Subie issues

[steveo12345]

So the wife drives an older (2002) Outback. It's really been a great car with few issues. She was driving home the other night when a fire fighter driving behind her lights up his blue lights. She pulls over to let him by but he pulls in behind her. Turns out he was concerned about the trail of sparks coming out from under her car. To make a long story short the front sway bar snapped off and was dragging on the pavement.

I've never had a sway bar snap like that. Weird. Anyway I decided I didn't want to deal with it so I take to a garage up the street. Never used him before but the guy I trust is retiring so I thought I'd give him a try.

He calls me later in the day to say he accidentally locked the keys in the car and can I drop off a spare key? No problem. Here's where it gets weird. The spare key and the fob will not unlock the car. The key won't turn in any of the locks and pushing the button on the fob does nothing. The key fob worked the day before. We never use the actual key except in the ignition. Any ideas on this? I'm thinking the locks may just be frozen or corroded from not being used for so many years but that doesn't explain why the fob isn't working. He's going to call a locksmith and see if he can get in the car.

[RANDY P]

try to replace battery in remote. When those fail the range gradually decreases until, poof, no more.

It's an Alpine alarm- they're actually pretty hard to ruin.

rjp

[steveo12345]

So the problem was that the car was still on the lift. As soon as he lowered it the key fobs worked. I guess the alarm system didn't like the car being up in the air.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by steveo12345

So the problem was that the car was still on the lift. As soon as he lowered it the key fobs worked. I guess the alarm system didn't like the car being up in the air.

Ask him why is he fiddling with the doors while it's up in the air? Monkey mechanic or something..

rjp

[steveo12345]

Yeah I was wondering about that.

[vash]

you have to get in to drive or push it to the rack..no?

[cabmandone]

Broken sway bar? Haven't seen that one and my old one was a 95. I had sway bar links pop off but not snap an entire bar.

[john walker's workshop]

That's why I open the window when the car is in the shop. BTDT.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Broken sway bar? Haven't seen that one and my old one was a 95. I had sway bar links pop off but not snap an entire bar.

Would love to see a pic. Those bars are robust in strength.

[SCadaddle]

As the owner of 3 Subaru legacy variants, that's nothing. At least the story didn't wind up like "and while he was checking out the front sway bar he had oil and coolant dripping in his face from the head gaskets" !

[steveo12345]

Did the valve cover gaskets last year. If the head gaskets go so does the car. I keep telling her that at 160K miles it's just getting broken in. I'll try to get some pics of the broken sway bar. She said she heard a loud bang leaving a parking lot. I'm thinking she must have hit something.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by steveo12345

Did the valve cover gaskets last year. If the head gaskets go so does the car. I keep telling her that at 160K miles it's just getting broken in. I'll try to get some pics of the broken sway bar. She said she heard a loud bang leaving a parking lot. I'm thinking she must have hit something.

No need on the bar pic. The loud bang must be it.

160k miles? Still a pup.

[SCadaddle]

For future reference: When your AWD Subaru Legacy or Outback variant of a Legacy starts to make odd noises that sound like differing video game tones that you absolutely can't pinpoint the source of the noise that has turned your beloved Subaru into a flying saucer......you'll have about 5,000 miles before finding yourself on the interstate driving along at 70 mph when for a brief few seconds you realize the flying saucer just started making a far different noise followed by what you THOUGHT must have been the encounter with an IED only to find out the carrier bearing on the driveshaft from the front to the rear finally had enough of entertaining you musically, and now wants to greet you with the hammer of Thor in rapid succession from the tunnel between the front seats. And it's a full component replacement for the complete driveshaft.

As for everything Subaru that you'd like to know, such as the keyfob programming, cars101.com is THE reference for Subarus!

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

That's why I open the window when the car is in the shop. BTDT.

Must be a mechanic thing. My finger is on the window button while my other hand is twisting the key.
Have had it happen to me more times that I would like to remember. Ive had them up in the air , on the lift, and heard it go " click, click " Lower it down, only to find the thing locked itself .
Chrysler stuff in the late 90's seemed to be the worst , but also had a 740 il get me once. That was a bugger to get open .

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Must be a mechanic thing. My finger is on the window button while my other hand is twisting the key.

Yes, Sir.

Window down and key NOT in car. I may misplace the keys but no locked out adventures (anymore).

[john walker's workshop]

Replaced a 928 battery. Attached the cables and the alarm went off and the windows rolled up, key inside. An impenetrable fortress. But I had the windows down, dammit.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Replaced a 928 battery. Attached the cables and the alarm went off and the windows rolled up, key inside. An impenetrable fortress. But I had the windows down, dammit.

Now that's funny.

[VincentVega]

I put end links on a similar suby recently, not sure how it was still together. Literally by a thread.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I put end links on a similar suby recently, not sure how it was still together. Literally by a thread.

I had to do that to my sons' 08 impreza. One drop link had popped off on the sway bar. They're pretty chincy setup really.