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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions
19283 messages, Last post on May 01, 2013 at 9:15 AM
You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.- Your Host is kcram
What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, SUV
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Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.
#2099 of 19283 Thrubbing/thrumming sound esp at low speed and accelerating. by golem
Dec 06, 2003 (9:17 am)
I have a 2003 Impreza TS, 15 months old, 7500KM (4500Miles).When the car's engine and drivetrain are cold (not driven for long enough so everything is cooled down to ambient temperature), it makes a very noticeable thrubbing/thrumming noise, with a low level vibration, seemingly from the drivetrain, when accelerating from a stop and continues while driving. As speed increases, the frequency of the sound and vibration increases but the loudness and vibration decreases. While continuing driving, this phenomena progressively decreases in intensity until everything is at operating temperature. Even then, the thrubbing/thrumming noise is there but much less noticeable.
I also notice that at first, the car is very sluggish, like something is holding back acceleration, until everything is at operating temperature.
Although this may not have anything to do with the problem, this problem appeared to begin shortly after I had the last scheduled service done at the dealership, which was an oil change, fluid top-up.
I have taken this Impreza into a Subaru dealer but they couldn't hear or feel anything wrong. The car had been sitting for 4 hours before the dealer road tested it. I was not there when this was done. They told me to come back when the weather is a lot colder and leave the car overnight so it could be road tested when it is stone cold.
Does anyone know what the problem is? It would really help me when I go back to the dealer. I don't want to be a victim of dealership service "see no problem, hear no problem, feel not problem, therefore there is no problem" syndrome. I plan to be there when my Impreza is taken out for the next road test.
P.S.
This is the second Subaru Impreza I have owned. The first one MY2002, purchased March 2002, was a lemon and after continuous attempts to fix it, and problems with being taken seriously by Subaru head office until I filed an arbitration request, Subaru refunded my money but, because I generally liked the Impreza, I waited until the MY2003 was available, September 2002, and bought another one. I still generally like this car but the problems, although different, are surfacing again.
I would like to be able to drive my Impreza for a long time so any constructive help is greatly appreciated.
#2100 of 19283 RE: Battery Replacement by samiam_68
Dec 06, 2003 (9:48 am)
DEFINITELY replace that battery NOW! Seven years is stretching it for any battery - if it dies on you now, you won't even be able to jump start it!#2101 of 19283 Battery Replacement by dougb10
Dec 06, 2003 (12:05 pm)
Thanks Sam....although the general feeling is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", I am probably stretching my luck. I will get it replaced next week.Thanks....Doug
#2102 of 19283 Windshield bigger problem by anibalb
Dec 07, 2003 (6:40 pm)
Hello folks,It has been a while. In the middle of this recent snow storm the windshield in my 01 outback cracked....for no apparent reason. No rocks or anything like that hit the car. At first I thought it was the ice. Sure enough, I have a cracked windshield. I just got over the 36K miles so am sure the dealer will tell me, no warranty. What should I do? It seems a defected windshield. Can someone give me the SOA number if that is what I should do.
Thanks all.
#2103 of 19283 Windshield Problem by K9Leader
Dec 08, 2003 (7:25 am)
It sounds as though your windshield cracked due to temperature variances -- a sudden temperature change can do that. Most of my cracked windshields (about a half-dozen over 26 years of driving, but four of them all on one car -- 1988 Mercury Tracer, all stones, just bad luck -- over only a four year period) were due to stones or other projectiles. But one was due to washing the car -- it was warm day, but not really hot, and I started to spray the car off to wash it, and "CRAAAACK!" The cool water hitting the sun-warmed windshield did it. Odd, because I had sprayed colder water onto warmer glass before without this happening. Probably just a slight imperfection in the glass but needed just the right conditions to cause the crack.I have no idea if windshield cracks are covered by the regular warranty -- I would bet that they are like brakes and tires and not covered. The best bet is to have a zero deductible on your comprehensive insurance. Windshields are usually in the $200 - 300 range (at least they were the last time I paid any attention) so if you have a $250 or $500 deductible you will have to pay. However, the cost between a $250 deductible and zero deductible comprehensive is surprisingly little -- probably less than $25 or so per year. At that rate it will take you 10 years or so to cover just one broken windshield. Since I've done six, I'm good for sixty years!
Anyway, replacing the windshield is a pretty simple, quick job. Many glass places will even come right to your home or office and do the job there. Good luck!
--K9Leader
2000 OB Ltd wagon (43K miles, my daily driver)
1998 Toyota Sienna (93K miles, wife's ride)
1994 Lincoln Mark VIII (103K miles, my weekend sunny-day fun car)
#2104 of 19283 by ateixeira
Dec 08, 2003 (10:57 am)
7 years, wow! Have you added distilled water regularly? That's great. Mine lasted half that time. I'd go ahead and replace it, with the same battery. And keep up those same habits!On that TS, make sure you give the fuel pump time to prime up the pressure before you start her up. Turn the key to the On position, listen for the "whirr", then start it.
My comprehensive insurance covers windshields, does yours? My wife replaced hers twice when she had the 626.
-juice
#2105 of 19283 new battery by bsvoller
Dec 08, 2003 (11:06 am)
One of my - *very few and minor* - complaints about Subaru is their use of a group 35 "battery" in my Forester."Glorified 'D' cell" would be more like it... 320 CCA stock ? You're kidding, right ?
It's almost impossible to find a group 35 battery that's capable and affordable. Unfortunately, the battery tray is so small that no other size fits, even group 75 is too long. You can't upgrade to a bigger class, the air conditioning lines are in the way.
Does it matter ? Well practically speaking, probably not - my Forester has always started without complaint, but we also live where the avg daytime high in January is 43F. It's a small thing, but a slightly wider battery tray would be nice. I wouldn't trust the OEM battery in the mountains overnight.
I just replaced the OEM battery at 42 months with a Nascar Select 35-84, the only group 35 battery recommended by CR. 570 CCA. You can get group 75 up to 730 CCA. Now THAT'S a battery. Other classes run much larger, but would be overkill on a 4-cylinder.
In our case, the OEM battery had a cell going down, causing the remaining cells to overcharge and "weep". Had to clean up the spilled battery acid while I was at it.
Where I come from, less than 400 CCA is a joke. 500 and some is reasonable, but nothing to write home about.
-brianV, who's thankful that these are the "issues" on his mind regarding Subaru
#2107 of 19283 Optima Battery by hypov
Dec 08, 2003 (11:24 am)
Brian-a li'l expensive, but I had very good experiences with them.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/products/pdf/34_78.pdf
-Dave
#2108 of 19283 Dave by bsvoller
Dec 08, 2003 (11:30 am)
True, they have a good rep, but man, $$$ !A little more space would be a better alternative, without going to exotic battery technologies.
-brianV
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