4wd whining noise in "new" subaru

[maxmays]

I am a first-time Subaru owner, just purchased a 1989 GL-10 Touring Wagon, 5spd manual, with selective 4wd. I just purchased it last Thursday, and after spending the weekend doing some work to replace the radiator & thermostat, attempted yesterday evening to test the 4wd shifter.

 

When stopped, car warm, I started the vehicle in neutral, then shifted to 1st and shifted the 4wd lever to 4wd hi, then lo, then back to hi before I pressed the gas and released the clutch to move forward. I then proceeded shortly thereafter to make a low-speed right turn (in a parking lot) and around just under 2000 rpm there was a loud, rich whining sound which sounded like it was coming from under the engine almost. I immediately stopped the vehicle and, without turning the vehicle off, attempted to switch it back to Fwd. When I moved the handle to Fwd, it would not switch, and the Fwd lights on my instrument panel stayed on. I drove for a few more feet and heard the same loud whine, stopped, and attempted to switch the gear into 4wd hi and then back to Fwd, but no go, still in 4wd. I then turned out of the parking lot onto my road, which is a steep incline for the first 1/6 mile or so. After going up the hill (the whine at this time came on in the same rpm range, but disappeared around 2,500-3,000; after the hill when I slowed, it came back in the 2,000 range), I came to a stop and again tried to switch to Fwd, with success this time. I did not attempt to change to 4wd again until I knew more.

 

I have attempted to search this problem in 27 pages of previous forum posts, as well as google search and meticulously going over the owner's manual and the Hayne's manual, with no success.

 

A related symptom may be this: the LO light on the instrument panel stays on all the time (the one at the bottom of the car graphic on the instrument panel). The CHECK ENGINE light stays on all the time as well. Now, when I say the LO light stays on all the time, it is only that light, and none of the other related 4wd lights. Even when in 4wd HI, the LO light stays on.

 

The vehicle has been parked for a few months (less than a full year), and has 215k exactly. Runs rough but well after replacing the radiator, and I still need to complete the battery of other maintenance expected of a used Subaru that has been sitting (all fluid replacements, plugs/wires, gear oil, etc.). The previous owner, while not mechanically-minded, kept up well with the maintenance & oil changes as documented in the service records he gave me (he was the 2nd owner for several years). He stopped driving the vehicle due to an accident his wife was in with the vehicle where the driver's front corner was banged in (this in turn pushed in the metal in the front driver's half the vehicle, which caused the engine fan to rub against the radiator, causing the leak). So far this doesn't seem to have affected the handling or any of the other engine components (although I am shopping for a headlight ).

 

I think that's everything related to the problem (and probably some not). If someone could please direct me to a possible cause of the problem and what the solution is, that would be great.

 

Thanks,

 

Max

[bella]

Just an ideea........ceck oil level in dif and also gear box....

 

Good luck.

 

P.S. Wellcome a board:banana:

[Subarian]

The 4wd in your subaru is intended only for off-road or slick on-road conditions. There is no differential between the front and rear, so the wheels will attempt to turn at the same speed, and will bind on a turn on hard pavement. When they bind, they are hard to get out of gear.

 

Your wheels should be pointing straight ahead and not slipping when you shift into our out of 4wd. Sometimes it helps to back up a few feet when the trans binds in 4wd.

 

Your Lo light is operated by a switch under the console cover. If it's broken or misadjusted, the light will stay on. It wouldn't have anything to do with the check engine light.

[maxmays]

Thanks Bella, I'll be sure to check the gear oil. And thanks for the welcome.

 

Subarian, thanks for the tip. This is the first Subaru and the first 4wd vehicle I've owned, so I'm still learning. I'll be sure to test it on my gravel driveway next time, going straight and not turning. One thing I was also wondering from my reading is whether or not a certain amount of whining noise is normal in 4wd mode. Can you answer that? (Or whoever is reading, for that matter?)

 

Thanks,

 

Max

[Subaru Jim Maple Ridge]

The most common cause of excess noise and difficulty engaging or disengaging 4WD, is that the tires are different sizes, either not equal pressures or mismatched entirely. All four should be identical tires at the same pressure.

[Subarian]

And some whining is normal. Just make sure the gear oil is up and you should be OK. These transmissions are pretty tough.

[MilesFox]

some points to remember about 4wd-

 

engage-disengage 4wd when the wheels are straight

 

if the lever wont disengage, reverse the exact same arc which you had just turned. or run the vehicle straight, backward and forward about the 2-3 car lenghts

 

also if the 4wd is stuck find a patch of sand or gravel, or some grass, maybe goose the throttle to ghirp a tire and relieve its bind

 

fwd and 4wd can be engaged on-the-fly at any speed. 4wd can be driven at any speed. at any one constant speed without accel or decel you can shift into 4wd without clutching

 

you can shift lo range at any speed but its necessary to clutch as if downshifting. 5th gear lo range is about the same as 3rd gear hi. this is what i mean "as if downshifting"

 

lo range can be driven at any speed but its geared uch lower. but 4500 rpms at 45 mph in deep snow is how the car is meant to operate, and the way the engine is designed with its short throw and large bore

 

the subaru owners manual will not recoend using lo range at hiway speeds or speeds excess of 55 mph in 4wd. this is mainly concern for fuel consumption and not so uch the limits of the car

 

welcome to the USMB! you found the most comprehensive compilation of subaru information on all the internet!

 

check out my website as well,

http://www.economysuperstar.com/milesfox/subaru/subaru.htm

[Hank Roberts]

I'd be conservative and change all the fluids, assuming you don't know how long since it's had proper maintenance. But make sure you get someone who knows the right lubricants to use. And replace the belts.

 

I bought a 1988 GL 4x4 with about 230k miles, nearly a year ago, my first-ever Subaru -- and have been finding trouble ever since. Mechanics just quit doing stuff after a car gets to a certain age if the owner doesn't know to insist on maintaining it like they want it to run forever.

[samo]

Sounds like typical 4WD binding to me. As mentioned above, the lack of a center diff on 4WD Soobs causes them to bind on corners. You should never ever run 4WD on dry pavement. It's very hard on the transmission to have it bind up, and you can break things if you do it too often.

 

As for the whining, my S/R '93 whines like crazy in 4WD, especially 1st gear. Seems normal, all the others I've been in do the same thing, including my old '92.