Ask the Car People.SM


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


Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153
 
Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 700 of 1929

#6988 of 19283 Subaru Impreza Outback Mystery Leak by sswensen

Sep 02, 2006 (10:48 am)

My 1996 Subaru Impreza Outback has developed a leak that produces a pool of water in the well underneath the spare tire. Nothing on top of the tire is wet, so I'm guessing the leak must be coming in from below. In searching for possible water entry points, only one seems obvious: a rubber plug that covers a circular opening to the outside (about a half-dollar size) in front of the wheel well; but the rubber plug is very snug and seems unlikely to let water in.
 
I'd love to hear anyone's ideas for where the water is coming from.
 
THANKS!

#6989 of 19283 Re: Subaru Impreza Outback Mystery Leak [sswensen] by hypov

Sep 02, 2006 (11:05 am)

Replying to: sswensen (Sep 02, 2006 10:48 am)
Dry the well, then talc powder coat the sides of the wheel well. Should give you an idea or starting point as to where the water may be coming from, if not the plug.
 
-Dave

#6990 of 19283 Ethanol by sixtystacks

Sep 02, 2006 (11:26 am)

I live in Minnesota and have a 2002 Outback Sport with 50,000 miles on it. It has been a decent car for me but I am a bit upset about the requirement to use ethanol in my gas here. It is mandatory during the winter and hard to find at all other times. I have had 2 sets of converters replaced plus an oxgen sensor and attribute it to the ethanol.
 
Just read an article in the WSJ this morning about the Fisherman in Montauk NY who had horror stories about the sludge this stuff creates in engines.
 
Of course it is politically correct to buy it and a tremendous boondoggle for the farmers (who need another subsidy like a hole in the head). Plus it kills mpg.
 
I frequently drive to NY and Florida and would be interested in knowing if this is the case everywhere. Is E-10 being jammed down everyone's throats?

#6991 of 19283 need new transmission and new to forum by scout77

Sep 02, 2006 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 14, 2002 2:54 pm)
Hi,
I found this forum and am writing as my subaru outback llbean edition 2001 3.0 ltr wagon was just diagnosed as needing a new transmission. the repair will cost 3500. i am still in shock. the car has 133k miles on it but both my father and i have been religious in caring for it with regular servicing and repairs for relatively minor sounds/issues.
i noticed a soft hmming sound during accelerateion. end of June, took it to the dealership and an independent shop and both said the noise i noticed was minor, they would check again at a later time. the check engine was on, then went off on its own, came back on briefly for 2 days (after repairs for oil leaks) then went off again. The sound became louder and the car was not driving well, brought it in, and need a new transmission.
is this to be expected (mostly highway miles)? is there anything i can do limit the expense (both dealer and independent service came in with same estimate?). im really disappointed and frustrated and would appreciate advise.
independent place suggested that by not draining the pan when changing transmission fluid, you increase likelihood of transmission problems as sediment stays in system. said that this draining is not normal part of dealership maintenance.
also noticed there was a recall item related to transmission and my dad said that this recall was not performed on this car, unless it was done without his knowledge.
thanks for your help.

#6992 of 19283 Re: Ethanol [sixtystacks] by zman3

Sep 02, 2006 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: sixtystacks (Sep 02, 2006 11:26 am)
I live in Minnesota also. While I agree with your subsidy viewpoint, I have not heard of widespread issues with converters (catalytic?) or oxygen sensors and we have been using ethanol for years here. I think you may be barking up the wrong tree there.
 
I also have tried using non-ethanol premium a few times (you can find it if you look) and noticed no appreciable difference in MPG.

#6993 of 19283 Re: Ethanol [zman3] by subearu

Sep 02, 2006 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: zman3 (Sep 02, 2006 1:59 pm)
Every blend of unleaded in the Chicago/Milwaukee metro area is 10% ethanol. If there was an issue with 10% ethanol fuels and oxygen sensors, surely we would see something or hear about these in the Chicago area. I don't think it's an issue, and at least in this area, we don't have a choice to not use it.
 
-Brian

#6994 of 19283 Re: Ethanol [sixtystacks] by hypov

Sep 02, 2006 (4:39 pm)

Replying to: sixtystacks (Sep 02, 2006 11:26 am)
Here in New York, we only just recently [Spring '06] converted over to the ethanol blend so it couldn't be the cause for the converters and O2 sensor replacements.
 
As to killing the mpg, there's some truth to that, but that's temporarily. It's like cold turkey treatment for the engine running on only MTBE [that were jammed down our throats, so to speak] and then suddenly deprived. The ECU eventually adjust.
 
-Dave

#6995 of 19283 Re: need new transmission and new to forum [scout77] by c_hunter

Sep 02, 2006 (6:07 pm)

Replying to: scout77 (Sep 02, 2006 1:23 pm)
Did anyone tell you what went wrong in the original transmission? That might help us suggest an alternative repair.
 
By the way, the only recall I know of was for the park-rod (locks the car in place when in park) but that probably has nothing to do with your current issues.

#6996 of 19283 E-10 by c_hunter

Sep 02, 2006 (6:11 pm)

I believe ethanol has 15% less energy per gallon than gas. With a 10% mix, we'd be getting 1.5% less energy, so about 1.5% drop in MPG. I imagine that's hard to notice -- it's less than 0.5 MPG difference. This will certainly cost you more over the long haul, however. Generally, I am not a fan of ethanol at all. If you factor in the energy it takes to produce ethanol, it seems really idiotic. Perhaps this will improve in the future.

#6997 of 19283 Re: need new transmission and new to forum [c_hunter] by scout77

Sep 02, 2006 (6:16 pm)

Replying to: c_hunter (Sep 02, 2006 6:07 pm)
thanks for asking and replying. i was told the front differential was the problem by the independent shop and the dealership said only that it would need a new transmission. I was afraid of that as the rpms and noise/vibration were vacillating independent of the gear/speed.
if you feel there are other questions i should ask/information i should get, please let me know. they said its not driveable right now which ties out with my experience. im just suprised that this would go out. i assume the price of the repair relates to the fact its a 3.0 6 cyclinder awd? it seems expensive.

Messages Page 700 of 1929

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement