Clunky Subaru

[1990C4S]

Update: I drove the car enough to get it 'warm' this weekend. There is a serious issue with the front and rear axles fighting, I am pretty sure that on one low speed turn with the steering wheel at full lock the one rear tire was being dragged.

There is a lot of clunking and you can feel the driveline shudder (and see the gearshift wobble).

I am 99% sure the viscous coupling is no good. Torque to the rear wheels is messed up...

[speeder]

Take it to the dealer, for chrissakes! What are you waiting for? The worst that can happen is they give you a crazy $$ estimate to fix in which case you shop for independents. If you have a great Subie dedicated independent, maybe go there.

Someone will know what is going on w your car and they aren't on this forum.

[1990C4S]

It will end up at the dealer. It's a logistical issue.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by speeder

Take it to the dealer, for chrissakes! What are you waiting for? The worst that can happen is they give you a crazy $$ estimate to fix in which case you shop for independents. If you have a great Subie dedicated independent, maybe go there.

Someone will know what is going on w your car and they aren't on this forum.

The dealer would not even look at the car for over a week, that's not reasonable for a simple diagnosis.

I took the car to a local Subaru expert, he actually diagnosed it (correctly) over the phone from my symptoms and fixed it the next day.

Center diff is apparently a common problem, he does one every other week.

$1500 and it's fixed.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

The dealer would not even look at the car for over a week, that's not reasonable for a simple diagnosis.

I took the car to a local Subaru expert, he actually diagnosed it (correctly) over the phone from my symptoms and fixed it the next day.

Center diff is apparently a common problem, he does one every other week.

$1500 and it's fixed.

Yikes, that's disappointing. Glad it is fixed though. Hopefully you'll get many trouble free miles after that repair.

[1990C4S]

There's no incentive for the dealer to say 'must be the diff, they fail all the time....'.

But I don't understand a one week wait to even look at the car. That sort of service makes me unlikely to buy another Subaru.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

The dealer would not even look at the car for over a week, that's not reasonable for a simple diagnosis.

I took the car to a local Subaru expert, he actually diagnosed it (correctly) over the phone from my symptoms and fixed it the next day.

Center diff is apparently a common problem, he does one every other week.

$1500 and it's fixed.

Wow! I have owned several Subies and never had that problem. My parents have a 2012 with over 100K on the odo and no issues. Is it a newer issue??

[1990C4S]

Sorry, do not know. Lots of repair shops online explaining how common it is....