bbenton8

thanks to both of you. Please pass on any pointers as to what/how exactly I should check these items. Can I get the car up and check by grabbing the drive shaft & other parts and pulling/pushing to see if there is play? If it is a U joint or carrier or inner tie rod, anything special to know about replacing it/them?

A week ago my 2000 Forester (~226k miles) started shaking/vibrating off and on when up to about 50-55 mph & more pronounced at 60-65; just like an out of balance wheel. I have 2 sets of tires (mounted), summer & winter, so put my winter set back on yesterday and a fairly long test drive went smoothly. But a drive later yesterday had the same vibrations again, so I knew it wasn't the tires. I do not hear anything like metal grinding, and the vibrations come and go- sometimes they are very pronounced for a few moments then subside, and generally under 50 or 45 there is little to no hint of vibration. It's hard to pin down where the vibrations are coming from but I kinda want to say toward the rear; there is no steering wheel shaking at all. Any ideas? Many thanks. I can do most work on the car myself (did the head gaskets a couple months ago) unless specialized large tools are required.

Yep! took a look & found the solenoid connection, without the electrical plug. Fished the plug up & connected. Not really any problem at all. Took a several mile drive, disconnected battery ground for a little while, when I started it up the check engine light was blessedly dark. Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have a look this afternoon after work. Sounds like I'd have been much better off catching this (if it is disconnected) while I was re-installing the intake manifold.

Last weekend I got my 2000 Forester (non-turbo) engine back together after replacing the head gaskets (I did the work myself). It runs great, but the check engine light came on right away, and I just had my mechanic put his code reader on it- shows Evap Purge Solenoid Circuit Open. I'm pretty sure I solidly reconnected everything on the intake manifold, but maybe I missed something else. Ideas anyone? Thanks! (ps- I found this site: http://www.obd-codes.com/p0443, still not 100% sure what I should look for, and where exactly is the purge solenoid in the engine compartment?)