Please help me diagnose test drive noises...

[ort5]

Hi everybody!

I used to own a 94 Turbo Wagon, but sold it when my commute could not bear the mileage.

I am back in the market, and I test drove a Turbo Sedan yesterday. 120k miles on the clock, manual transmission, overall pretty good shape. Engine seems to sound good. With the car running, if I put the transmission in neutral and let the clutch out, there is a "whirring" noise.

Any ideas on this one?

Second, when driving, there is a lot of "whine" coming from somewhere. I don't know if it is the transmission, or the diff or what. It is proportional to speed or RPM (I did not get a chance to really tell).

Thoughts?

Thanks guys!

Dave

[NuwanD]

That sound is the clutch release bearing, not sure where you are but it tends to happen with the colder weather, my car will do it slightly on the coldest days on cold startup.

I have friends with newer subarus and they are all getting this problem currently, on last count 6 ppl had the issue. It is only a sound issue, nothing will go wrong because of it.

hope that helps

[ort5]

NuwanD,

Thanks for the info. I tend to agree with you about the first noise. It is the second noise that has me more concerned. Any thoughts on this?

The car was cold (15 degrees F.) and has been sitting for a few weeks.

Dave

[petridish38]

Was your first one an Auto?

I believe that all of the manual trannies make a sort of whining sound that usually becomes unnoticeable from 3rd gear and up....i know mine does....

im not sure if that is the same sound that you are hearing....but its a possibility.

Andrew

[ort5]

Andrew,

Yes, the 94 wagon was an auto. I also had a 2002 WRX manual once and it did not make the same noise. To be truthful, I was unable to get above 2nd gear on the short test drive...no license plates.

Thanks,
Dave

[petridish38]

That could be it then.....i know that mine makes a whining noise relative to speed in 1st and 2nd, then over 3rd gear it either stops or i just can't hear it anymore.

As far as i know, all 90-94 legacy MTs do this....i know mine does, and i believe subyluvr's does...anyone else care to back me up?

[evolutionmovement]

The throw out bearing sounds gone. The whining I get in 1st, but not much at all in 2nd. It shouldn't be objectionably loud no matter what.

Steve

[ort5]

Wouldn't the throw out bearing only make noise when the clutch is pressed in though? As far as I know, it only spins when it is pressed against the clutch pressure plate.

Dave

[petridish38]

In my honest opinion, I think the first noise is just the internals of the transmission spinning in neutral. My car has made that noise since I bought it 50,000 miles ago (I have even replaced the throw-out bearing).

I could be wrong... but if I were you, I wouldn't worry much about that noise.

As for the second noise, it depends on what you see as "objectionably" loud.
I would like to think that the noise you hear is the same noise that occurs in all legacy MTs. Since you have no other sound to relate it to, you may find it "objectionably" loud when it is actually normal.

From a person who has never heard a Legacy MT before, you may find it "objectionably" loud, but i've gotten used to it and as far as I know, its normal.

So, if i'm talking about the same noise that you hear (which it could or could not be) I wouldn't worry about the second noise too much either.
From 3rd gear and up it should be dramatically quieter and you should barely be able to hear the whining.

Hope that helps

Andrew

[evolutionmovement]

They only sound in neutral with the clutch engaged. Don't know whyBut its happened to me and a couple other cars I know of.

Steve

[1990 Legacy L Owner]

My car does the same thing. I let out the clutch in neutral I get this same "whirring" sound. I depress the clutch and it goes away, my Dad said he thought it is the throw out bearing.

What the hell is a throw out bearing? How does it work? Would my fwd 90 L Wagon even have one?


TIA

[evolutionmovement]

If it has a manual transimission it does. They're usually replaced with the clutch, but seem not to last as long.

[Laura]

My car does the same thing. I let out the clutch in neutral I get this same "whirring" sound. I depress the clutch and it goes away, my Dad said he thought it is the throw out bearing.

What the hell is a throw out bearing? How does it work? Would my fwd 90 L Wagon even have one?


TIA

http://www.carcare.org/Manual_Transmiss ... ring.shtml