[garfieldlc]

I am new to this club and Subaru. I just bought a 2002 LL bean edition outback yesterday for a good price with some known problems. The main issue I am having is the transmission. There is a clunk when I start to move, while backing up at first I thought I had backed into something, it felt I hit something. Also when backing up or driving forward without accelerating, at different intervals, it comes to a stop with the symptoms best described as though the car just ran up against a large object in the path of the wheel, preventing the car from going forward. Along with those symptoms, grinding sounds from the transfer case. I have put the front on jack stand and put it in drive and reverse and sounds comes from the transfer case. Do I need a new transfer case/ transmission? Thank you for your help.

 

[CNY_Dave]

Sounds like it could be a bad driveshaft to the rear differential, maybe bad CV joints as well. Rule that out before assuming the trans is bad.

Putting in a fuse into the FWD position turns off the drive to the rear wheels, that may help with the diagnosis.

 

[garfieldlc]

I did put the fuse in the FWD position and problem still persisted, so I know its something up front. It also seem to be on the front passenger side that I mostly hear the clunk and feel the jerk.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

could be a bad half axle. I THINK (others will correct me) clunking can be the inner DOJ/tripod joint. Usually the outer Rzeppa joint is more like a 'click'.

and the drive shaft will still turn with the FWD fuse in place.

I suppose something with a mount/control arm/bushing is worth looking into.

 

[DenisMcG]

I had a similar problem a few years ago with a truck. A bolt had backed out in the rear diff and was intermittently getting jammed into the ring gear. By the time I found out what the problem was, the gears were disintegrated.

 

[garfieldlc]

I took of the CV joint and inspect it, no problem. With the front on jack stands, I stated the car and put it in neutral, and took my foot off the brakes, only to hear loud rattling sounds as far as I can tell coming from the transfer case. Is there anything that can be replaced/changed out in there or do I just need a new transmission.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

is it a buzzing/rattling sound? might be loose heatshields on the exhaust.

but noises from the tranny while idling in neutral ?- that sounds bad.

when you say transfer case, do you mean the front differential? You might pull it's drain plug - pretty sure it has a magnet on it, inspect for chunks.

 

[garfieldlc]

the part where the CV joint is connected to.

 

[cardoc]

If it is coming from within the differential, There is a bearing on the pinion shaft that when worn will allow displacement of the gears in the pinion assembly. If it breaks, the binding gets worse. The knock you hear could be the shaft moving out of place.

If you find the axles are good, the next option is removing the differential for tear down.

I hope you got it cheap.

 

[garfieldlc]

I did get the car real cheap. If it is the bear on the pinion shaft, can it be repaired or do I need a new transmission.

 

[Whitemancharlie]

Hi just purchased a 2002 outback with the h6 car runs great beside one small issue when car shifts into forth gear seems to jerk a little and also when car downshift from forth to third has same issue this does not happen every time seems like manly when going up a hill any ideas??