Lverano Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 (edited) Hi, I'm new to this particular forum. I've recently replaced my transmission fluid and differential fluid, as well as put on a newer complete drive shaft on my 03 LL Bean Outback, but I can't seem to shake this noise. I'll leave a YouTube link at the bottom for anyone who's got a few to take a listen, sorry for all of my talking in advance. I tend to strictly only hear the noise on acceleration after I reach about 25mph in several gears and speeds, and the transmission shifts very good. I've tried a heavier synthetic Luca oil in the front diff, but no change. There is no play in the axels where they connect to the diff. I get a little vibration, and I mean only a little, on the automatic shifter. It seems like the noise comes from the tail section of the transmission, but with the diff and trans being so close together I can't be sure what causes the noise. So if there is a Subaru doc out there, tell me please, how long does she have? I always appreciate help, but if you want to reply to this, please read it all before you take a stab at it. Thanks. https://youtu.be/9-GWX19X9_E Edited August 10, 2016 by Lverano 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 (edited) Welcome from Subaruoutback land. Change fluids and look for debris. People run fluid through cloth filters like cheese cloth maybe. See what comes out. Noise on acceleration is usually front diff but that's a forward noise? You say it's coming from rearward? Sit in the passengers seat and rear seat and have a listen. Then what? Edited August 10, 2016 by grossgary 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 10, 2016 Author Share Posted August 10, 2016 Welcome from Subaruoutback land. Change fluids and look for debris. People run fluid through cloth filters like cheese cloth maybe. See what comes out. Noise on acceleration is usually front diff but that's a forward noise? You say it's coming from rearward? Sit in the passengers seat and rear seat and have a listen. Then what? I changed the front differential two times. The front diff had sludge on the plug, but nothing more. If you re-watch the video, the portion where I pan the camera down toward the radio, you hear me say when I let off the gas, at which time the noise just stops. My co-worker says the noise is coming from up front, but he only sat in the passenger seat, and I've cocked my head back to listen to the back, and I myself am convinced its from the front. I wish it was rear noise. I am seeing what I can sell so I can buy a handy dandy steelman car noise detector kit. If I'm going really slow and let off the gas, I can just barely hear a little of the same noise while coasting, but barely, and only for a second or two, not very pronounced. So here are the facts: Noise dominates solely on acceleration There is a newer complete drive shaft Car has 180k Diff to transmission has small drip, so oil may have been run dry at one point by previous owner, big unknown rear diff had fresh oil in it on purchase, but the front was low and burnt transmission fluid is new, but brown when I got it Sludge on diff plug upon first drain and fill noise vibrates automatic shifter very slightly recently installed new front axel no play in front diff where axels plug in noise diminishes at very high speeds noise is constant after 25mph noise is worst between 30 and 50 mph Worst case scenario, how long might i get away driving it like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 (edited) Front diff. Unless it's that cheap axle but I doubt that. Hard to guess how long. Could be a day or a year. I drove one to failure, took 18,000 miles I think but it was a different failure than yours. Mine was a "more minor" issue. If it's the ring and pinion I think you'll find a sooner and louder/ more dramatic failure than bearings. You're going to get a loud bank or clunk one day and not be movable. Edited August 10, 2016 by grossgary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 some folks have had cracked flexplates...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 10, 2016 Author Share Posted August 10, 2016 Sounds like a reasonable confirmation Grossgary, not like the old days where I begged to differ about a head gasket. I was peterpan; just believe real strong and it won't be the head gasket, and then go for a good fly around Baltimore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 10, 2016 Author Share Posted August 10, 2016 some folks have had cracked flexplates...... I wish, that's an easier fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 Welcome from Subaruoutback land. Change fluids and look for debris. People run fluid through cloth filters like cheese cloth maybe. See what comes out. Noise on acceleration is usually front diff but that's a forward noise? You say it's coming from rearward? Sit in the passengers seat and rear seat and have a listen. Then what? Wait a minute, am I hearing, I might be hearing something louder in the back that sounds like it's in the font? Let me get back to you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 That would be a nice hit. What i normally try to do is have someone else drive and literally put my ears on the floor in the cargo area. Do that, sit in passengers seat, sit up front, it should help determine front/rear and/or left/right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 That would be a nice hit. What i normally try to do is have someone else drive and literally put my ears on the floor in the cargo area. Do that, sit in passengers seat, sit up front, it should help determine front/rear and/or left/right. Myself and a coworker did just that last night. He said he thinks it's louder and it's coming from the back later after I dropped him off I reclined my seat all the way back and drove through the parking lot and I could definitely say the sound originates from the rear , SOB. When I changed the differential fluids, I noticed the rear was new differential fluid and the front looked like it had been neglected, which tells me somebody was trying to quiet something down in the rear. As for the front, well I might've just saved it in time. Give me an hour or two I can change out a rear differential no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 If it's not a VDC and you have noise on accel only noise from rear diff should change if you put in the FWD fuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 If it's not a VDC and you have noise on accel only noise from rear diff should change if you put in the FWD fuse. Will give it a whirl...Saturday, I'll be straightening out cars all day ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 If it's not a VDC and you have noise on accel only noise from rear diff should change if you put in the FWD fuse. Which amperage fuse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 any spare fuse will work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 any spare fuse will work Thanks Texan, how do i do mentions on here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 If it's not a VDC and you have noise on accel only noise from rear diff should change if you put in the FWD fuse. Noise is still there with the fuse in... Not sure if it's better, but still there, only had a short trip on my lunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdq54 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Newbee here. First time owner of a 2004 Legacy Outback. How long can the fwd fuse be left in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lverano Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 (edited) Newbee here. First time owner of a 2004 Legacy Outback. How long can the fwd fuse be left in? Probably as long as you want..but from what I've heard it's not worth it it's not going to save you anything on gas mileage so it's better to have it in Edited September 12, 2016 by Lverano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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