2001 Legacy 2.5 - A couple of issues??
Discussion
Hi, I have just purchased a 2001 Subaru Legacy - Actually it's a Subaru Liberty Wagon (Currently living in Australia).
Its a 2.5litre N/A with 4wd.... I guess they all have 4wd?
Anyway, i have recently changed my job/morning routine and using my old Mercedes S-Class as a family hack wasn't really what i had intended it for. Over here in South Australia the Liberty/Legacy is a much more common sight than it is in the UK and i found myself being drawn to them as a family car. I wanted a 'Heritage' spec car with twin sunroofs and leather etc. But in the end i found a white 2.5 RX with a nice enough spec and i have been enjoying it for the last few days... I will post some pictures tomorrow when i have had a chance to give it a really good clean.
It does seem to have a couple of issues though....
Most notable is the fact that when i lightly apply the brakes, i get a notable steering wheel wobble. once the peddle is pressed a little further it stops and the car brakes/stops with no problems - is this likely to be just warped discs?
The other thing, is that i drove the car this morning and it had been a clear/cold night (its winter here) and when i dropped my daughter off at school (about 2km away) i could really smell fuel, i opened the engine and there was a strong smell of petrol - Someone i work with told me that there is a fuel hose that shrinks and leaks fuel when the car is cold - Anyone ever heard of this being the case? I will admit that i had not smelt the fuel before this cold morning.
The other thing, is that the car feels like it has a flat spot at 2500rpm (100kph) when im going up a long uphill section of motorway... It almost feels like the autobox is about to drop down a gear and then decides not to. The car seems to drive fine in all other conditions and had a rock solid idle. I thought perhaps it was just the nature of the engine, and its very subtle BUT tonight as i was concentrating on inducing this flat spot, the check engine light came on (for about 3 seconds) and then went off again.... this is the only time this has happened.
I'm new to the 'flat 4' and any idiosyncrasies it may have, but a little worries that i may have purchased a car with some big issues??
Its a 2.5litre N/A with 4wd.... I guess they all have 4wd?
Anyway, i have recently changed my job/morning routine and using my old Mercedes S-Class as a family hack wasn't really what i had intended it for. Over here in South Australia the Liberty/Legacy is a much more common sight than it is in the UK and i found myself being drawn to them as a family car. I wanted a 'Heritage' spec car with twin sunroofs and leather etc. But in the end i found a white 2.5 RX with a nice enough spec and i have been enjoying it for the last few days... I will post some pictures tomorrow when i have had a chance to give it a really good clean.
It does seem to have a couple of issues though....
Most notable is the fact that when i lightly apply the brakes, i get a notable steering wheel wobble. once the peddle is pressed a little further it stops and the car brakes/stops with no problems - is this likely to be just warped discs?
The other thing, is that i drove the car this morning and it had been a clear/cold night (its winter here) and when i dropped my daughter off at school (about 2km away) i could really smell fuel, i opened the engine and there was a strong smell of petrol - Someone i work with told me that there is a fuel hose that shrinks and leaks fuel when the car is cold - Anyone ever heard of this being the case? I will admit that i had not smelt the fuel before this cold morning.
The other thing, is that the car feels like it has a flat spot at 2500rpm (100kph) when im going up a long uphill section of motorway... It almost feels like the autobox is about to drop down a gear and then decides not to. The car seems to drive fine in all other conditions and had a rock solid idle. I thought perhaps it was just the nature of the engine, and its very subtle BUT tonight as i was concentrating on inducing this flat spot, the check engine light came on (for about 3 seconds) and then went off again.... this is the only time this has happened.
I'm new to the 'flat 4' and any idiosyncrasies it may have, but a little worries that i may have purchased a car with some big issues??
Edited by richard300 on Thursday 23 July 14:50
I've had a couple of 2.5 Libs here in NSW, including a Gen3 RX like yours, and still have a 2.5 Forester. Never had that fuel smell problem though, and never heard of it being a shrinking pipe! Are there any signs of any leaks either under the bonnet or the car?
Can't help you with the gearbox either - mine were all manuals. Worth getting the brakes looked at too. I don't think you're in for any specific Subaru reaming for those issues from a decent mechanic - none of them sound specific to the Liberty.
They are like s
t in a field over here, and most mechanics would have seen a fair few. The only thing to watch for is regular servicing using good oil, decent tyres rotated at each service, and cost of spares. Otherwise, generally up there for reliability in my experience.
Can't help you with the gearbox either - mine were all manuals. Worth getting the brakes looked at too. I don't think you're in for any specific Subaru reaming for those issues from a decent mechanic - none of them sound specific to the Liberty.
They are like s
t in a field over here, and most mechanics would have seen a fair few. The only thing to watch for is regular servicing using good oil, decent tyres rotated at each service, and cost of spares. Otherwise, generally up there for reliability in my experience.The brake thing just sounds like warped discs, I had the same thing with my Legacy. There was enough meat on my discs to skim them and that fixed the issue, but if they're getting worn you might be better off just replacing the discs.
Don't know about the fuel smell, not one I've come across before.
Don't know about the fuel smell, not one I've come across before.
Thanks for the comprehensive replies.
Today I used the car as I needed to do some work at the office. Firstly it did not start the first time, it did start the second time and drove fine until I got to the steep(ish) incline on the expressway, where I could feel it hesitating, again at exactly 2500rpm at 100kph check engine light came on and went off again. Then I parked the car to grab some food and when I returned the car started fine, but the check engine light came on and went off again, a few moments later I could feel the car hesitating (its really hard to hear for misfires with this engine) on some slow speed back roads.... Crazy thing is, there is a Subaru specialist just around the corner from my work, but I couldn't get it booked in, so now I have to drive the 25km home still not knowing what's up.
Done a little digging around the internet today and found a couple of articles relating to the fuel smell (which I didn'tt have today)
http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2011/01/fuel-sme...
https://allwheeldriveauto.com/subaru-fuel-smell-a-...
Anyway, I gave the car a good valet yesterday, and took some pics:
Today I used the car as I needed to do some work at the office. Firstly it did not start the first time, it did start the second time and drove fine until I got to the steep(ish) incline on the expressway, where I could feel it hesitating, again at exactly 2500rpm at 100kph check engine light came on and went off again. Then I parked the car to grab some food and when I returned the car started fine, but the check engine light came on and went off again, a few moments later I could feel the car hesitating (its really hard to hear for misfires with this engine) on some slow speed back roads.... Crazy thing is, there is a Subaru specialist just around the corner from my work, but I couldn't get it booked in, so now I have to drive the 25km home still not knowing what's up.
Done a little digging around the internet today and found a couple of articles relating to the fuel smell (which I didn'tt have today)
http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2011/01/fuel-sme...
https://allwheeldriveauto.com/subaru-fuel-smell-a-...
Anyway, I gave the car a good valet yesterday, and took some pics:
Thanks for the comments and suggestions.... I did (what i thought might be) an ECU reset yesterday, by disconnecting the battery all day.... Thought it might be worth a try. The car seemed to run MUCH better after, seemed more responsive, gearbox seemed to shift more decisively and whilst there is possibly a hint of the car being hesitant at 2500rpm under load (uphill) its much better than it was??
However, the car still wont start first time (something it never did before i refueled) from cold, it always will start on the second attempt. But when warm it will start strait away with no issues - But the check engine light will flash (it never flashed when i attempt to start the car from cold)??
Anyway, have the car booked in at a specialist. But they are so busy i have to wait until the end of the week..
However, the car still wont start first time (something it never did before i refueled) from cold, it always will start on the second attempt. But when warm it will start strait away with no issues - But the check engine light will flash (it never flashed when i attempt to start the car from cold)??
Anyway, have the car booked in at a specialist. But they are so busy i have to wait until the end of the week..
Hi - Just thought i would update...
Basically the car seems to be running fine now, starts OK, runs OK, i'm not even sure if i'm just imagining the 'hesitation' at 2500rpm or if that has gone, since i reset the ECU, filled with 98ron and added injector cleaner?
Although funnily enough just as i was thinking "The car has been running really well the last few days'' the check engine light randomly came on and then went out again as i was entering a car park.... I still have the car booked in at http://sjautomotive.com.au/ though, for them to have a look over it.
I think my AC pulley needs replacing (i'll get them to pull the belt to confirm) and the other day i opened the tailgate and water poured out of the reversing lamp holders!!!
Basically the car seems to be running fine now, starts OK, runs OK, i'm not even sure if i'm just imagining the 'hesitation' at 2500rpm or if that has gone, since i reset the ECU, filled with 98ron and added injector cleaner?
Although funnily enough just as i was thinking "The car has been running really well the last few days'' the check engine light randomly came on and then went out again as i was entering a car park.... I still have the car booked in at http://sjautomotive.com.au/ though, for them to have a look over it.
I think my AC pulley needs replacing (i'll get them to pull the belt to confirm) and the other day i opened the tailgate and water poured out of the reversing lamp holders!!!
richard300 said:
...and the other day i opened the tailgate and water poured out of the reversing lamp holders!!!
Oh yes, they can do that sometimes, heavy rain on the wrong angle seems to sneak into the lights somehow. Take the light unit off (one piece right across the tailgate, its a bit of a fiddly job with an assortment of screws and clips but don't get impatient and break it) and seal its seams (and any cracks if there are any) with a thin layer of silicon sealant. That should stop it happening again.
I can send you a pdf copy of the workshop manual if you like and don't have one already.
Edited by GravelBen on Monday 3rd August 12:48
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