95 Legacy noises

[flynfish]

Hi I have a 95 Subaru Legacy, Automatic, 1.8L engine. When I drive the
car there is a clicking noise that sounds like its coming from the
center of the dash or below the drive selector console. The noise is
not present while the car is at idle, just when I begin to drive. As
the speed increases, the clicking sound gets louder and faster and the
inverse happens as I slow down.

I was wondering if anyone had ideas as to what the problem could be.
Could this be a sign that the transmission is about to blow and that I
should have it replaced?

Also , I drove it today after it was sitting for few weeks without
being started and the gears wouldn't shift properly. Basically once it
was in second it seemed that it was slipping out of gear when trying
to go to third and so the engine would rev higher. However, after
driving it a bit the shifting went back to normal so I wasn't sure if
it was because the trans fluid was just cold.(I am in NZ and its a bit
colder here right now than in the states)

Thanks for the help!

-Kyle

 

[X]

Hi I have a 95 Subaru Legacy, Automatic, 1.8L engine. When I drive the
car there is a clicking noise that sounds like its coming from the
center of the dash or below the drive selector console. The noise is
not present while the car is at idle, just when I begin to drive. As
the speed increases, the clicking sound gets louder and faster and the
inverse happens as I slow down.

I was wondering if anyone had ideas as to what the problem could be.
Could this be a sign that the transmission is about to blow and that I
should have it replaced?

Same problem on my niece's Liberty... it's the speedo cable thrashing around
in it's sheath. Eventually it will probably break, but it won't cause any
problems until then. You could try squirting some lubrication down it or
simply replace it.

Also , I drove it today after it was sitting for few weeks without
being started and the gears wouldn't shift properly. Basically once it
was in second it seemed that it was slipping out of gear when trying
to go to third and so the engine would rev higher. However, after
driving it a bit the shifting went back to normal so I wasn't sure if
it was because the trans fluid was just cold.(I am in NZ and its a bit
colder here right now than in the states)

Is the fluid level right? Sounds like it may be a little low.

 

[flynfish]

Same problem on my niece's Liberty... it's the speedo cable thrashing around
in it's sheath. Eventually it will probably break, but it won't cause any
problems until then. You could try squirting some lubrication down it or
simply replace it.




Is the fluid level right? Sounds like it may be a little low.

Thanks for the response. Is there a way to check to make sure it is
the speedo cable? The clicking sound is very uniform and
steady....would a cable thrashing around be consistent like that?

I have checked the fluid level and it is fine.

Any other suggestions/ideas?

Thanks again.

 

[X]

Thanks for the response. Is there a way to check to make sure it is
the speedo cable? The clicking sound is very uniform and
steady....would a cable thrashing around be consistent like that?

You could check to see if it is kinked in any way or try lubricating it. It
might quiet down. Hopefully it would be a regular noise that changes as you
change speed because that means I have guessed correctly.

I have checked the fluid level and it is fine.

Any other suggestions/ideas?

Take it to an automatic specialist and have them do the diagnosis. Around
here they will usually do that much for free. Hopefully the same where you
are.

 

[strchild]

You should be able to unscrew the speedometer cable from the top of the
transmission and drive it a bit to isolate if that is your problem.

~Brian

 

[flynfish]

You should be able to unscrew the speedometer cable from the top of the
transmission and drive it a bit to isolate if that is your problem.

~Brian

Thanks. If that isn't the problem do you have any other ideas as to
what it could be? I am just trying to get as much info as possible
because I leave for 6 weeks in a couple days and if I needed to get
something repaired I would do it while I am gone. Thanks again for
everyones help.

 

[Ralph E Lindberg]

Hi I have a 95 Subaru Legacy, Automatic, 1.8L engine. When I drive the
car there is a clicking noise that sounds like its coming from the
center of the dash or below the drive selector console. The noise is
not present while the car is at idle, just when I begin to drive. As
the speed increases, the clicking sound gets louder and faster and the
inverse happens as I slow down.

Trip meter (been there done that)

--

 

[strchild]

Well, CV joints can make a clicking noise. Try searching the group here as
it's been covered many times, and in plenty of detail, and see if your
symptoms sound similar. As for the transmission slipping, have you checked
your fluid level yet, as the other poster mentioned?

~Brian

 

[.._..]

If it's the trip meter (one of the mechancial ones) you might be able to
feel the clicking by lightly putting a finger on the "reset button" while
you are hearing the sound.

 

[Thomas Hanno]

earlier this year the lugnuts loosened up on my front right tire and
there was a clicking sound just like you have described. it started
out quiet and then as they loosened more it became very loud, and it
only happened when the car was moving. as the wheels spun faster, the
clicking happened faster, and so on...

If it's the trip meter (one of the mechancial ones) you might be able to
feel the clicking by lightly putting a finger on the "reset button" while
you are hearing the sound.