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Subaru Legacy/Outback Wagons Maintenance & Repair

8641 messages,  Last post on May 03, 2013 at 9:35 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Wagon

Messages Page 621 of 865

#6193 of 8641 '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan by mozzie

Jun 28, 2006 (6:30 pm)

I've owned my car since 2000. Love it. It has 147,000 miles on it. I've fixed an oil leak back in 2002 and no problems since. In 2001 on a road trip I had to have the alternator replaced when it went out in the middle of BFE Illinois.
 
2 weeks ago, the alternator went out again! The mechanic said he saw that there had been a recall on the original alternator in 2000. Wish I'd have known that!
 
Now for my question related to that: is it normal for a car to go through that many alternators?
 
Second round. (Yes I still love the car!)
 
The car feels like it pulls really hard when I've ran the A/C for 15 min+ on super hot days. Sometimes I have to just turn it off because it feels like it's going to kill the poor thing! It makes a clicking sound and the car has a "I think I can, I think I can!" attitude. I've taken it into 3 different places who say there's nothing wrong with it. (They drive it around the block and of course - nothing!) It doesn't need to be recharged. Any ideas what I can have them look at?
 
Third and final question, how hard is it to fix an antenna? I only get the 3 most powerful stations in the area come in even when I replaced the radio. If I go 3 miles outside town, I lose those 3 even. The CD player works fine though!
 
Thanks for any help!

#6194 of 8641 Re: '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan [mozzie] by mozzie

Jun 28, 2006 (6:31 pm)

Replying to: mozzie (Jun 28, 2006 6:30 pm)
forgot to add: I'm female, so if there's any maintenance that should be done, can you let me know that as well? Thanks!
 

#6195 of 8641 Re: '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan [mozzie] by tkanic

Jun 28, 2006 (8:00 pm)

Replying to: mozzie (Jun 28, 2006 6:31 pm)
I don't know what you mean that it pulls really hard (or whatever terms you used - can't see it now). Please try to be more descriptive.

#6196 of 8641 Re: '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan [tkanic] by mozzie

Jun 29, 2006 (5:48 am)

Replying to: tkanic (Jun 28, 2006 8:00 pm)
Kinda like what you'd expect a vehicle to do coming up a steep incline (I think I can, I think I can) - although I'm on flat ground, not a hill.

#6197 of 8641 Re: '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan [mozzie] by ateixeira

Jun 29, 2006 (8:44 am)

Replying to: mozzie (Jun 28, 2006 6:30 pm)
The A/C compressor draws a lot of power from the engine, with smaller engines you just notice it more. My Miata has what I call "air brakes", you turn on the A/C and it literally slows the car down. The tiny 1.6l engine struggles to keep up.
 
I think this is normal. With 147k miles on the clock the engine probably isn't making the same power it did when it was brand new. Don't feel bad, my Miata has just 62k miles!
 
Alternator - well the first one was bad, the 2nd lasted years. That's not too bad. Make sure the installer puts the right tension on the drive belt.
 
-juice
 
Antennae - hmm, it would seem that this would be on or off, not broken. Maybe it disconnected from the back of the radio? Though you might not get any signal at all if that were the case. You can get a cheap replacement at WalMart but you have to access the rear of the stereo to plug it in.

#6198 of 8641 Re: '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan [ateixeira] by tkanic

Jun 29, 2006 (1:48 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 29, 2006 8:44 am)
I don't buy for a second that it is normal. I have not noticed such a/c behavor in a 98 OB w/ the base engine. The engine always gave ample power w/ or w/o the a/c on. Also it appears that this problem doesn't happen all the time, but only after about 15 minutes of running the a/c. Perhaps the oriface tube or dryer (inside the a/c freon lines) is partially clogged as the compressor works for a while the pressure builds up which requires more power to turn the compressor.
 
Another possibility (one to attack first), which is more shade tree mechanic friendly, is that the condensor is clogged (the 'radiator' infront of the main radiator), which can usually be backwashed with a hose, or the fan is not operating correctly.
 
It sounds like your car is actually downshifting to run the a/c - which will build very high pressures in the lines which could lead to premature failure of the lines, compressor, or if equipted the bursting of the burst valve to relieve large pressures.
 
Another possibility is that you may have too much pressure in the system.
 
Till you get this fixed I suggest cyclying the a/c on and off manually, via the button.

#6199 of 8641 Re: '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan [tkanic] by tkanic

Jun 29, 2006 (1:51 pm)

Replying to: tkanic (Jun 29, 2006 1:48 pm)
>>>Another possibility (one to attack first), which is more shade tree mechanic friendly, is that the condensor is clogged (the 'radiator' infront of the main radiator), which can usually be backwashed with a hose, or the fan is not operating correctly.<<< I need to clarify this, I mean to have the hose backflow water where the air would flow through (but from the engine to the grill. I am not saying to take it apart and run water through the condensor where the freon is.

#6200 of 8641 2001 Subie t-boned. What to expect... by dbell1

Jun 29, 2006 (2:18 pm)

This forum was a huge help when I bought my Subie back in September 2005. An idiot teen blew through a stop sign last Thursday and tboned my side. Major damage to the rear door, tire and quarter panel. $4300 for repairs (body shop fought to get me new parts). Back tire is being replaced. I asked them to also replace the other back tire, but they recommended replacing all of them because of the AWD. Said there was about 4,000 miles left on the old tires and I'd notice the difference. Were they right?
 
So - what do I look for when it comes back? It's a brand new rear door, so I'll be checking the power weekly, but anyone have this happen before?
 
I'm driving a Ford Escape rental. Nicer than I thought it would be, but I really miss my little car. I'm still thrilled with the buy. It's been 8000 miles. It's great on gas, air is nice and cold, handles great in rain and it drove like a bear in a gusting snowstorm when SUVs were all over the road.

#6201 of 8641 Re: '97 Subaru Legacy Sedan [tkanic] by xwesx

Jun 29, 2006 (3:31 pm)

Replying to: tkanic (Jun 29, 2006 1:51 pm)
I think I would agree with this scenario more than it being "normal." Especially if it has not always done this. I have 208K on my '96 and I do not notice the A/C on when I do actually use it! It will idle a little higher, but does not work noticably more at highway speeds.

#6202 of 8641 Unusual Sound at High Speed in 2004 Subaru Outback Wagon by rhonda10

Jun 29, 2006 (3:53 pm)

About 3 months ago I purchased a used [27,000 mi] 2004 Subaru Outback Wagon. About 3 weeks into owning it I noticed while on the freeway a strange sound [like paper in a fan] coming from the front driver side; it seemed to be coming out of the air conditioning vent. To make a long story short we have narrowed the sound to only when the car is going between 70-75 mph. and upon acceleration. If I go below or above that speed range it stops; if I take my foot off of the accelerator between that speed it stops. This is an intermittent problem that has stumped 2 dealerships thus far. Because I otherwise love the vehicle and do not want to hassle with Lemon Law, I am hoping someone can give me some suggestions to pass on to the mechanics. As we speak my car is at the dealership for the 3rd time. Thanks.

Messages Page 621 of 865

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