Page 545 of 2870
EB-15
EXTERIOR BODY PANEL
Rear Door Panel
2) Loosen the door-side bolts of upper and lower hing-
es to align the position of rear door panel vertically and
laterally at front-end.
3) Loosen the screw (A) and lightly tap striker (B) using
plastic hammer to adjust striker to align the position of
rear door panel vertically and laterally at the rear end.
CAUTION:
Do not use an impact wrench. The welding area
on the striker nut plate is easily broken.
EB-00015
EB-00017
(B)(A)
Page 546 of 2870
EB-16
EXTERIOR BODY PANEL
Rear Sealing Cover
7. Rear Sealing Cover
A: REMOVAL
1) Disconnect the ground cable from battery.
2) Remove the rear door trim.
MOVAL, Rear Door Trim.>
3) Remove the door trim bracket.
4) Remove the sealing cover.
NOTE:
Carefully remove the butyl tape. Excessive force
will easily break the cover.
If the cover gets broken, replace it with a new
one.
B: INSTALLATION
1) Install in the reverse order of removal.
2) When replacing the sealing cover, use butyl tape.
3) Press the butyl tape-applied area firmly to pre-
vent any floating on surface.
Butyl tape:
3M8626 or equivalent
NOTE:
Apply an uniform bead of butyl tape.
Attach the sealing cover, keeping it from becom-
ing wrinkled.
Breaks in the bead will allow water leakage and
contamination.
C: INSPECTION
If the sealing cover is damaged, replace it with a new
one.
EB-00034
EB-00018
Page 547 of 2870

EB-17
EXTERIOR BODY PANEL
Rear Gate Panel
8. Rear Gate Panel
A: REMOVAL
1. REAR GATE PANEL
1) Disconnect the ground cable from battery.
2) Open the rear gate.
3) Remove the rear gate trim.
MOVAL, Rear Gate Trim.>
4) Remove the rear wiper motor.
REMOVAL, Rear Wiper Motor.>
5) Remove the rear gate garnish assembly.
EB-20, REMOVAL, Rear Gate Garnish Assembly.>
6) Remove the rear gate outer handle.
30, REMOVAL, Rear Gate Outer Handle.>
7) Remove the rear gate latch assembly.
SL-31, REMOVAL, Rear Gate Latch Assembly.>
8) Disconnect the connectors of rear wiper, rear
defogger, and other lighting devices.
9) Disconnect the washer hose.
10) Remove the rubber duct (A) connection, and pull
out the harness and washer hose from rear gate.11) Using a support, support the rear gate and then
remove damper stay mounting bolts.
NOTE:
When the rear gate is released, it may hit and dam-
age the body. To prevent this, place a shop cloth be-
tween the body and gate.
12) Loosen the rear gate bolts to remove rear gate.
(A)
EB-00020
EB-00021
EB-00022
EB-00023
Page 548 of 2870

EB-18
EXTERIOR BODY PANEL
Rear Gate Panel
2. REAR GATE DAMPER STAY
1) Open the rear gate. Use a support to support the
rear gate.
NOTE:
After the rear gate damper stay is removed, the rear
gate cannot stay open. Supporting the rear gate with
a jack, remove the bolts.
CAUTION:
Do not damage the piston rods and oil seals.
Never disassemble the cylinders: They con-
tain gas.
2) Loosen the bolts to remove the rear gate damper
stay from rear gate.
B: INSTALLATION
1. REAR GATE PANEL
1) Install in the reverse order of removal.
2) Install the rear gate panel with uniform clearance
to the body.
3) Refer to COMPONENT of General Description for
tightening torque.
EL, COMPONENT, General Description.>
NOTE:
After supporting the rear gate with a jack, start
working.
2. REAR GATE DAMPER STAY
1) Install the mounting bolt (A) to the rear gate pan-
el and body.
Tightening torque:
14 N·m (1.43 kgf-m, 10.3 ft-lb)
2) Firmly install the rear gate damper stay (B) to
mounting bolt (A).
3) Tighten the bolts at upper side of rear gate damp-
er stay.
Tightening torque:
7.5 N·m (0.76 kgf-m, 5.5 ft-lb)
EB-00021
EB-00024
(A)(B)
EB-00075
Page 549 of 2870
EB-19
EXTERIOR BODY PANEL
Rear Gate Panel
C: DISPOSAL
1. REAR GATE DAMPER STAY
CAUTION:
Gas is colorless, odorless and harmless. How-
ever, gas pressure may spray cutting powder or
oil. Be sure to wear dust-resistant goggles.
1) Cover with a vinyl case as shown in the figure.
NOTE:
Prevent the vinyl case from being caught by drill
cutting edge.
2) Lift the body-side slightly with piston rods fully
extended, and secure the body side on vise stand.
Drill a hole in 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in) diameter at
a point 10 to 200 mm (0.39 to 7.87 in) from the door
side, and bleed the rear gate damper stay com-
pletely.
(1) Rear gate damper stay
(2) Vinyl sack
(1) Body-side
(2) Door-side
(3) 190 mm (7.48 in)
(4) 10 mm (0.39 in)
(5) Piston rod
(6) Cylinder
(7) Portion to be drilled
(1)
(2)
EB-00031
(3) (4)
(1)
(5)
(6)(7)(2)
EB-00032
Page 550 of 2870
EB-20
EXTERIOR BODY PANEL
Rear Gate Garnish Assembly
9. Rear Gate Garnish Assembly
A: REMOVAL
1) Remove the rear gate panel trim.
REMOVAL, Rear Gate Trim.>
2) Remove the rear wiper motor.
REMOVAL, Rear Wiper Motor.>
3) Remove the seven frange nuts from inside of
rear gate panel.
4) Remove the license plate light assembly.
5) Close the gate, and then remove the rear gate
garnish assembly, pulling it forward by hand.
NOTE:
Be careful not to pull it strongly to avoid damage to
clips.
B: INSTALLATION
Install in the reverse order of removal.
C: INSPECTION
Check for serious scratches or cracks in rear gate
garnish assembly.
(1) Rear gate garnish ASSY
(2) Licence plate light bracket
(3) Licence plate light
EB-00033
(1)
(2)
(3)
Page 551 of 2870

FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD. G8080GE7
2004 FORESTER SERVICE MANUAL QUICK REFERENCE INDEX
BODY SECTION
This service manual has been prepared
to provide SUBARU service personnel
with the necessary information and data
for the correct maintenance and repair
of SUBARU vehicles.
This manual includes the procedures
for maintenance, disassembling, reas-
sembling, inspection and adjustment of
components and diagnostics for guid-
ance of experienced mechanics.
Please peruse and utilize this manual
fully to ensure complete repair work for
satisfying our customers by keeping
their vehicle in optimum condition.
When replacement of parts during
repair work is needed, be sure to use
SUBARU genuine parts.
All information, illustration and specifi-
cations contained in this manual are
based on the latest product information
available at the time of publication
approval.HVAC SYSTEM
(HEATER, VENTILATOR AND A/C)AC
HVAC SYSTEM (AUTO A/C)
(DIAGNOSTIC)AC
AIRBAG SYSTEM AB
AIRBAG SYSTEM (DIAGNOSTIC) AB
SEAT BELT SYSTEM SB
LIGHTING SYSTEM LI
WIPER AND WASHER SYSTEM WW
ENTERTAINMENT ET
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM COM
GLASS/WINDOW/MIRROR GW
BODY STRUCTURE BS
INSTRUMENTATION/DRIVER INFO IDI
SEAT SE
SECURITY AND LOCK SL
SUNROOF/T-TOP/CONVERTIBLE TOP
(SUNROOF)SR
EXTERIOR/INTERIOR TRIM EI
EXTERIOR BODY PANEL EB
Page 552 of 2870
2004 FORESTER SERVICE MANUAL QUICK REFERENCE INDEX
BODY SECTION
G8080GE7
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM CC
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM
(DIAGNOSTIC)CC(H4SO)
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM
(DIAGNOSTIC)CC(H4DOTC)
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM
(DIAGNOSTIC)CC(H4DOTC 2.5)
IMMOBILIZER (DIAGNOSTIC) IM