2001 Impreza Transmission Problem

[paul.delong]

Hi gurus,

so my Impreza drives just fine, no problems, until I've driven for
maybe 30-45 minutes and everything is good and warm -- then I get a
really nasty klunking sound when I'm parking my car (i.e. turning the
wheel sharply) - its also noticeable when I'm backing up but only when
everythign is good and warm -- any ideas on what might be wrong?

Cheers,

Paolo

 

[Brian]

Check your CV joints. Search the group here for plenty of information.

~Brian

 

[Tony Hwang]

Check your CV joints. Search the group here for plenty of information.

~Brian

Hi,
Think CV joint is gone South.

 

[JD]

Hi,
Think CV joint is gone South.

I agree; likely CV. However, if it happens when you are parking (ie.
backing up with the wheels cut) check that the tires are not mismatched as
well. That will cause a lock-up on the centre diff and give you those
symptoms as well.

 

[Chicobiker]

Hi gurus,

so my Impreza drives just fine, no problems, until I've driven for
maybe 30-45 minutes and everything is good and warm -- then I get a
really nasty klunking sound when I'm parking my car (i.e. turning the
wheel sharply) - its also noticeable when I'm backing up but only when
everythign is good and warm -- any ideas on what might be wrong?

Sounds like my problem a while back. My center diff was the culprit.
Not cheap. I've not yet had a CV joint go, so I can't compare, but on
a previous car CV joints didn't need to be warmed up to make noise,
they simply made noise when I turned. With the bad center diff, the
fluid needs to warm up before starting to bind. I can't imagine this
being good on the transmission, but at least it's not a transmission!

I had about 150k kms on mine.

 

[paul.delong]

Sounds like my problem a while back.  My center diff was the culprit.
Not cheap.  I've not yet had a CV joint go, so I can't compare, but on
a previous car CV joints didn't need to be warmed up to make noise,
they simply made noise when I turned.  With the bad center diff, the
fluid needs to warm up before starting to bind.  I can't imagine this
being good on the transmission, but at least it's not a transmission!

I had about 150k kms on mine.

I should have mentioned that I've had the CV joints checked and
they're fine.. from the group's replies it sounds like it might be
the center differential -- any idea what that'll run and what kind of
shop I should take it to? general mechanic, a Subaru dealer or a
transmission shop? TIA

 

[Chicobiker]

I should have mentioned that I've had the CV joints checked and
they're fine.. from the group's replies it sounds like it might be
the center differential -- any idea what that'll run and what kind of
shop I should take it to? general mechanic, a Subaru dealer or a
transmission shop? TIA

It cost me $1600 cdn at the dealership. Dunno if a transmission shop
would have been better. This would probably be a subaru-specific
part, and locally subaru marks up parts they sell to other shops, so
you pay less for parts at the dealership, which helps compensate the
high labour rate.