Shimmies and Shudders

[Hooligan]

I've got a new problem with my WRX. With the recent 24" snow, something new has come up. The car shudders at anything over 50 MPH. I thought it might be snow causing the tire to seem out of round, but all the tires are okay. Then I checked if the lugnuts came loose, and that wasn't the case.


History:

2003 Subaru Impreza WRX
12,000 miles in 14 months
oil change every 3,000 miles
- broke 1st gear synchro (don't ask how), and replaced 6 months ago
- minor bodywork when tree branch fell on side panel
- after 9,000 mile oil change, dealer failed to tighten oil pan bolt, allowing full drain of oil (less than 1 quart); this was noticed at 11,500 miles when oil indicator first came on; oil promptly replaced

Shortly before this "no-oil" event, a strange grinding sound occurs at warmup (from cold starts, as in overnight). It's like polished marble over brushed aluminum. Faint, intermittent, and it goes away after the 3-minute idling warmup. It's more prevalent with sub-freezing temperatures, and started when nights dropped below freezing (back in November, I think).

The shuddering started today. First at 5-20mph, in the parking lot; not this morning, but after work. I went down the block, filled up with gas and started checking the car out (as stated above). After moving on, it seemed to go away. But I had to try it on the highway, and found that it's still there above 50mph. It's pretty consistent. The car still stops stably, turns fine, and just baffles the hell out of me.

The car also hesitates sometimes, like the clutch slips in starts and spurts (but not a gradual slipping, and also from cold starts). This happened before on another Impreza, and it turned out to be the slipping clutch cable.

There's other things that irritate me about this car: rattling dashboard clock, squeaky clutch pedal (again!), and a rusty-sounding driver's seatbelt winder. This car is one year old! It feels like the interior is falling apart along with the entire transmission. It's as if this thing wants to move south for the winter, *****ing all the way. As an aside, the engine is still a peach....

Any and all help is greatly appreciated...if you had the patience to read this far.

 

[12sec. Civic]

I know you would've mentioned this. But I'm just making sure, you dont have aftermarket rims right?

Have you had it aligned or had the tires rotated?

Also, check that nothing is between the brake pad and the disc. Also, if you had cold brake discs, and you did a hard stop, the instant heat could have warped them. Check that.

I would also check the driveshafts for all 4 wheels and make sure they are on tight and make sure the CV joints are not loose, or whatever other connections there are between the tranny and the wheels. I am pretty sure it wont be the back wheels if its shimmying. So, just check the front drive shafts.

 

[Frustrated Palm]

Take it to the dealer or a place you know you can trust and have them deal with it. Go over it yourself too. The cold might have cracked/warped something as 12sec said. Check around the undercarridge and under the hood (just in case)...

 

[Hooligan]

Okay, so the shuddering wasn't there today (at all, up to 90 mph). I'm guessing there was snow somewhere underneath the car, obstructing the tire. While the shimmies have stopped, I would imagine that if something had rubbed the tire, that the alignment should be checked anyway?

The car is all stock (it's a lease, for now), as are the tires & wheels. I figure I'm due for new tires anyway (12,000 miles of hard use), so I'll get a new set & alignment when the snow clears in a week or so.

But the scraping sound on cold starts is still there. Cold starts, on very cold days. Any ideas on what this could be? It does go away after warming up, and even if the car has sit for two hours, it doesn't come back until the next day.

 

[Frustrated Palm]

Metal shrinks in cold weather, maybe some parts just are a little smaller until they get warmed up...

 

[12sec. Civic]

Um,I'd be completely guessing about the strange noise your hearing. But, some cars have a device that stops the fan from spinning to help the engine warm up faster. This would be like a mechanism that either takes the serpentine belt off of the fan pulley.


This could cause some noise possibly. But I am totally 100% guessing. I doubt you have a fan thats directly attached to the engine block. More likely you have electric fans right on the radiator.

I just saw this device on an 80's Toyota Truck. But it dint make any noise.


It could also be the sound of an extra pump to spray oil up in the engine, right after a cold start. I dont know. But if its just during warm up. Then its probably supposed to be happening.

 

[thinkers]

I am assuming your Subaru is still under factory warranty. Make a detailed list of everything you are un happy with, and drop it off at your local dealer. Keep taking it back until you are satisfied! Don't let them give you any crap! If your still not getting anywhere, call the regional zone office for Subaru in your area.

 

[Frustrated Palm]

Or take the dealer to court, sue them for a load of money and buy a 2004 STi ...

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by Frustrated Palm
Or take the dealer to court, sue them for a load of money and buy a 2004 STi ...

Don't...tease...me! Actually, the dealer thought I might have wrecked my old 2.5RS myself to get the WRX. I don't blame him for thinking that, but he was quite wrong. There are many things I'd like to have back from the 2001-model-year car. Considering how things have gone with this dealership in the past, the terms "lawsuit" and "lemon law" have been floating around in my head for the last two years.

But, um, the car's actually okay now. It definitely was weird, and I'll be looking out for more wierdness in the future. I think that the 2002+ cars are nowhere near as snow-hardy as the 2001. In the 2001 Impreza, I could do just about anything my parents' Forester could...only faster.