Saab 9-2x 2.5 auto (Impreza Sport Wagon)
I hear a whine from under the car once I am on the accelerator and over about 40 mph. A couple people have speculated it's the diff. I can't tell if front or rear. I'm taking it somewhere tomorrow to get it checked out. If they determine that there's a problem they don't work on them and recommend replacement with used.
Question - from the driver's side output shaft it leaked out about a pint of fluid. Would that have been diff fluid or trans? And if it's the diff then how do I check the level? I checked the fluid from the yellow-topped dip stick on the pass side and it was fine.
Some history: I had planned to get rid of the 9-2x, even offering it up here for free but my BIL reminded me that he'd asked for it and was going to take it but then backed out from that. By the time his backing out was official I had watched the Top Gear Africa episode and decided to keep the car. This summer I started getting into it again after it had been sitting for 18 months, so I don't know if the fluid leak had anything to do with the sound.
ALSO, if they're going to replace it, any reason or benefit to/to not swap in an LSD from an automatic with the same 4.111 ratio instead? And would it matter if front or rear?
If it is an automatic then it has a separate diff fluid dipstick on the other side from the ATF dipstick. Pretty sure manual trans are shared fluid, but it has been an extremely long time since I have seen a manual trans Subaru.
I am not sure what your second question is exactly? Sitting here ready to finish the final leg of a trip home, brain no work good. Rear diffs are rear diffs (99% are the same R160s they have used since forever) but IIRC Subaru has never put a limited slip diff in the front, at least not in North America. Probably some super rare low production GC in the home market had one. Either way front diffs are very much not interchangeable auto vs manual, completely different layout.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Thanks, yeah I guess then the question becomes if it matters if <<on the off-chance that I'll be replacing the rear diff>> I put LSD in there instead.
And man the whining was terrible over 50. It's there it under accel or not but very loud when accelerating
EDIT: also, would leaking from the output shaft seal have been xmission or diff fluid?
Not wheel bearings? Subies seem to eat those. Mine went around 85k. But not a crazy expensive fix.
GTwannaB said:
Not wheel bearings? Subies seem to eat those. Mine went around 85k. But not a crazy expensive fix.
You're prescient. The shop said "there may be differential noise but I can't hear it over the sound of the FR wheel bearing going bad" *face palm*
So the diff noise remains to be seen. It's eclipsed by the wheel and the rally is in just over 2 weeks
Well, new bearings are in and there is still a noticeable whine. Definitely coming from the rear diff and fluid was just replaced. It's not awful but it's there. We'll see how long I get out of it!
Since I am not a mechanic and have wasted hundreds of dollars in the past chasing ghosts, could someone knowledgeable confirm or deny my suspicions?
Recap: On hard accel I don't hear a whining from the rear. Once I get to about 50 mph it will make noise under light load but not really much when coasting. Mechanic who doesn't work on them confirmed with stethoscope that sound was coming from rear differential. Fluid has been changed but no change in sound-- well, it's gradually gotten worse, so there's that.
From the symptoms does it make sense to everyone else that it's the diff? And is that something that can be fixed or just replaced? I appreciate everyone's patience with me going over this again. I can't really afford the time or to spend my wife's patience with this car if it's a misdiagnosis.
I can't help specifically.
but it seems like the stethoscope diagnosis would be pretty reliable. The only other thing I could think of would be a driveshaft bearing but I'm sure if the subie even has that.
a good used diff might be the move. Seems pretty safe in terms of solving the problem in one swoop.
Okay so I have a rally to do next month and the diff is scary now.
Any other things I need to know about if it's okay to swap in a 4.11 from an Aero/WRX into this Linear non-turbo auto?
is there anything besides a rear differential that would begin to make a faint whine at 35 miles an hour that disappears when you get off the gas? And get gradually noisier the faster you go, under acceleration?
Let's just pretend for a moment that I cannot tell where it is coming from, would someone please wildly speculate something – – anything -- that would make this sound?? I've put two used diffs in it and while they don't sound the same -- and therefore they might both be bad but one might be worse than the other -- they both do that whining, too. And one has only like 60 or 80k on it.
The sound with the diff I have in there now (assuming that's the culprit!) is really inconsistent; sometimes it will make the sound, sometimes it's harder to hear, and at least one time under hard acceleration the sound could not be heard at all.
I'd also take advice on troubleshooting. I'm about to be out money for the return of one since the return period is ending.
In reply to P3PPY :
Well yes, P3PPY, there is something else that would sound like it! The driveshaft carrier bearing might go bad and ALSO make crazy noises!
I'm so glad I got a second opinion. I might be able to get at least $140 back from the 4th differential. Now I just gotta figure out how bad off this one is - like can I drive it an hour away to the event this weekend, for instance. And also gotta figure out how to replace it.
Amazon doesn't have one, RockAuto has no idea, no auto parts store carries it, but they do list the item details WITH WHICH I was able to find the part on Amazon after all, just not tied to any particular car. $80 and here's hoping.
Dammit, I was going to suggest looking at the center bearing, but your description of when it happened put me off.
spandak said:
I can't help specifically.
but it seems like the stethoscope diagnosis would be pretty reliable. The only other thing I could think of would be a driveshaft bearing but I'm sure if the subie even has that.
a good used diff might be the move. Seems pretty safe in terms of solving the problem in one swoop.
Well, Streetwiseguy, if it makes you feel any better, back in MARCH Spandak said just that very thing and did I pay any attention? No, I did not pay any attention. Seeing it just now I am feeling a bit weepy.
