laush

Just wanted to inqiure about the whole knock sensor issue. I am having spark knock at 2 to 3000 rpm lugging the engine automatic 4th gear. I also have piston slap of course when the motor is cold and warm; so how is this bosch knock sensor supposed to work if the motor is producing piston slap to some degree all the time ?. I cannot understand exactly how it could determine the difference between some slap and pinging . I have used 91 octane and still get that pinging noise when the motor is lugging about town. To me a device such as this one should have never been put on this motor because it could - long term damage it; for no good reason - run lean from piston issues. Anyone agree? should I relocate mine ?

I have had the same odor around my 02 outback ( 04 engine ) turns out it is a head gasket on the pass. side. I had done the drvr side one about a year ago now I have noticed a considerable amount of oil around the one on the passenger side. I have also noticed that the odor is only there mostly when it is cold 5 degrees celsius and below . Must be expansion and contraction of the head?. Anyway I am just going to drive it till it dies - My car is on its second motor only 5 years old 80000 miles first motor was so loud the dealer had to change it to sell it ( major slap )

I have went through this lately with my 02 Outback. One dealer said it was the Cat and the other told me frt 02 sensor. I first bought the 02 sensor, and wasted 130.00. The code returned on my first drive on the freeway. The converter is still covered under warranty until 8 yrs 130000 km, so now Subaru is going to reluctantly pay for the converter.

I am going to take the wheels to check balance, then I will check the wheel bearings on the rear, the vibration seems to be central in the car, not more on one end than the other. If that fails I will have to remove all the heat shields to access the other U joints. One question remains though is their two weights on the rear drive shaft there seems to be a clean spot on the shaft close to the U joint at the rear dif. it looks as though at one time there was a weight there, maybe it fell off ? could this be the cause of my vibration ? I thought that maybe a way to test this would be to use a hose clamp on the shaft with some sort of weight where the spot is? any input would be much appreciated.

I seem to be getting a low pitch rumble like vibration in my 02 Outback. I had it aligned last week and the tires are only 6 months old. Any ideas ? its really annoying when you cannot exceed 105 kmh and it seems to get worse as you speed up past this. Car has only 110000 km. I checked the dif oil frt and bk. and the very rear u joint it was ok.

My local Subaru dealer here in New Brunswick never even mentioned a head gasket issue or warranty on them. Just out of interest I asked the driver of the courtesy car about head gaskets and he replied "you didnt hear this from me but the gaskets are a known issue with these cars". The service manager only told me their repairs are guaranteed for 1 yr 20000 km. I put that many miles on in 9 months. Keep in mind this is the same dealer that quoted me $300 to replaced frt O2 sensor. I will not be going back.

Does anyone know the difference between an Air fuel ratio sensor and an oxygen sensor ? I was under the impression that there are two O2 sensors in my exhaust one before cat other after(02 OBW 2.5). So where is this air fuel sensor? And one more question are there 5 speed auto trannys in any of the 2002-2004 Outbacks or are they all EA4T ?

Just got back from local NAPA they list a filter for EA4T trans. spin on for around $14.00 sure beats the stealership price of $38.00. The listing for me covered 2003 and up Outback but I can only assume they are all the same it is a NAPA gold filter looks like good quality. Tommorow I am going to drop the fluid in the pan, replace it, drive then drop again and change the filter.

My OBW was purchased used it was actually a lease return (4 yr). The dealer told me they had a good history on the car, but later I found that was not true. At 110000 km the motor had been replaced ( found that out on first visit to Subaru dealer ), none of the recalls had ever been done, etc... . I am pretty particular when it comes to maintenance, I am an industrial mechanic, and know the issues that arise with neglect. The car is great to look at, drives great but I have learned a valuable lesson in buying a used car. Luckily I insisted on a one year complete PT warranty and have already taken advantage of it and will continue to. But I personally would never recommend anyone buy a used Subaru without a good warranty - there are a lot of "neglected" cars out there and with some of the Subaru quality issues that makes it even more important. -Just my 2 cents.

My parents are leaving Florida on Tues, they are bringing me back an o2 sensor. The Bosch sensor for my car there is around $60.00 for the front. I have read that Bosch makes the OEM sensor for Subaru, not sure if it is true but for the difference in price ($220.00 CAN at Subaru) I think I will try one on it myself.

Does anyone know if in 2002 the oxygen sensor changed for the Outback ?. A dealer asked me for my VIN for a replacement but any listings I have looked at state that 99 and up are all the same. Its for the front before the Catalytic converter, I get a PO420 code and the dealer says that it is not the Cat (warranty), it is the sensor ($300.00!) installed. And also do some have 5 wires and some have 3 ?. The car is running fine just cannot stand the CEL on continuously.

The replacement motor had only 40000 km, it came from a wreck had original champion plugs and was dry when it was put in. Subaru did the supposed fix of adding the conditioner when I had the gasket done. It was one of four recalls that had not been done on the car. Others were parking pawl in trans., undercoating around rear axle, and something on the brakes. This motor still has piston slap and gasket issues. The problems are making very hard to want to keep this car although I love driving it. The car has only 110000 km and has had way too many issues, my parents 97 Camry has yet to have seen the dealer with 200000 kms. I guess I expected the same with my first Japanese Auto. Oh and yes this gasket and the other that was repaired both leaked externally.

I have a 2002 Outback 2.5 with a 2004 motor just installed last Nov.. Last week had drv. side HG done, and now I have noticed the passenger side leaking. Needless to say I am not impressed with Subaru and their history of this quality defect. Also the motor was replaced due to excessive piston slap - very noisy.