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Old 07-05-2002, 08:33 PM   #1
Mapplex
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Default Peaked underneath the car today

I peaked underneath the rear right side of my wagon today and this is what I found: A small drop of yellow oily stuff. I didn't see it dripping but it is there, just hanging on to the underside. The red arrow points to it. (NOTE: The fluid on the ground is just water)



Also, looking further back, I noticed a pipe that goes to some black box in the rear of the wagon is awfully close to the driveshaft (is it called the dogbone?) I don't know if it's touching the shaft but I bet if I hit a bump and the suspension went up, it would certainly rub and make contact. I have no idea what that pipe is for but it certainly should not be that close to the driveshaft.



I notice nothing abnormal while driving the car though. Regardless, I think I may have a small brake fluid leak and a pipe that 'ain't where it outa be.' What do you guys think?
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Last edited by Mapplex; 07-05-2002 at 09:40 PM.
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Old 07-06-2002, 04:49 AM   #2
Kostamojen
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Fuel line? Hmm... I dont have my car here to check.

BTW, the underside of your car is in HORRID shape My 95 looks 5x better surprizingly! Get some of that stuff cleaned up/replaced
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Old 07-06-2002, 09:29 AM   #3
Mapplex
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Default Brake Light

So I turned on the car this morning to go to work and the brake light in the dash came on. After a few minutes of driving it went away, but I definitely think this is an inidication of leaking brake fluid. I'm making a service appointment pretty soon.
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Old 07-06-2002, 09:42 AM   #4
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I'd make it quick and try not to drive it till you get it checked out. No brakes is not fun.
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Old 07-06-2002, 09:49 AM   #5
Mapplex
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Default closed till monday

I just got off the phone with the only local Subaru dealer and their service dept is closed until Monday and I don't want to take it anywhere else. Looks like no car for weekend.
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Old 07-06-2002, 10:54 AM   #6
JMFInkel
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Default About your brake warning light...

Have you checked the level of your brake fluid? A while ago, my brake warning light was coming on when the car was cold, then would go away after things warmed up (though it would come on briefly afterward). Turns out my fluid was a little low.

Give that a shot; you can get a bottle of brake fluid at most any auto parts store.

Good luck!
Jon
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Old 07-06-2002, 05:24 PM   #7
Mapplex
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Default doesn't look right to me

I crawled back under and took a closer look. I'm obviously no car expert but the whole assembly of hoses there seems a little 'off.' Maybe I'm paranoid or something but the rubber hose in the top picture is curving tightly around the sharp edge of that metal thingy right behind the yellow drop of fluid. looks like it's almost cutting into the rubber hose. I know this vehicle has been serviced in the past by a non-subaru garage so maybe it was put back together incorrectly? I'll sure find out on Monday.
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Old 07-06-2002, 06:30 PM   #8
Albert
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The black box sound like the fuel vapor cannister. It should be firmly mounted (no movement). Everything should be clear of the half shaft (axle) to facilitate movement. The arrow in the bottom pic looks like it's pointing at something the size of a brake or fuel line. The locations is most likely a brake line.
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Old 07-06-2002, 08:00 PM   #9
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im no expert....oh wait yes I am ..

anyway it looks to be brake fluid or gear oil, nothing should be rubbing on any of your brake lines, thats bad news. Check the brake fluid level, its Low thats a pretty good indication of a leak.

get it checked asap, cant really be 100 percent sure, with internet diag.

i was kidding about the expert thing

good luck

Jay McDade
Lincoln/Mercury/Jaguar Tech
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Old 07-06-2002, 08:02 PM   #10
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from the picture it looks like the hard brake ling is rubbing on the half shaft

can you get some better pics, of that black line?

Jay
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Old 07-06-2002, 11:12 PM   #11
Mapplex
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Default better pics

Ok, here are some better pics. The first one is the area where I found the leak. The red box in the inset shows the angle at which this shot was taken. Notice the tube bending tightly around that sharp metal piece. Definitely not good for the tube. Also notice the white zip tie. I doubt that was originally there. I'm starting to think some past mechanic worked on this part and did a lousy job.
[edit:] Ok, I've realized the angle I drew is wrong. Rotate it 90º or so. You get the idea
The next two pics show the region where the metal pipe was making contact with the shaft. This pipe is not the big tube shown in the pic above. This runs directly to the black box that's firmly attached in the rear. The red arrow shows the point of contact where you can see marking from where contact was made. (I lifted the pipe up off the driveshaft alittle)



Last edited by Mapplex; 07-06-2002 at 11:19 PM.
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Old 07-07-2002, 03:03 AM   #12
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You need to shoot the mechanic that weaved that mess we're looking at. My god the brake line is zipped tied to the parking brake cable. It should be up out of the way against the chassis protecting it from road debris.
Your latest pic is in the vinicity of the purge control solenoid (it should have an electrical connector with in/out vacuum hoses - one goes to the intake manifold the other to the black box you mentioned).

The other piece with the white top has something to do with the brake system (not the proportional valve) possibly a balance valve for R/L rear brake equalization.

The only repair I can think of that would require displacing the above two items would be to access the gas tank for removal. Both components are NOT in their proper location that is possibly why the vacuum hose is kinked. More than likely gasoline vapors were venting to the atmosphere rather than beign suck back into the intake manifold.

Check the balance valve assembly for damage. Also check the brake lines connected to it for a leak.

You or your new mechanic will have to make a "safety call" on that line that was rubbing against the half shaft. From the pic it LOOKS like the line has been in contact with the half shaft for too long and the wall thickness has been shaved down. Living in the snow belt I would definately replace that line.

Last edited by Albert; 07-07-2002 at 03:09 AM.
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Old 07-07-2002, 04:20 AM   #13
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Is it touching the Strut!?!?! That is NOT good...

Cut those zip ties and tie it to the chasis, not the suspension!
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Old 07-07-2002, 05:30 AM   #14
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Wild, before reading those last two responses I was planning to say something similar.

I had to look at these images for a while, it seems that everyone is out of place under the car. Was the car ever in an accident that you know of? It looks like when the suspension is under load on that side the pipe doesnt travel upwards far enough so the half shaft rubs on it. As you can see in the image the half shaft has a "shiny" ring right below that tube.

Id say find another car like yours at a supermarket parking lot or at the mall and take a few pictures.

Either that or save the money to have the dealer fix it.
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Old 07-07-2002, 10:16 AM   #15
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Yes this vehicle was involved in an accident prior to when I purchased it earlier this year.
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Old 07-07-2002, 04:33 PM   #16
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you have a ruptured brake line...the yellow stuff is brake fluid, the light is on because the porpotioning valve switch is tripped.

jeremy
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Old 07-08-2002, 11:58 AM   #17
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I concur. It is a mess under there. All the hoses and lines should be diffucult to take pictures of becasue they are that close to the chassis. All the rest is not a good thing either. I think I would get a dealer to look at it and fix the problem. Insurance might even take car of it is you explain it to them. Leaking brake fluid is NOT good. It doesn't take much to completely rupture a brake line and if it is started it is even easier. Don't mess aroung with your brakes.
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Old 07-08-2002, 12:02 PM   #18
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The more I look at it the more that loos like a fuel line. Look at the clamp. That is a low pressure clamp. Still get it looked at.
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Old 07-08-2002, 01:52 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tim Smith
The more I look at it the more that loos like a fuel line. Look at the clamp. That is a low pressure clamp. Still get it looked at.
actually yeah, but the fact that his brake light came on kinda threw me off...what a mess under there, i'd try re-routing hoses so they are not rubbing against anything and then re checking it.

Jeremy
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Old 07-08-2002, 04:01 PM   #20
Mapplex
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Ok, just made a service appointment with local Subaru today. Will bring it by early next week to have this checked out. Meanwhile, I put a small piece of rubber padding between the hose and the sharp metal piece so it won't get cut into. Thanks for the help everyone. I'm very glad I saw this early on. Talk about spotting a problem before it occurs
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Old 07-09-2002, 11:32 AM   #21
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wow! ya gotta love the effects of snow removal on the underside of your vehicle. I feel your pain, man
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