Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Hi, i found this site by searching for the symptom im having on my 2001 subaru outback h6 but what i saw wasnt quite an exact match. So here goes. Bought the car used with 145k miles. A few thousand miles later i noticed the car was shaking all of a sudden at higher speeds like 60mph. I thought maybe it was a stuck brake because i use the parking brake. This was also right around the time i hit a big pothole and it went BANG and i wondered how i didnt get a flat. Not too long after i noticed my tire was flat one morning so i used a fix a flat in front right tire. Sometime after all that is when i first noticed the problem. At first it seemed tolerable. Then it seemed to get worse and now at any speed really the car vibrates pretty bad to the point that i thought maybe i had a flat tire. Brought it to Monro to check it out, they raised it, pointed out an axle boot on left front tire was torn but shook the tires and confirmed no stuck brake and said it could possibly be the fix a flat. So i swapped the tire out for the spare and the problem continued. So i swapped tires back. I continued driving it not having another car and no money to fix whatever it was. I had to drive on the highway so i would go like as close to 50mph as i could while the car shook and i know i shouldnt have been driving it but i didnt know what else to do. So now like i said the problem seems to occur all the time but ONLY during acceleration. I could be going 40mph and the second my foot comes off the accelerator to coast the ride becomes super smooth. The moment i accelerate the problem is back. Ive read everywhere that it could be a number of things, unbalanced tires, bearing, mounts, axles, drive shaft. I took it yesterday to a tire place and the guy said ok problem fixex thatll be $10 and said he pulled out the fix a flat or something. Of course the problem was still there so i dont what they did but didnt help. To further complicate things, this all started over two years ago. The car sat unmoved for the past two years and after a new battery the car started right up. Unfortunately for two years i guess i had a cooler with water in the back and the car is filled with mold. I know mold is dangerous but not my concern at the moment and i did clean it best i could with vinegar. Now i just drove it after typing the abovd to listen and notice everything and when i back up and then go forward it sounds like the back left brake makes a DONG noise like something is unsticking. The front right wheel sounds like a metallic noise like the best way i could describe it is when i used to ride a bicycle and if the tire wasnt lined up you would hear it every time the section of the tire got close to the brake pad. Other than that pretty much when i let my foot off the accelerator it seems to go away for the most part. I did just notice it took a couple of seconds after i stopped accelerating before it stopped and then while coasting it did it once in the middle before i had to stop but maybe that was the idle im not sure. I do have a buddy who works at a car shop who said he will take a look at my car but he has no experience with subarus so i was hoping you guys could maybe point me in the right direction if i said anything that raises a red flag as to what the problem can be. Thanks in advance for any insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 (edited) any number of things could be wrong with the car - perhaps 2-3 at the same time. try swapping tires in pairs fron tot back - check for change in vibration at speed. I think a full inspection of all the brake and suspension and axle parts would be good start. Also, all 4 tires MUST be; same brand, same size and same model. Also best if they all vary no more than about 3/32" in tread deppth. Proper inflation is good too. If you must run mixed sizes, use the FWD fuse in the fuse box under the hood until you get same size tires. Also, try using that fuse and test for vibration at speed as you mentioned. you may need a pro to find/list the problems for you - then decide what you can DIY. basically, ask the mech. ;"what needs immediate attention, what can I 'live with', and what should I save-up for?" post a request for a shop recommendation near your city in a new thread. Edited March 11, 2016 by 1 Lucky Texan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thanks. The tires are somewhat new i believe, lots of tread. All the same. But i do notice the shocks feel like they could use replacing when i hit bumps. You think that could have something to do with it. Youre right could be multiple things wrong and i imagine there is. Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 we have an 03, it gets very little time on freeways so, the suspension takes a beating. It had a bad strut at ~65K miles. Almost a guarantee a 2001 anything with original struts needs new ones. you might also have a broken spring. Sometimes those can actually be hard to spot - again, all that stuff needs careful inspection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 vibration that's directly correlated to acceleration (immediately noticeable in regards to throttle loading input - is classic symptoms of: 1. front inner axle joint is low on grease or failing 2. failing front differential - but these usually give audible noises too and get worse over time - you're not saying there's any noises. you can stuff fresh grease into the inner axle joint and the vibration might go away (it's worked every time i've tried it - which is only a couple). of course if the boot is tight and solid then you gotta cut one clamp to be able to stuff any grease in there - then reclamp it or ziptie it (really good). it's probably low on grease or the grease is so liquidy it's not doing anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thanks. As im hitting small bumps it sounds to me like either springs or play and wheel shakes. Its hard to tell. Ill give all of these suggestions to my mechanic buddy and once its fixed i will let you guys know what it was. There was a whining noise while driving it after it sat for two years but after driving it a few miles i havent heard anything other than the vibration while the rpms are raises. When i let my foot off the gas it takes a second before the rpms start dropping but as soon as that happens the vibration goes away. Thanks again im going to figure this one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Ok so far also noticed the stuck brake sound when going from reverse to forward i also heard front right and back left. Additionally i ever so often hear what sounds like a thin piece of sheet metal slapping against something. Still waiting to have it looked at but figured i would add that in here. Hopefully i can find out everything wrong with it today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 (edited) thin metal - probably heat shields, frequently rusted and loose. whining noise could be acc. belt tensioner or idler bearings, or air in the power steering. common issues (like the PS or the tensioner bearing) listed as 'stickies' at the top of this forum; http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/ Edited March 11, 2016 by 1 Lucky Texan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Ok. I was going to say heat shield but i have more experience with fixing F-16s than i do with fixing cars. Ok ill let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 As soon as i pulled in to my buddies driveway he looked under and had me put it in reverse and drive back and forth a few times and said its the cv joint or whatever its called. He then called a couple places and found me a driveshaft for $150 and we are putting it in next weekend. So hopefully that takes care of that issue. Now i am really noticing that heat shield type rattling noise and its frustrating. Also there is an annoying noise coming from under the hood i believe that i feel everyone hears as im driving and turns and stares. Yesterday a dog chased me barking. I popped the hood now, going to start it and see if i can tell where its coming from. Also spraying the mold with vinegar and scrubbing it off. Its working pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 On the way to my friends house i go slow because of the shaking but had to go down this long steep hill and half way down i smelled what smelled like burning wires. I made it there fine but it was a really strong smell of burning wires that went away by the time i got to his house. Not sure if it has anything to do with the brakes or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 After starting it with the hood up that noise was ear piercing. I tried to get close to pinpoint where its coming from but it was too loud to get close. Its coming from where the various belts are and maybe the alternator. However yesterday after getting to my destination, twice, the noise stopped. I thought it had just been from sitting for so long but its back. Could i spray a teflon lubricant down in that area or something and see if that works? It sounds like something needs lubrication to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Now the non lubricated noise stopped again after driving it for 15minutes. I wonder if something like my alternator is going. Oh well ill do some digging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 You need to replace the two pulley bearings for the serpentine belt. They are both standard 6203 bearings. I prefer a quality Japanese bearing. Replace them now before they completely fail and ruin the pulley washer and mounting surfaces. Remove belt. Remove pulley. Tap out bearings and tap in new bearings with s hammr and sockets. Very easy takes just a few minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 You could fill the bearings with new grease by removing the face seal or a needle fitting on a grease gun and prying up the face seal. But very very few people ever do that. The bearings simply loose grease over time. You're other issues are hard to follow but sounds like you're in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myfirstsubaru2001 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thanks. Im looking for the bearings online and see 6203-RS and 6203-2RS and 6203-2NSE. Could you maybe pull up a link to where i can buy the right ones or let me know if one of the ones i mentioned is the right one? I appreciate it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 You can google the differences those endings make. I think there's previous threads about it too. You just the baring sealed on both sides. But local at Napa if you're unsure. I think I've posetd a link to the onesvimve bought on Amazon before. There's also a Dayco 89007 pulley most stores have in stock you can use. They aren't listed as a replacement but work fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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