legacycentral bbs

ok - it happens everytime when accelerating from a dead stop. (and even more more so - if i have to accelerate quickly)
it is certainly underneath the car (i can somewhat feel it - about center on the chassis - direclty below the dash area.)

it will go away when at cruising speed.

its a rattling feel. almost like something is loose.

is this a looming, costly problem??

Thanks in advance,

Maurice
'90 Legacy LS Wagon

Probably a heat shield covering the exhaust. I discussed it a while ago. The problem that I had was that I couldn't tighten the bolt that was loose because it was extremely rusted. I still have to figure something out because when I tried to tighten it, the shield broke with the bolt still rusted in it. It was pretty easy to track down the problem though, I just poked around at the heat shield and sure enough there was one piece that was loose. Good luck!

-Brian

Thanks, Brian.

I searched the posts from your thread when it was discussed and after reading thru them - i'm not sure that's the problem. (although - I hope it is!)
Are there exhaust heat shields toward the front of the car?? This noise seems to be located under the front center of the car - but definitely occuring on the underside of the chassis.

It hard to describe the sound - kind of like a gargle/knock. - and only gets loud during good acceleration.

I thought the heat shields were pretty much located from the mid-section towards the rear --but i could be very wrong.

I hope to get under the car this weekend - but had your similar problem - tyhe car won't be moving - so i'll have to poke around and look for some loose items.

Maurice
'90 Legacy LS Wagon

It's probably a heat shield. Mine had a very bad rattle, horid noise. Couldn't tighten or loosen.....ended up taking a torch and cutting it off.

I've got another one that needs to come off too......I may ask the exhaust shop to cut it off when i get my muffler.

The shields run pretty much the length of the exhaust from front to rear until you hit the axle piece.

It hard to describe the sound - kind of like a gargle/knock. - and only gets loud during good acceleration

A gargle/knock??? I don't think that's a heat shield. A loose heat shield would sound like a tin can. A *clank* or a rattle. It would sound high pitched... like loose sheet metal. That's what mine sounds like anyway.

A gargle/knock seems to indicate a drive train problem (just my 2 cents). Especially considering that it happens during acceleration. Any thoughts people?

Sam, that's exaclty right - and what i'm fearful of. thx.
what are the usual drive train problems??

Maurice
'90 Legacy LS Wagon

Does it happen much more when you're starting from a stop with the wheels turned sharply? Maybe it's the CV joints?

nope, it happens whether the wheels are turned sharply, or not.

does anyone here know of a good Subaru mechanic in the DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland area??

thanks.

Maurice
'90 Legacy LS Wagon

When I'm not at school I live in McLean, VA... We used to take our cars to the Car Store in Arlington, back when Jimmy ran it (he specialized in Saabs and Mercedeses and other "exotic" cars but he did good work on my Legacy Turbo too), but then he moved out to Woodbridge and the new management is unproven as far I'm concerned. We've been taking our '97 GT (which is still for sale) to Merchant's on Lee Highway in Falls Church/Arlington. The guy I talk to there is named Johnny, I think, and he seems to know his stuff.

My girlfriend's dad has always taken his cars to Perfection Auto in Dulles (or maybe it's technically Reston). I've never been there myself but I do know that his cars last forever until they rust apart.

vrg3,
that's funny - Merchants on Lee Hgwy is the only mechanic i've ever taken the car to. Never knew to ask for Johnny, though. thanks.

I have an appt. w/ them for this Sat. morning.
I just ordered 2 new front tires from Tirerack.com (Yokohama Aegis LS4)
so am going to have Merchants put them on - as well as an oil change, and new brake pads.

then have them take a look underneath and see if they can solve the noise problem.