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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsCar mechanic type people, help! What do you think?
2003 Subaru Outback Sedan: Sounds and feels like a flat tire on the left side but no flat. Kind of feels like it starts on the front and works its way back. It is worse when I first accelerate, the car shimmies. There is also a weird noise coming from under the hood but only when I'm driving it, not when it idles. I'm afraid to drive it to the mechanic and will prob. have it towed when I find one that is close to me and opened.
Thanks!
Turbineguy
(37,285 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)Turbineguy
(37,285 posts)according to the internet it's more than $1500. But it might be covered under the longer powertrain warranty?
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Everything from an imbalanced tire to suspension problems. Although considering it's a Outback, one wonders about power train problems being a AWD kinda thing.
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)Sounds pricey.
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)If it was some cheap place, their dynamic balancing machine (if they had one) may have been faulty (they need recalibrating regularly). Truth is, even a major tire dealer can make a mistake. I'd get all the tires rebalanced before I spent much money doing anything else.
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)It was a tire place but they did it for free. Yikes.
magicarpet
(14,113 posts)Lochloosa
(16,057 posts)kind of like electrical stuff. "Is it plugged in?"
House of Roberts
(5,160 posts)If not, then a steering link could be damaged. That would also make you feel it holding the steering wheel as it rolls.
It also could be bad suspension on that side, or failing wheel bearings.
Good luck!
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)marked50
(1,364 posts)comment on something I am familiar with on my 1999 Forester, that is sort of similar. It has to do with the viscous couplers that Subaru uses on their AWD. I believe there are 4- one for each wheel and there are attached to the transmission. They are sort of like a differential. On mine the front one(s) went out at around 100K miles. It thumps when you turn the wheels at a low speed, like when pulling into a parking space. First I thought I had a flat. It makes no noise at normal speeds but only at low speeds on turns. The car shakes. Doesn't appear on acceleration though and doesn't "work its way back".
I would suggest you contact a mechanic in your area familiar with Subaru's that can give you advice. Good luck.
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)I wondered about CV joint on the front left. Thanks.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)You should check them out and see if the noise is similar. Here's one to get you started.
The viscous coupler is part of the center differential. Basically, it's what feeds drivetrain energy to your rear wheels when it is needed.
ExciteBike66
(2,296 posts)Lug nuts on wheels on the left side can loosen due to the direction of rotation of the wheel (don't ask how I know!). I would check that the lug nuts are tight.
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)MicaelS
(8,747 posts)It make have developed a "knot" (bulge) on part of the tread, probably at the point where the flat was fixed. Jack the car up, and rotate the wheel by hand, while running the other hand over the tread. You should be able to feel it and see it.
I had a car that would literally shake itself sideways when pulling away from a stop. Once up to speed the shake disappeared. Turned out I had a bulge under the tread.
kacekwl
(7,010 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)kacekwl
(7,010 posts)Unless you raise it up on a lift.
Mopar151
(9,974 posts)Is now recyclable scrap! You are safest to have it towed, it's already damaging itself .
If you are garage shopping, an independent shop who specializes in Subarus is a pretty good start. They will have done this job already, and should be able to give you a fair price estimate.
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)And they are looking at it tomorrow.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)It was $535. Honestly, I thought it was going to be worse than that. It's driving fine now, although they noted the brakes are 50% worn, but not an issue at this time. Guess that'll be next. I'm determined to hold on to this car for another 18 months and then keep it for one of my boys.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)kimbutgar
(21,040 posts)You got off cheap with $535.
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)The place I went to has a wonderful reputation honest work at less cost.
Kali
(55,002 posts)I have ruined a fair amount of u joints and dropped driveshafts out on the road before and didn't have to replace them, just the u joint. do Subarus have some problem with driveline malfunction?
Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)The mechanic told me it was about to "fall out" and I thought he was kidding. Do they really just fall out on the road?
Kali
(55,002 posts)best to hope the rear drops first so you don't do a pogo stick hop down the road
worst time for me was in a 15 passenger van on a mountain pass in Mexico with 13 Germans coming back from a trip. great story now, horrible frightening night then!
demosincebirth
(12,529 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,366 posts)Doesn't seem to be hurting anything yet.