2006 outback center console cup holder problem.

[Dongbeiren]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum, also newo to Subaru. I bought this 2006 outback 2.5i two months ago, soon I realized that the cup holder is always making a tiny noise which is very borthering, I took the center piece and the botom rubber out and saw that the bottom of th cupholder is actually not fully closed, there is a gap about 5 mm, I wonder if anybody can give me a direction in how to fix it by myself, e.g. how to find the screws, which part should I open, and so on.



Another problem is: the car is making a humming sound whild running, especially when the speed is around 35 mph; it's almost unnoticeable at lower speed, but at highway speed it's very noisy. I've taken it to a mechanic and he said it's due to the snow tires, but I'd like to see some more opinions from you guys. Here's a picture of the firestone tire:

[Wagondude]

Don't know about the cupholder, but you will need to pull the console out to see what is going on there. As for the hum, Is it just one side? If so, does it change if you do a slalom? It's possable that you have a bad wheel bearing. If it isn't isolated to one wheel, then It's probably just the tires. Agressive treads tend to make more noise.

[plain OM]

I have doubt that the separation in the bottom of the front cup holder is causing the "tiny noise".

It might be helpful if you could describe the noise in more detail; for example, when does it happen and what does it sound like? I'm suggesting this because there is a solenoid in the gear shift area that will click when the car speeds up and slows down, and new owners have asked about this many times here.

I've attached instructions for removing the console box. It looks as if the two halves of the box have separated. I believe the two halves are held together with plastic clips; if they are intact it might only be necessary to push the two halves together. In any event, once the console is out, what needs to be done should be to close the gap should be apparent.

[Dongbeiren]

Originally Posted by Wagondude

Don't know about the cupholder, but you will need to pull the console out to see what is going on there. As for the hum, Is it just one side? If so, does it change if you do a slalom? It's possable that you have a bad wheel bearing. If it isn't isolated to one wheel, then It's probably just the tires. Agressive treads tend to make more noise.

Thanks for the reply, the noise seems only to be speed sensitive, it doesn't change when I turn left or right.

[Dongbeiren]

Originally Posted by plain OM

I have doubt that the separation in the bottom of the front cup holder is causing the "tiny noise".

It might be helpful if you could describe the noise in more detail; for example, when does it happen and what does it sound like? I'm suggesting this because there is a solenoid in the gear shift area that will click when the car speeds up and slows down, and new owners have asked about this many times here.

I've attached instructions for removing the console box. It looks as if the two halves of the box have separated. I believe the two halves are held together with plastic clips; if they are intact it might only be necessary to push the two halves together. In any event, once the console is out, what needs to be done should be to close the gap should be apparent.

The noise is just a clicking sound, feels like some plastic parts are moving inside the cup holder and hitting other stuff, it usually went away when I hold all the moving parts in the holder by hand.

Thanks for the instruction man, I'll see what I can do with it.

[jeffd]

My cupholder did that when I put a water bottle in the console that was too fat. It split the center line apart. To fix I just pushed it back together and it "snapped" back into place. It actually took a bit of force to snap it back together, at first I was worried something else was broke...

[torrid]

I'm having this exact issue.

Does anyone know how to easily remove the parking brake level cover?

[Wagondude]

just pull up on it. It's held in tightly, but it just snaps in to place.

[Golden Outback]

Gently pry out the seat heater control panel by prying up on the edges with a plastic tool. You will see clip that separated right under it. Press it back together with long nosed pliers. Worked for me anyway (2008 Canadian model)