epsidetrac Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I just bought a 95 Subaru Legacy L AWD Wagon with only 110k miles. I have been going through fixing things like the HVAC lights, replacing all the brakes, etc, but I've come across a couple issues that I can't diagnose. On acceleration only, the car shakes terribly, and at first I thought it might be the alignment or wheels out of balance, but I had those checked and it still continues. Then I thought it was the engine/transmission mounts, but I realized that I'm getting very low gas mileage (16.8 mpg) and I thought it must be something else.. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baddog Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I would clean the: Mass Air Flow Sensor (With MAF Cleaner) Throttle Body Plate (With Carb Cleaner) Idle Air Control Valve (With Carb Cleaner) Check Plugs and Plug Wires Check Air Filter I would start with these first and see if it helps clean it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuNomn Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I would clean the: Mass Air Flow Sensor (With MAF Cleaner) Throttle Body Plate (With Carb Cleaner) Idle Air Control Valve (With Carb Cleaner) Check Plugs and Plug Wires Check Air Filter I would start with these first and see if it helps clean it up Definitely do this because it can only help, but its the shaking that worries me. Under what circumstances does the car shake exactly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epsidetrac Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 I'll do some cleaning, but I really don't think that has anything to do with the shaking.. It shakes at any speed and only when accelerating, if I take my foot off the gas it immediately stops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suntzuo Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Could it be bad cv joints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DelawareBlueHen724 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Could it be bad cv joints? It could be, because my cv joints were bad, and my car would shake like crazy randomly, as well as my gas mileage only being around 21 mpg which seemed a little low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epsidetrac Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 I do think that one of the CV's is bad, so I'll do some cleaning and checking and replace the CV and get back to let you know if that fixed it. Thanks for the input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baddog Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Automatic or manual? If it's a manual might need to have the clutch replaced. I know in my moms old 99 Mazda 626 (PIECE OF SH!T) when the clutch was on its way out not only would it slip very slightly it would shudder no matter what gear you were in. I noticed you are in Sherwood. If you need any help checking things out let me know. Also I may have mis-read some of what you were saying. The engine isn't stalling/shaking? It's the car that is shaking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subikid90 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Yay finally another west sider on the forums lol all the ptown people are east siders. I have to agree with what everyone else has said. No one said wheel bearings though...jack you car up and shake the wheel side to side, you should have no play. -Subikid90 1997 Legacy GT 5spd & EJ251 w/EJ25D heads ~10.5CR 1998 Legacy GT Limited waiting for EJ22T hybrid swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epsidetrac Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 I have an automatic, and I am very familiar with the feeling of a slipping clutch, as I have replaced many in my day. I also had the wheel bearings checked out with the alignment, and it was fine. The shaking definitely seems to be coming from the drivetrain. Feels like its the engine mounts and/or the CV's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subikid90 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Check the drive shaft. I have heard of them wearing out can causing a hard vibration -Subikid90 1997 Legacy GT 5spd & EJ251 w/EJ25D heads ~10.5CR 1998 Legacy GT Limited waiting for EJ22T hybrid swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishLt Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Please do keep us posted because i've got the same thing going on. And even worse mpg.....:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Donated broknindarkagain Posted January 14, 2011 I Donated Share Posted January 14, 2011 I would clean the: Mass Air Flow Sensor (With MAF Cleaner) Throttle Body Plate (With Carb Cleaner) Idle Air Control Valve (With Carb Cleaner) Check Plugs and Plug Wires Check Air Filter I would start with these first and see if it helps clean it up .....lol ^agreed Also, if you drive agressivly then 17mpg isn't unreasonable. I've always got about 19 in my Legacy. -broknindarkagain My Current Project - Click Here COME AND TAKE IT "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Donated broknindarkagain Posted January 14, 2011 I Donated Share Posted January 14, 2011 Check the drive shaft. I have heard of them wearing out can causing a hard vibration I missed this post. Agree with this as well. Not quite the driveshaft though. Check the u-joints on the driveshaft. -broknindarkagain My Current Project - Click Here COME AND TAKE IT "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subikid90 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I missed this post. Agree with this as well. Not quite the driveshaft though. Check the u-joints on the driveshaft. Thats what I meant lol -Subikid90 1997 Legacy GT 5spd & EJ251 w/EJ25D heads ~10.5CR 1998 Legacy GT Limited waiting for EJ22T hybrid swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epsidetrac Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 So.. sorry to leave you guys hanging, but I just got it back from a Subaru only mechanic. The shaky acceleration was from the CV's. Apparently someone had put cheap aftermarket ones on in place of the real thing. The other problem with low gas mileage, they think, is a product of several things at play. The CV's, wrong sized cheap aftermarket ignition wires, and leaky valve covers. I'm going to give it a little tune-up and replace what I mentioned prior to see if that does the trick. I'm also going to replace the timing belt because I have no idea how old it is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
su baru que Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 check for a misfiring coil pack, in addition to the leads and plugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Have a little bit of the same problem on hard acceleration. I suspect engine mounts and dog bone bushing, though that would not explain your fuel consumption. Edit: still sticking with my theory. Your car feel better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GtGabe Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 A couple years ago I sat on a bus next to a subaru mechanic and asked him what I should do to maintain my subaru and he said change the transmission fluid soon and often or it will shake on acceleration and once it starts it won't go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pqkillerAU Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Don't forget to check your oxygen sensor. Bad mpg is a tell tale sign of o2 sensor dead or lazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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