Hi all. I heard a loud gunshot like BANG from the front of the '94 Legacy on the drive home today. It was crusing ~60mph when it happened. It sounded like a misfire possibly and it was LOUD. It only did it that once; never heard it before. Didn't notice any smoke or anything afterward, no dash lights....not sure, looked under hood didn't see anything strange, no blown cv joints or anything like that. What do you think it might've been?

coil pack, test it.

Hm...okay good point! I'll give 'er a looksee this weekend. It is snowy and wet here right now. It does have new ngk v-powers and new oem wires. Coil pack condition = unknown! Thanks!

Did you hit anything?

 

Backfires are kind of rare these days, but can kill a catalytic converter.

 

When was the last time you had a tuneup?

 

 

nipper

Hi nipper. I don't think I hit anything, but it is possible. There was some snow and ice on the road. But this was loud, like explosion backfire loud; it didn't seem so much like hitting something though that is possible. I was ready to pull off to the side of the road when it happened but nothing seemed amiss afterward.

 

The tune-up was this summer maybe 1000 miles ago (I don't drive the '94 a ton), with new ngk v-power, new oem spark plug wires, coolant change, engine oil and filter change, ATF change, front and rear diff oil change, etc.

Fast forward nearly two years and I think I finally know what the bang sound was. On safety inspection a couple days ago the tech mentioned the front right coil spring was broken about an inch from the top. So I am thinking that loud bang I heard was when it snapped. I know from the [thread=62153]sway bar snap on the '00obw[/thread] that when metal fractures it makes that loud gunshot sound haha

 

Off topic but this thing also had bad battery leak at some point, and the chap put the battery in the cargo area. The acid is really starting to eat the cargo carpeting apart. Also it leaked all over the transmission cooler lines and when I started it up the other day I heard gurgle gurgle gurgle and saw a bunch of red stuff pouing on the floor. Doat!

Fast forward nearly two years and I think I finally know what the bang sound was. On safety inspection a couple days ago the tech mentioned the front right coil spring was broken about an inch from the top. So I am thinking that loud bang I heard was when it snapped. I know from the [thread=62153]sway bar snap on the '00obw[/thread] that when metal fractures it makes that loud gunshot sound haha

 

Off topic but this thing also had bad battery leak at some point, and the chap put the battery in the cargo area. The acid is really starting to eat the cargo carpeting apart. Also it leaked all over the transmission cooler lines and when I started it up the other day I heard gurgle gurgle gurgle and saw a bunch of red stuff pouing on the floor. Doat!

 

Yeah, that'd be pretty loud!

 

 

I'd scrub the entire affected area with baking soda and water to neutralize the acid.

 

 

 

Dave

Yah that's a good idea. I'll take the cargo carpet out and wash it down with a baking soda water solution. The previous owner just put one of those plastic carpet protectors over it. I noticed the carpeting underneath it is in much worse condition than it was two years ago.

 

I washed down the battery area with the baking soda solution already. It must've taken a good three gallons until it stopped fizzing and it was fizzing pretty good for a while. I used those flip top water bottles so I could stand back a ways. Then I got some transmission cooler hose at napa to replace those corroded metal line sections.

 

I haven't driven this soob in a while. When I got to work today a co-worker asked if it was me who passed him in 'that rust bucket Legacy'. Rust bucket what!?!

Yah that's a good idea. I'll take the cargo carpet out and wash it down with a baking soda water solution. The previous owner just put one of those plastic carpet protectors over it. I noticed the carpeting underneath it is in much worse condition than it was two years ago.

 

I washed down the battery area with the baking soda solution already. It must've taken a good three gallons until it stopped fizzing and it was fizzing pretty good for a while. I used those flip top water bottles so I could stand back a ways. Then I got some transmission cooler hose at napa to replace those corroded metal line sections.

 

I haven't driven this soob in a while. When I got to work today a co-worker asked if it was me who passed him in 'that rust bucket Legacy'. Rust bucket what!?!

 

Don't forget to wash down the area under the carpet too.

 

It's amazing what a little acid can do.

 

Not as bad as mercury on an airplane, though!

 

 

Dave

that's bizarre, it didn't show up until years later? i had a coil spring snap in my legacy earlier this year (well the wife was driving at the time) and it made lots of really nice noises to let me know about it afterwards.

that's bizarre, it didn't show up until years later? i had a coil spring snap in my legacy earlier this year (well the wife was driving at the time) and it made lots of really nice noises to let me know about it afterwards.

 

all depends on where exactly the break is - had an 89 Taurus that both rear coils had broken on near the top, never made noises, didnt even sag much - didnt know they were broken until we went to replace the shocks/struts...

 

rears are probably less prone to make nasty noises than fronts since the fronts need to turn with the wheel...but anything is possible i 'spose, since his was a front...

The break is right near the top of the spring, so it isn't losing much ride height. Maybe like 1/2". I'm sure if the spring broke more in the middle or down further I"d probably have noticed it sagging. They said it is supposed to fail the inspection with a broken coil spring but since it is way up at the top and can't cause a tire puncture and that I should get it taken care of they let it pass. Maybe santa will bring me some suspension parts for Christmas?

 

It's also got an intermittent shudder I am noticing above about 65 mph on the highway, it feels like it's under the seats so I am thinking maybe driveshaft joints or something.

 

Mercury on an airplane? Is that going to be a Christmas movie staring Samuel L Jackson?

 

I had a Ford Escort in high school that had broken springs in the front right near the top, but you couldn't see it because it had this tough plastic coating over them in that area. I didn't know they were broken until I was replacing the struts and the pieces fell out. Whoops! Then the apartment manager lady was yelling at me for working on my car in the parking lot.

Edited December 1, 200916 yr by porcupine73

This isn't an unknown problem, and if the break is in the ''wrong'' place a punctured tire is certainly a possibility. The following is from a 2001 list of NHTSA recalls. It wasn't just MY 95 that was affected, which is why the manufacturing dates shown are from Jan '94 - Jan '98, and some MY 99 also had the problem.

 

Subaru of America, Inc.

Models: Subaru Legacy Year: 1995

Number Involved: 180,000

Dates of Manufacture: January 1994 - January 1998

Defect: On certain Legacy passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and in the District of Columbia, the front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive salt, can result in breakage of the spring. Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.

Remedy: Dealers will install a spring guard on both front struts that will retain a broken spring, preventing its puncturing a tire. Any broken springs will also be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during July 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Subaru at 1-856-488-8644.[NHTSA Recall No. 01V216]

How do recalls work, would they fix my broken strut spring for free right now or is that only for original owners and within a certain time frame? I'll take mine in and let them fix it?

Oh sweet I forgot about that recall. My '96 had those funky spring guards on it. The build date on my '94 was 01/94 and it was originally sold in CT. That kind of recall it would seem should apply to any owner without time limits since it is safety related?

Edited December 1, 200916 yr by porcupine73

How do recalls work, would they fix my broken strut spring for free right now or is that only for original owners and within a certain time frame? I'll take mine in and let them fix it?

I couldn't say for certain. Recalls don't typically ''expire'', and usually second (third, ...) owners can take advantage of repairs. However, convincing Subaru that there was an original paint defect that led to the failure (rather than fatigue after a zillion miles ) might be a challenge.

However, convincing Subaru that there was an original paint defect that led to the failure (rather than fatigue after a zillion miles ) might be a challenge.

Oh right, good point. They'll see my EJ18 FWD Lsi and be like Then they'll see the current two tone due to a deer collision..or even after I paint I'm changing colors, so yeah I don't think I have a chance. Definitely not worth my time since I already have it replaced. I was thinking, hey if they replace the spring then awesome.