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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.

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.

Messages Page 650 of 1929

#6485 of 19283 Re: Forester Piston Slap [mb789] by kens

Apr 08, 2006 (4:32 pm)

Replying to: mb789 (Apr 07, 2006 6:00 pm)
Piston slap is not a common problem. I think it was more prevalent many years ago when Subaru first introduced the 2.5L engine with the shortened piston skirts. That engine has gone through several revision since then and I would imagine Subaru did some tweaking to that design.
 
Even then, from what I've read and heard, the slap does not seem to cause any serious damage to the engine. Someone here posted that they actually looked into their engine while it was being worked on for piston slap and the cylinder inside was fine. I've also had the same unique experience of being able to see my 1998 Forester's engine apart at the dealer and the mechanic said the cylinder walls looked new, intact with the original honing.
 
So, don't worry. The odds are very much in your favor that you'll be getting a very reliable vehicle.
 
Ken

#6486 of 19283 Re: Forester Piston Slap [kens] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 09, 2006 (12:42 pm)

Replying to: kens (Apr 08, 2006 4:32 pm)
you're probably right but the human eye wouldn't notice damage from piston slap...what it does is make the cylinders kind of egg-shaped top to bottom over the course of time, and this will lead to more noise and more oil consumption eventually....but again, unless you're delivering cement with the car this wear could take a long, long time.

#6487 of 19283 Re: Have had Gaskets replaced TWICE--Need Advice! [xwesx] by shan_jarvis

Apr 09, 2006 (4:08 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Mar 10, 2006 4:00 pm)
Okay, so I decided to have the head gasket replaced again. It was completed about a month ago. Last week I thought the engine was sounding a little louder than normal when it was idling, so I popped the hood and thought I should just peek at the coolant.....The resivour was completely empty!!!!
 
Do you have any ideas what the problem might be now?
Thanks for your help!
Shannon
 
See post #6368

#6488 of 19283 Re: Have had Gaskets replaced TWICE--Need Advice! [shan_jarvis] by ateixeira

Apr 10, 2006 (9:13 am)

Replying to: shan_jarvis (Apr 09, 2006 4:08 pm)
I would recommend topping it off and then "burping" the system.
 
That's not a joke, there is a screw next to the radiator cap, when you open it, it bleeds out any air pockets in the cooling system.
 
Basically, the system does this and might be sucking in more coolant to compensate.
 
If you're not familiar with cooling systems, have a mechanic do it for you. I've done this myself, so it's not hard or anything.
 
When all this is done, mark the level of the coolant in the reservoir. Then drive it and check the level. A slight drop is OK, but if it keeps dropping then maybe the gaskets are still not sealing properly.
 
-juice

#6489 of 19283 Re: Have had Gaskets replaced TWICE--Need Advice! [shan_jarvis] by xwesx

Apr 10, 2006 (11:03 am)

Replying to: shan_jarvis (Apr 09, 2006 4:08 pm)
The phrase "a little louder than normal" is rather vague, but I am not sure how it, as a symptom, could be linked to the coolant. So, I will leave the coolant suggestion to what juice said and add that my definition of "louder" is valve noise, caused on mine by low oil levels. I typically do not hear it until the oil level is >1 quart low. My recommendation is that you check the oil level and, if low, top it off and keep a close eye on that as well. Head gasket replacement is a major repair as you well know, so it is possible that a gasket/seal seated poorly and is allowing some seepage.
 
Oddly, I thought I would have cured my car's oil use problems when I re-sealed the whole thing back at 192.5K, but here I am over 10K later and I still need to add a 1/2 quart every 300 miles. There are no leaks, though! I have not seen that engine stay so clean for so long! *shakes his head*

#6490 of 19283 My horse thru a shoe... by fibber2

Apr 10, 2006 (6:57 pm)

Once again, I came home in the rain on Friday night from the airport, and let the car sit in the garage without using it over the weekend. As has happens so often with these OEM parts, the brake pads were again 'cold welded' to the rotors. I had to give it gas to break them free (with a real 'snap' sound as they let go).
 
Only this time, something else happened... The brake pedal at first felt overly hard, then sank almost to the carpet! I pumped it a few times and it recovered. I did a few slow speed stops and it made the typical corroded rotor grind, but seemed to stop OK. A booster problem, perhaps? I preceeded to work with care, but everything seemed fairly normal.
 
On the way home with the windows open I could hear a bit of a metallic scraping sound. I assumed it was the wear sensor. Side loads would make it happen, as would mild braking. But with slightly harder braking, all was reasonably quiet, but the brakes felt weak.
 
I know they are getting thin, and have new PowerSlot rotors and Hawk pads sitting waiting for a free moment to get installed. The need just got accelerated to first priority - parked until then. When I got home and opened the garage door, there sitting on the floor was a brake pad!!! Apparently, it was sooooo welded in place today, that about 3/4 of the friction material ripped off of the backing plate and was spit out!
 
That is a first for me folks....
 
Steve

#6491 of 19283 Re: My horse thru a shoe... [fibber2] by kens

Apr 10, 2006 (7:18 pm)

Replying to: fibber2 (Apr 10, 2006 6:57 pm)
Wow, Steve. That's some "welcome home"!
 
Never heard of that happening before. Glad you caught it before anything serious happened.
 
Ken

#6492 of 19283 Auto Styling Service in LA? by joechang

Apr 11, 2006 (2:06 am)

Could anyone out there recommend some places where provide excellent service?

#6493 of 19283 Re: Have had Gaskets replaced TWICE--Need Advice! [xwesx] by lfdal

Apr 11, 2006 (5:29 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Apr 10, 2006 11:03 am)
Wes - Sounds like its going out the tailpipe...... have you done the rings? My wife's OBW sucked down a quart in less than a 3 weeks when the pistons were replaced. Didn't check the oil for the last 4 weeks and when I did, there was just barely any on the stick - was below the low mark. So it used a quart and a half in 4 weeks.
 
I am hoping this abates as the rings break in. Really hoping.
 
Larry

#6494 of 19283 Re: My horse threw a shoe... [fibber2] by locke2c

Apr 11, 2006 (6:48 am)

Replying to: fibber2 (Apr 10, 2006 6:57 pm)
Steve, that's amazing. Bad... yet amazing. I have never heard of a brake pad on a street car being torn apart like that.
 
~Colin

Messages Page 650 of 1929

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