legacycentral bbs

91 Legacy L, auto, 2.2

Its developed an off and on problem with squeaking somewhere at the bottom of the engine. The squeak is much like the squeak from a bad power steering pump when the bearings start to go bad. It is in revolution with the engine. Only happens at idle or stopped in drive. Of course, every time I have the time to explore under the car, it doesnt want to make the noise. I did catch it today, opened the hood and its definately not coming from the front of the engine where the pulleys are, unless theres a wierd reflection of sound. As far as I could tell, its coming from where the axles go into the tranny. Is there a bearing type mechanical thing that would be in revolution to the engine that could be making this noise in the vacinity of the tranny?

You're positive that the squeaking isn't coming from one of your idler pulleys or maybe the water pump?

Could be something in the bellhousing making contact w/ the flexplate. Easy way to check.

It definately sounds like a water pump going bad, but it just doesnt sound like where its coming from. I suppose it could be sound reflecting.

"Could be something in the bellhousing making contact w/ the flexplate. Easy way to check.. "

Without taking the tranny out?

There is an inspection cover on the bottom. I think only four 10mm bolts hold it on.

I had time to inspect it further, definately not water pump or pulleys. The noise is directly above the control arm (the bar that connects the two front tires) and is coming from the flywheel. Is it bad to physically see the flywheel? I thought that supposed to be covered....
Could this squeaking or more like chirping have anything to do with the torque converter?
I read somewhere my exact symptoms but it was the thro out bearing on a clutch, since I have an auto.... ??

Just got back from the garage, I was lucky enough to get in. According to the mechanic, its the harmonic balancer thats off kilter making the flywheel chirp.
Opinions?

Maybe I'm ill-informed, but I've always been under the impression that Subarus don't have harmonic balancers due to the fact that the crank shaft is so short.

never heard that either. but check this out. when i first bought my car i had a very similar sound.

look at the flywheel housing from the top. there should be a little black rubber dust cover over a hole in the housing. mine was old and hard and fell down there to make the noise.

you should be able to see the flywheel from under the car.

good luck

Maybe its not called a harmonic balancer, but it is the pulley to the bottom of the alternator at the center of the engine. It does wobble at idle and straightens out at higher rpms..

Ah. Sounds like you might have some crank walk or the bolt that holds the crank pulley on just isn't tightened down enough. Check the torque on the bolt first.

heathcom wrote:Maybe its not called a harmonic balancer, but it is the pulley to the bottom of the alternator at the center of the engine. It does wobble at idle and straightens out at higher rpms..

It's bassically a harmonic balancer. Another thing to check on the pulley is take the belts off and see if the outer ring spins freely of the whole pully. The rubber prolly already gave way, which happened to my pulley and squeek all the time.

I took the belt off to check on the pulley and it is on there tight. Nothing I can wiggle or spin by hand or even a socket. However, after I put the belt back on and patched a hole in the exhaust which was near the cat where the two pipes join, the noise has ceased to exist. Just one of those things......

Exhaust heat shield, maybe?

Could have been, I did strap a loose one down, but man, that noise was coming directly under that fly wheel. Maybe the belt was too tight or too loose? I wont question it, glad the noise is gone (knock on wood)