??'s from a new kid

[Suberite96]

Hello all, newbie here with few questions.

Just inherited a '96 Outback 2.2 5-speed with 250,000 (gulp!) miles. Car is is pretty fair cond. - starts & runs fine - one-owner, but there are a few issues:

Trans. noise - Seems like worn bearings: growls on decel. at lower speeds (no gear whine). I had an old Fiat with a similar problem that I pretty much solved by going to Shell Spirax75-140 wt. GL-5 in the gearbox. Took about 500 miles and it quieted down by 50% & shifted fine. Should I try this or is it a big no-no?

Cruise control inop. - Fuse is ok & cuise lite on dash button lites up - but won't engage in 5th gear. Is there a way to trouble-shoot that won't require the replacement of the servo? Should I do a search on this?

TIA for your help.

[fnlyfnd]

Gear oil is a highly debated topic on all boards. Everyone finds that something works better for them. I suggest going to valvoline and requesting valvoline synpower, unless you can find it in a store near you (I couldn't find it anywhere). Switch your rear diff oil to Mobil 1 gear oil asap. DO NOT use mobil 1 in the tranny, it's to slippery.

even with the miles it seems like you got a great car. The 2.2L is extremely reliable and often argued as one of the best engines Subaru has ever made.

[snarfattak]

Originally posted by Suberite96
Cruise control inop. - Fuse is ok & cuise lite on dash button lites up - but won't engage in 5th gear. Is there a way to trouble-shoot that won't require the replacement of the servo? Should I do a search on this?

Check out the clutch pedal first. Usually there is a little hole that got uncovered in the flange that pushes the switch. That needs to be covered over so it will actually push the switch in. I covered up mine with tape...

[davis61381]

Originally posted by snarfattak


Check out the clutch pedal first. Usually there is a little hole that got uncovered in the flange that pushes the switch. That needs to be covered over so it will actually push the switch in. I covered up mine with tape...

Would this be the same on a 2000 OBS? Where abouts on the clutch is this hole?

[porcupine73]

Hi Suberite96 and welcome and congrats! Yes that 2.2L is very durable. Just needs its timing belt and oil seals and it is typically happy.

Cruise control won't engage in fifth - by that do you mean it will engage in other gears? If so it could be your neutral safety switch that tells the ECU whether it is in gear or in neutral, maybe in fifth it isn't working correctly.

For the soob manual trans valvoline syn power I think it is or redline ns/no-shock are typical choices in GL-5 75w-90. There is a relatively new SAE 75w-110 maybe that would quiet it down or as you said 75w-140.

[Suberite96]

Thanx for the quick input, guys.

Snarf - I'll check the clutch pedal flange & let you know.

Porcupine - I'll look for the Valvoline/Redline product, but if unavailable, I think I'll try the Shell Spirax as it is also an NS formula that works well with Porche-style syncros.

The more I drive this little beastie tho, the more I think it may be the front diff. making the noise. No trans noise at all at idle - clutch in or out in neutral - so the input/output shaft bearings appear ok. The noise I'm getting while driving - louder at low speeds - absent at neutral throttle - is a dry, grinding sound. Maybe carrier bearings? Anyway, I'm going to try a heavier gearbox oil & go with Mobil 1 in the reaf diff. and see what happens.

Stay tuned

[Suberite96]

OK, made some progress this week-end:

Snarf - Youdaman! checked the clutch pedal flange and found a little hole just like you said. There is a similar hole on the brake pedal that has a small white plastic plug about 1/4" thick that fits into this hole - I think the one for the clutch fell out. I replaced the one on the clutch with a similar plug and now the cruise works as it should - thanks.

Porcupine - Did a trans/diff. oil change - Went with Shell Spirax 85-140 & a pint of Pennzoil Sychromesh (kind of a modfied U. R. cocktail) - Mobil 1 in the rear end.. Noticed a smoother shift right away - bearing/gear noise is better by about 50%, but still there. I think the only cure for this is a repl. transaxle - someday. Thanks for your input.

Another thing I "discovered" while I was tinkering: I get no air thru the center dash vents when I have the ac/heater fan on. Side vents, floor, defrost - yes. Little button with the "air in your face" lites up, but nada thru the center vents......

Ideas, clues,suggestions?

TIA

[Suberite96]

Just to finish this post... Used some Windex A. P. Cleaner to remove 10+ years of crud from the center consol area - used a toothbrush to get around the buttons & levers - blew it dry with some comp. air - and now everything works! Air flows as it is directed by the buttons. I quess the contacts must have been dirty.

[davis61381]

Originally posted by Suberite96

Snarf - Youdaman! checked the clutch pedal flange and found a little hole just like you said. There is a similar hole on the brake pedal that has a small white plastic plug about 1/4" thick that fits into this hole - I think the one for the clutch fell out. I replaced the one on the clutch with a similar plug and now the cruise works as it should - thanks.

Ditto.

I finally had some time and the temps got to a workable temperature around here, so I snuck under the dash and checked it out. sure enough, no plug. I replaced it with a thick metallic sticker that I had lying around, I wanted to see if that was the fix before I spent too much time on it.

I'll go back next weekend and find a proper cap to put in there.

Thanks for the info!