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You can check the production date on the door jamb, then compare to when you bought it. It probably sat around for .... well, not long given the demand for Outbacks!
Yikes.... I imagine there will come a time when that saying will no longer be understood!
I posted a problem earlier about a noise we get upon releasing the brake pedal. Now we have ANOTHER problem with this 3 week old car: the car jumps or skips when we accelerate - several times a day.
Has anyone heard of this and what could it be?
We are becoming increasingly frustrated with our NEW car'
Thanks for any and all advice.
Do exactly what you already suggested - drive it with the service manager and point out all the noises.... and keep on them until the rattles/creaks are gone! Warranty work hits SOA in the pocketbook, so it gives them incentive to better their factory fitment policies and procedures.
Judging, though, by how many cars have these rattles, I'd say not nearly enough owners are addressing the problem.
I had some rattling and it turned out to be a coin holder that I have. Oops.
Some self-adhesive velvetty liner took care of that.
This 2010 is my 5th Subaru (and my 4th Legacy) and the first one with this amount of creaking or irritating interior noises. I had a 2006 Legacy and the frame/springs of the driver's seat (also leather) squeaked from the first day I had it until I traded it in! Again, minor annoyance, but annoyance still the same. They never were able to fix it.
Afterward, I had two Outbacks, a 2007 and a 2008, and both of them had identical rattles: dash, B-pillars, glove box, rear gate. They fixed the dash and gate rattles, but never did fix the glove box or pillars. On the glove box, they replaced the one in my 2007 but it did the same thing afterward, so I didn't even bother addressing it on the '08. I did not have either car long, so I don't know how they would have aged.
The 2010 Forester I have is very quiet after addressing the from-new door rattles. I have 16,000 miles on it now and it is still quiet; I hope to be able to say the same thing at 116,000 miles!
So far, at least, every little rattle noise has been something trivial, like the above example, or else something left in a cup-holder.
The "plug" for the 12-volt output behind the shift lever also seems like a loose fit. And whenever I am using that outlet I have a hard time figuring out where to stash the plug so that it isn't rattling around....
8/31- Fold-In outside mirrors are now available for the 2010 Outback and Legacy The non-breakaway power outside mirrors on all 2010 Outback and Legacy were a source of concern for many people. This was fixed on 2011s, and now these fold-in mirrors are available as replacement for the 2010s, in all the colors so no painting is required. Mirrors kits (including left and right side) are MSRP $199.95 from your local Subaru dealer. Standard unheated mirror kit is part #SOA635985, Heated mirror kit is part #SOA635086
I'm finding that building an Outback has gotten more complicated in the last 8 years since I purchased my 2002 L.L.Bean. Guidance please:
1. Moon Roof: Used to have two standard. Now a single moonroof is an option?
2. That nifty sounding internet "hot spot". Any idea as to how well it works? Is there a separate monthly charge, or does it somehow piggyback as part of my cell phone plan?
3. Any other items that were part of the "Bean" package that are now "options"?
Thanks in advance.........">
I think they did that because some tall folks wanted head room first and foremost.
If you like lots of glass check out a Forester. Most models come with a huge one standard.
How does the H4 Subaru with CVT feel on the highway at 70 mph? Is there much vibration and noise? What RPM is the engine turning on a flat road at 60 or 70 mph? I have never owned a CVT car (in fact my current Maxima is a 6MT), but it seems this would be one of the strong points of that transmission - low RPMs when power is not needed.
While I will certainly miss the HP of a V6 if I go with a 4-cyl car, I think I can live with that since I so seldom put my foot into it. But I'm pretty hesitant to accept more NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), even for more MPG.
Any feedback regarding both the 4- and 6-cylinder Legacy is appreciated.
I really like the CVT, it's great for mileage. To see some of my numbers on that please go over to the thread on mileage with the CVT.
The CVT makes a loud, objectionable droning noise. I did not like it at all on the car I test drove. Some folks say they can't hear it but it is definitely there.
When you test it in neutral while standing, there are a lot of parts that are not turning (from the transmission onward), so it could be the transmission itself, a differential, etc.
Failing that I would ask a service manager to go for a ride and see what s/he might be able to figure out.
Where the noise can be heard the best is when it's traveling around 35-40MPH (even though it doesn't seem to be wheel speed related) and is amplified when depressing the accelerator as rpms rev.
Today I drove and then dropped the car in Neutral around 40MPH and revd the accelerator - noise is still there, and is actually much more pronounced now in neutral because you don't have the engaged transmission noise. Again, the noise gets louder (and higher) right along with engine rpm (meaning, you depress the accelerator and the noise increases). Once you hear it, you can then identify it even at lower speeds and rpms, but you really hear it the loudest around 40MPH for some reason. Also, again, it does NOT make the sound when stopped and revving in Neutral, and the noise does NOT change with wheel speed.
To those asking about isolating the noise inside the car - ummm... it's coming from the engine compartment, so unless I stick my wife up under the hood while I'm driving... can't get more specific than that.
I'm still a little vague though on how it could be the transmission when it's still there when I drop into neutral - and gets louder/higher with rpm when I rev it in that condition. Transmission is disengaged at that point, so engine rpm shouldn't be transferring into the transmission (except for the clutch, but I'm not sure about the mechanics on a CVT), right?
Of course if it was just related to the engine, then I would expect the noise to still be evident when standing still and being in Neutral.
I'll probably have to drive another 2011 at the dealer if they say it's nothing - to prove (to them or myself) whether it's a real problem or not.
So, when you're going to down the road, you have the drivetrain and everything up to the point in the transmission where it disconnects from the engine in neutral spinning with the wheels, and everything on the other side of that point spinning with the engine. There's something about that operating speed that is causing the noise, yet when you place the CVT in neutral and rev the engine, the sound changes with the engine. So, it is speed and RPM dependent, but independent of transmission engagement. ?
Seems the problem must be in the CVT, but where... I just don't know.
We already know it's not normal, so take it for a drive with the service manager and show him/her the problem first-hand.
Thanks for your consideration,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds Inc.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
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I hate the bluetooth, it is useless at highway speed and since I do a lot of work calls on the highway it is a major inconvenience. Put the sound through the car stereo speakers please (like everyone else).
After you remove the bluetooth speaker out of the center console move the HVAC and emergency flashers up in its place, maybe then I won't turn on the four ways every time I put the car in park (hit the 4 way flasher switch with my knuckles). Use the space that you get back to make the center console storage under the HVAC system bigger.
I would like to control for myself the recirculating air switch, it goes on all the time on auto, making the windows all slimy and therefore collecting dirt from the humidity in the recirculated air.
Add one or two reading lights in the back, you have now made the car a family sedan so make it so that the kids can read in the back when coming back from their evening activities.
The bottom part of my power seat goes up or down, can we get it to tilt front to back as well?
Get a sixth gear or CVT transmission to reduce rev's at highway speed (costly on gas).
As much as I think the storage drawer under the trunk carpet is a cool storage area, I prefer to get the trunk space (again now that the car is family size it is attracting a broader audience that needs the space).
On a final note, I absolutely love the handling, hands down the best thing on the car, corners like a pro. The power is almost as addictive as my 3.5 Altima's were. Despite the comments for improvement I really like the car, in two years I would buy another Legacy on one condition that they fix that bluetooth system, this is way behind industry standards for a family sedan in this category.
However, with tha said, the Service Manager is giving me his Outback tonight to drive home and confirm that yes indeed we hear it in his as well. So, a nice offer and I'll be picking ti up tonight to do just that. I'll report back later
What gets me is that the capability is there but they have added this lousy ten cent speaker (at extra cost to them) to run the audio for the bluetooth on the non nav equipped cars.
Two other things I forgot to mention about the car, my 2010 does not have an exterior satellite antenna, I have an after market antenna glued to the interior of my front windshield (top passenger side). For the price I paid I would expect an exterior mounted antenna like all others in this category (I understand that this is no longer the case on 2011 models). The other thing is the weak air conditioning, it takes forever to cool down on hot days, I have noticed several comments of this nature in other blogs so seems to be a "to do" project for Subaru to make it better.
They are so close to having an industry winner here, some minor adjustments and this car would sell by the boatload. Subaru, I hope you guys are listening.
My main complaint is that the seats just don't seem to give enough back support after an hour or more of driving. I try varying the lumbar support occassionally and even have a small rolled up towel that I tuck in. My wife's Lexus (RX330) is better, but not by much. Nothing can compare to my old Grand Marquis or the older Infiniti Q. My back aches severely when I first get out to stretch on the road, but it's better a few minutes later. Anyone else have this compaint?
14,400 miles in 11 months.
BTW, I drive 200-300 mile routes all the time and at first could not find the same comfort that I had in other vehicles but seem to be used to it now.
Thanks
My sense is that this is a normal operation for the vehicle, but I'm curious as to what it actually is.
I've heard various reports that it could be the ABS running a test, or the brake booster. Any ideas here?
Thor
I was guessing its normal, but just wanted to know what was going on.
Thanks.
Perhaps it is different as a result of being a Limited.