View Full Version : vibration at idle
brianwi11iams
11-18-2007, 05:42 PM
I've noticed sometimes that my 95 Legacy wagon vibrates when I come to a stop in drive. It goes away if I shift to neutral, or when I drive away and the RPMs rise (it's an automatic, by the way). I had a shop check this out thinking it could be plugs/wires, and they basically said that's the nature of Subaru boxer engines. Any ideas?
jmgtp
11-18-2007, 07:26 PM
Sounds like it is idling a bit too low when it has the drag of the torque converter when you are in drive. The idle speed is controlled by the computer but the idle air controller could have some carbon gunked up. You can pull it off and use a bit of carburetor cleaner to clean it up and spray some into the manifold where the IAC goes.
You could also run some top end cleaner, I like the GM stuff, through a vacuum line on the manifold to clean things up a bit.
It could still be plugs, wires or a dozen other things too...
Sarra
11-18-2007, 10:47 PM
Engine/trans mounts? Tranny mounts will make it vibrate in an irritating way when stopped in D.
brianwi11iams
11-19-2007, 02:21 AM
I'll be replacing the plugs and wires soon here, so if that does not help I'll have to investigate the motor/trans mounts. Hopefully that doesn't cost a fortune to place...
Reason
11-19-2007, 03:26 AM
Run some Seafoam in the gas tank and the vacuum lines. That may clear it up if it is carbon build up.
MCarp22
11-19-2007, 06:53 AM
I've done the seafoam, plugs, wires, coilpack, professional injector cleaning, took the throttle body off and cleaned it, etc. None of that really helped even.
Since all that stuff failed, I just had my trans mounts replaced. It didn't fix it 100% so i'm looking into replacing the pitch stop and the engine mounts too. I would say that it's about 50% better though. You can feel a solidness in the drivetrain that wasn't there before, and the vibration is a lot less noticable.
Hopefully that doesn't cost a fortune to place...
They're easy enough for a mechanic to change that it probably wouldn't cost more than $250 parts and labor I would think. The mounts were $60ish x2 from the subaru dealer.
Reason
11-19-2007, 08:22 AM
That's to say if he has the same exact problem as you had. You want to do process of elimination, starting with the cheapest things to fix or replace.
MCarp22
11-19-2007, 10:45 AM
That's to say if he has the same exact problem as you had.
I'd expect that he has the same problem based on the symptoms and such.
brianwi11iams
11-19-2007, 03:15 PM
OK, so I had it looked at today and was told that the plugs and wires look good, and they cleaned the throttle body and injectors, and replaced the fuel filter. No effect. I guess it's time to look at the mounts.
Reason
11-19-2007, 03:23 PM
If you want pitch mounts I sell Group A pitch mounts, PM me if interested.
PhoenixDownVII
12-07-2007, 06:27 PM
Did you ever get this resolved? What was it?
Mine's doing the same thing and it's annoying. I shoulda stuck with Honda :roll:
Sarra
12-07-2007, 10:34 PM
Did you ever get this resolved? What was it?
Mine's doing the same thing and it's annoying. I shoulda stuck with Honda :roll:
What's keeping you from selling a car you don't like and getting one you do?
Reason
12-07-2007, 11:01 PM
Did you ever get this resolved? What was it?
Mine's doing the same thing and it's annoying. I shoulda stuck with Honda :roll:
I said the opposite thing when I got an Accord. "Wish my Subaru wasn't smashed up". Some times you get lucky with a car and theres no problems.
PhoenixDownVII
12-08-2007, 01:17 AM
What's keeping you from selling a car you don't like and getting one you do?
Hmm. The Subaru is AWD and is a wagon....quite different than FWD and a hatchback (2 doors).
I'm buying a miata next year, so my second vehicle doesn't need to be a small coupe :grin:
Sarra
12-08-2007, 04:16 AM
What's keeping you from selling a car you don't like and getting one you do?
Hmm. The Subaru is AWD and is a wagon....quite different than FWD and a hatchback (2 doors).
I'm buying a miata next year, so my second vehicle doesn't need to be a small coupe :grin:
Depends what you need, then. I got a wagon because I needed it. Ironically, after i got it, I didn't need a wagon anymore. :lol: I prefer wagon over sedan anyway.
Speaking of selling a car you don't want and getting one you do, I'm seriously considering selling my Legacy andg etting a WRX Wagon. But, the WRX wouldn't be a necessity, and I really can't afford it. :p To me, it sounds more like you can afford something else, but it's not necessary. It's up to you... And you can always get the vibration to stop, but it takes money.
PhoenixDownVII
12-08-2007, 10:35 AM
Oh yea it's fine man, I didn't mean to sound like a jerk about it.
But yea me and the wife are both going to have small cars (Miata for me, Civic sedan for her) so we wanted a third car to use in heavy snow if need be, carry a bunch o' crap when need be, and just be an alternative ride if one of our other cars fails. my parents always had a really cheap extra car and it always saved the day (Toyota Tercel! Woot! Now its an escort wagon lol).
I just think this issue discussed really sucks because it's always noticable and just doesn't feel right and should be a recall if it happens to all 4EATs by 60k miles or so!
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