TROGDOR! Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Hey guys, I'm looking at a 92 Loyale wagon for cheap- the only problem I could find was that it has a hum/whine that appears off and on once the car is moving. It sounds like it's coming from the front/middle of the car. The hum is accompanied by a vibration. It only makes noise when the car is in gear with my foot on the gas. The car is a 3 speed 4WD AT with 2 new front axles. The trans seems fine, it's the sharpest shifting 3AT I've ever seen. No slippage while shifting and no hesitation when starting from a stop. There doesn't seem to be any drivability issues coming with this. The only other thing out of the ordinary is that the Check Engine light is on. The car runs smooth and straight, no drift, shudder, or shimmy. I'm thinking this may be front wheel bearings. What do you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHATBRAT Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Drinking and driving is illegal "Whine while Driving" Get it?? OK, I will go away now...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 The only whining I hear when driving is usually from my wife because I am going too fast Usually front wheel bearings will make a noise when pointed in a specific direction.. the noise will cease when the wheels are turned the other direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHATBRAT Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Are you saying it doesn't do it in park or neutral when your foot is on the gas? What about if you are driving and put it in Neutral to coast, Does it still whine? Is it more of a whine or a hum? Do you have anything on when it does it (A/C etc...) Maybe bearings inside a pulley or something. Squeeling belt? If it only does it while the car is moving then I would look near the wheels. If it will do it when the car is not moving look at the engine. Let us know and we will go from there.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted October 3, 2003 Author Share Posted October 3, 2003 It only does it when the car is moving. With the trans in neutral the noise stops. Regardless of how I rev the engine, there's no noise unless the car is in gear and moving. There also was no change in sound when I turn the wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 sounds like it might be in the tranny. Its either inside the tranny itself or it might be the front diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted October 3, 2003 Author Share Posted October 3, 2003 Could this really be the tranny or diff? I mean, the thing seems to have the best running 3AT I've ever driven. It's amazing how crisp it shifts- feels just like new. I would think if the tranny was going I'd notice some problems along with the noise? By the way, this only happens when I hit the gas. It goes on when I hit the gas and off when I let off, regular as clockwork. Also the intensity of the noise increases with speed, not RPM. If I push it hard it makes no change in sound. The owner says he has driven it like this for about 10,000 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHATBRAT Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Sounds to me like it's definately in the tranny. Try a flush/fill. If not, start saving money for when it craps out on ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asavage Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 I've a '93 Loyale Wgn, 3AT and 4WD, and its front diff whines pretty loudly, but no extra vibs. Accel whine only, quiet on coast and decel. Also, the oil in the diff was the darkest I've ever seen in a Subaru, remarkably so. I've changed it twice in 1000 miles, and it looks good now. I assume that sometime in the future I'll have to replace the front diff., but it's only noise for now. [later] Oh, and I did the AT flush the day I bought it, ran 14 quarts through it, though the oil looked pretty decent. Had a devil of a time getting the correct pan gasket, took me three days -- the ATP pan chart has an incorrect aspect ratio shown for our ATs. Check the code(s)! I know, you have to pull the six or eight screws to get to the O2 sensor monitor LED, but that's the only way you're gonna know if it's a bad Purge Control Solenoid (relatively cheap), and O2 sensor fault (a little more money), or a MAF or TPS fault (a lot more money). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted October 5, 2003 Author Share Posted October 5, 2003 Well... so I bought the car today. I checked the trans and diff fluids and found that the two have not mixed, that's a good sign for the carrier bearing. The trans fluid looked like red wine... delicious, succulent red wine.... but I digress... The front differential on the other hand- the "oil" in it had the consistency of axle grease. It was like a paste. I dumped a pint of good oil in it to help it home- and the whine quieted down a little bit. Sometimes it was almost gone. I think I may have found my problem. Tomorrow I plan to power flush the diff and replace the oil. Then we shall see what happens... By the way, an update on the description of the noise- it's worst at partial throttle now, right when the tq converter engages. The harder I push the gas, the quieter it gets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asavage Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 I misstated my noise in the '93: it's on both accel and decel. For some reason, I didn't remember it that way. Sounds like you're gonna need a diff replacement, if the lube looks that bad. Mine's staying pretty clean after two flushes in 1k miles, but I don't know if I'd take it on a long trip just yet -- it's got to prove itself first. 2.6 pints = a bit over 1.25 quarts. I poured about a gallon of gasoline through mine with the drain plug out, before refilling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beauregaardhooligan Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Check the U-joints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.