We needed an oil and filter change anyway so we could get that out of the way. When we started the car again and since that time no lights have gone on. My husband also checked the gas cap to make sure it was tight as that can cause the check engine light to trigger. When we got home I checked our Subaru report on line to see if anything was amiss - it said “all systems are functioning correctly, there is no attention required.” So we decided to hang around in the waiting room to learn of the problem to perhaps avoid having to take the loaner. Soon after we found out they couldn’t find anything, which I suppose is good news? We were prepared to hear some major issue with huge dollar signs in front of it. So in the end we had good news, got the oil and filter changed, and - most importantly - passed by the tree where there is an eagle’s nest on the golf course by the Potomac River along the GW Parkway. There were at least three birds - one in the nest, one on a branch above the nest, and one sitting on a branch in the next tree. It’s always heartening to see these magnificent birds. I just wish we could get a little closer, and when it’s for a fun drive rather than for a service appointment.