My 97 outback (160,000 kilometers) has a humming noise or like a feedback noise coming from the air cleaner element or around that area in engine bay, just wondering if that is normal

 

Thanks

My 97 Impreza was notorious for that. Everyone could tell it was me coming. I believe it's completely normal...just air moving

when driving, idling, all the time, does it ever change, does it ever go away, is it always present?

 

we can't see, hear, smell, or touch the the car so more info helps us.

 

i wouldn't say it's normal, but i can't hear it either. sounds like maybe just something is loose. check the air filter clips and other things for looseness.

 

often you can roam around with your hand and the "something" that's making the noise will change when you touch it or something related to it.

 

pay particular attention to anything that's been worked on in the past - changing of the air filter for instance.

i think mine did this once when the cover to the air filter wasn't closed right. it was leaking air.

Hmmmm, mine did it from the day I bought it to the day I sold it, and there was no air leak. It was even louder after I put an after market intake on it. It's just like a High toned HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

Some brands of air filters dont seal very well, or are of poor quality construction.

Some brands of air filters dont seal very well, or are of poor quality construction.

 

I agree with this but mine did it with the stock system as well and with both systems we tested for leaks.

Common complaint - search around here. Most say it's the IAC. I got one the other day and it seems further up front on the pass side - more like around the canister on a 97 OBW but I haven't really tracked it down yet.

 

Harmless - what's a little humm?

I have a '96 with the 2.5 dohc and the same sound. I have only had the car for about 3 months so not alot of time to search it out yet. When I was working at the subaru shop we had this same issue now and then and it was never the reason for the repair requested so we just left it alone. I know it is part of the reason for all the extra silencer piping and chambers on the intake supply tubing. I have also read something about ribs in the intake being part of the cause. I still plan on taking time to figure mine out. I have a low cat efficiency code to deal with right now. Maybe partialy plugged cat is causing extra pack pressure and noise in the intake. We will see. Hope you enjoyed the novel.