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Subaru Legacy/Outback Unusual Clunks and Noises

50 messages,  Last post on Feb 12, 2008 at 3:17 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

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

Messages Page 2 of 5

#11 of 50 Re: piston slap [triumphstag] by crazyhodag

Dec 09, 2006 (3:00 pm)

Replying to: triumphstag (Nov 05, 2006 8:01 am)
I,too, owned a 2002 Subaru Outback wagon purchased new in 2002 that developed the piston slap after about a year. It got so bad that when the engine was cold it would be so loud the neighbors would come out of their houses wondering what all the noise was about! Very embarrassing! The noise would almost go away, once the engine warmed up, but never completely went away. The dealer absolutely would not do anything about it no matter how much I whined and complained. At least you got some satisfaction with a new short block even though temporary. I finally traded the car off for a new 2007 Outback hoping upon hope that this one doesn't develop the noise..With less than 1000 miles on it the engine is very quiet so here's hoping.

#12 of 50 over heating problem by legacygt1997

Dec 17, 2006 (1:07 pm)

i just replaced the heads on my legacy gt 2.5 lt sedan and the water pump and timing belt and thermostat and the tempiture gauge is not moving but it shoots water into the overflow bottol. what can i do to fix this

#13 of 50 Re: over heating problem [legacygt1997] by xwesx

Dec 17, 2006 (10:33 pm)

Replying to: legacygt1997 (Dec 17, 2006 1:07 pm)
Too many and's! So, by "shooting" you are saying that more than the normal amount of coolant is being pushed into the overflow? It sounds to me like either your temperature sending unit is not connected or it was damaged during the overhaul and needs to be replaced. Start there, then determine how the coolant temperature is behaving. Just to make sure... was the thermostat installed properly? A moment of carelessness and it could be installed backward quite easily.

#14 of 50 2000 Subaru Outback Boxer Eng. Piston Slap by 2000sub

Jan 16, 2007 (3:44 pm)

My 2000 Subaru Outback Ltd with almost 80,000 miles is developing a knocking noise in the engine. I have 6 months left on the extended warranty. The dealer says it is a piston slap which is typical of the Boxer Engine and not to worry. Is this typical of this engine type and is there something I should do (or can do) with the warranty?
 
Appreciate any comments/assistance.

#15 of 50 Re: 2000 Subaru Outback Boxer Eng. Piston Slap [2000sub] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2007 (10:18 am)

Replying to: 2000sub (Jan 16, 2007 3:44 pm)
Have the issue documented. If it isn't already, call 800-SUBARU3 and ask them to enter a "customer says" ticket. Ask for the problem # so you can track it.
 
Then, if it gets worse after the warranty expires, you can say you pointed it out before it expired.
 
-juice

#16 of 50 Re: 2000 Subaru Outback Boxer Eng. Piston Slap [ateixeira] by bfindlay

Jul 13, 2007 (10:53 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2007 10:18 am)
The piston slap problem is still an issue with new cars too. My wife and I purchased a 2006 2.5I Outback last year and after only 4000 miles we started hearing a terrible slapping noise when the car warms up that sounded like someone was taking a hammer to the engine block! The trouble is, it is inconsistent and of course when we bring the car into the dealership it doesn't act up. It seems to be associated with cold days and when it happens (about 40% of the time) our neighbors are looking around wondering what that banging noise is. This car is still practically brand new! We are taking action with Subaru and plan on selling the car as soon as we can get it fixed. Too bad since other than this problem we love the car...
 
-Brad
 

#17 of 50 Re: 2000 Subaru Outback Boxer Eng. Piston Slap [bfindlay] by shrinermonkey

Jul 13, 2007 (8:20 pm)

Replying to: bfindlay (Jul 13, 2007 10:53 am)
More than likely this is not piston slap as the pistons of the 2.5 engine no longer have the shorter skirts. What you are hearing is most likely valve train noise caused by lack of oil at startup. Try switching to a lower xW viscosity oil like a 5w-x or 0w-x or a synthetic. If you want to stick with conventional oil, try Havoline Deposit Shield 5w-30, it is a thinner weight 5w-xx oil. These oils will start flowing faster and easier in the cold. You might also want to consider a different oil filter. The Subaru OEM and Purolators are very good and offer excellent flow.
 
Even if what you are hearing is piston slap, it has very little affect on the life of the engine and you have stated that it hardly every happens and goes away after the car warms up. I am not seeing what the big deal about this is? Is is really that bad of a problem to get justify getting rid of the car? I guess you might see this as being a terrible problem, but I guess I just don't see it.
 
I seem to be seeing more of this lately. Someone has one minor problem with their car and they are flaming away on message boards saying how horrible their car is, etc... I owned a 2001 VW Passat, I KNOW what an unrealiable car is, and yours ain't got nothing on it.

#18 of 50 Check engine light by sstevek

Jul 15, 2007 (7:07 pm)

The Check engine light came on my '02 Outback 2.5 a couple days ago. The mileage was about 95,900, don't know if that's any significance. Checked everything obvious, looks ok. I don't notice any unusual sound (I do get pinging with regular gas which has been going on for awhile)or any lack of performance. Wonder if anyone has had the same warning around the same mileage. I'll probably just have to take it into the dealership.

#19 of 50 Re: Check engine light [sstevek] by shrinermonkey

Jul 16, 2007 (6:33 am)

Replying to: sstevek (Jul 15, 2007 7:07 pm)
Piston slap has nothing to do with CELs. If you are pinging on regular gas you should get that engine checked out anyway, you may have carbon build up on your valves causing hot spots. My guess is that the pinging has something to do with your CEL, maybe a bad O2 sensor or the like.

#20 of 50 Re: Check engine light [shrinermonkey] by pathtomax

Jul 16, 2007 (11:19 am)

Replying to: shrinermonkey (Jul 16, 2007 6:33 am)
I had the exact same thing around 110,000 miles. I am far from being a technician, but I would bet it is the Knock Sensor. My CEL came on intermittently for about a week and when I brought it in...bingo, they replaced the sensor.
 
From what I have read online, it is prone to happen around 100k miles.

Messages Page 2 of 5

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