Postman Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I have had it with the smell. I have been reading the forum now for about 2 months and its apparent to me this car is ill. Visited the NHTSA web site and to date only 2 people have compained via thier web based complaint form. Not good not good at all. If everyone is serious than we must presnt a united front. Here is my letter to NHTSA its going in the mail tomorrow certified return receipt, no web I want an answer. Tired of feeling like I bought a 20k ride on lawnmower. Hope others will do the same... Take Care Dominick November 7, 2005 NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ATTN: AUTOMOBILE SAFETY COMPLAINT DEPT 400 SEVENTH ST SW WASHINGTON DC 20590 RE: EMISSION/EXHAUST COMPLAINT; RECALL REQUEST FOR 2005 SUBARU LEGACY GT VIN: Dear NHTSA Representative: I am writing to request a recall for the above vehicle. Unfortunately this car and many others like it have a problem with either exhaust emissions or drivetrain component failure. I have owned this car for approximately four months and have 6500 miles on it. For some unknown reason a noxious smell fills the cabin whenever you try to accelerate at a brisk pace. If you drive very gently you only get an intermittent oily smell, but if you try to pass or downshift the cabin fills with a very potent intoxicating noxious odor. Fortunately to date I haven’t become unconscious but have had to on numerous occasions pull of the road and let the cabin air-out. I have brought it to the dealer and as the story goes unable to duplicate. I offer you my car for testing. Keep it as long as you need to. I can’t afford to trade it but I can’t poison my family either. I need your help. Sincerely, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I am writing to request a recall for the above vehicle. Unfortunately this car and many others like it have a problem with either exhaust emissions or drivetrain component failure. Sincerely, When ? Where ? Who ? Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-2.5-GT Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 not sure what to tell you... I had it just as bad as the worst complaints here, then it just seemed to vanish. I haven't had any issues with it in over 20k+ miles now. 36k+ and counting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melayout Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I have brought it to the dealer and as the story goes unable to duplicate. How can they fix it, if they can't duplicate and find the problem???!!!! If they can't duplicate it themselves, then duplicate it for them. If you can't duplicate it for them, tough luck. You gotta be patient and at least duplicate it for them, but that's my initial impression from your letter. Any details??? I keed I keeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccorry Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Mine did it occasionally for the first 3K miles or so... then it disappeared. Not stink for me.* * unless driver (me) experiences mental fade and overslips the clutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I hate it when I overslip the clutch. Same with me, the stink only happens with my error in getting the car moving. It seems like it is tricky to get it going fast when the car is in an incline. No matter how you release teh clutch it does not seem to want to engage fast enough and I end up overreving the engine. X --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melayout Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Postman, I assume you have a manual trans. I keed I keeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postman Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Melayout Yes it's a manual clutch but have read posts of members with Auto. I am convinced this car (a) runs to rich (b) has to much restriction air in/exhaust out © possible firewall leak (d) undercarriage aerodynamics I am not claiming any level of technical expertise. I am a novice if you will..I couldn't tell if the car is hesitating like many state cause this is my 1st turbo and for that matter my 1st real car...been in corollas, hyundais and escorts my whole life so I am very PISSED OFF and someone is going to fix this car or my wife is going to show me the D O O R:icon_surp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melayout Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Melayout Yes it's a manual clutch but have read posts of members with Auto. I am convinced this car (a) runs to rich (b) has to much restriction air in/exhaust out © possible firewall leak (d) undercarriage aerodynamics I am not claiming any level of technical expertise. I am a novice if you will..I couldn't tell if the car is hesitating like many state cause this is my 1st turbo and for that matter my 1st real car...been in corollas, hyundais and escorts my whole life so I am very PISSED OFF and someone is going to fix this car or my wife is going to show me the D O O R:icon_surp My 5EAT un-limited LGT doesn't smell 38K+ miles. (a) is true and is irrelevant. (b) is true and again irrelevant. © is a plausible root cause for your case but I've opened my hood after some extremely hard driving and there aren't any obvious smells, just hot air from the turbo side (d) could be a contributing factor but again irrelevant. Now logically, it looks like you probably have a leak somewhere and since you mentioned it was oily, it could be coming from one of the crankcase breather lines or turbo oil lines???? Or your heater core that contains engine coolant and is used to heat the cabin's air maybe leaking??? Again you haven't stated if you've duplicated the problem to the dealer??? I keed I keeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postman Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Dealer not my concern, death @ the wheel is though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melayout Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Ok, terrific. I keed I keeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postman Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 R we both bored today,,,honestly no leaks that I can tell of, as I stated I am willing to gift the car to NHTSA if they are interested, they can dyno, drive, disassemble, anything if the smog level meets fed guidelines I am SOL and trade it of I go... My family is banned from it till I know one way or another...see this is not a race car for me its a FAMILY Sedan with some Mid Life medicine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melayout Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Just tell me one thing, have you duplicated the problem to the dealer? I keed I keeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deimos Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 The stink is due to an undercoating that eventually burns off, mine did so after about 20,000 kms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postman Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Melayout: No as soon as I left the dealership woof, car knows I hate it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mele63 Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 What makes you associate the alleged odor with toxicity? Just because something stinks doesen't mean it's bad for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postman Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Let me close by saying if I have any luck I will let all know.. Take Care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeldnats Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 ...the cabin fills with a very potent intoxicating noxious odor... Intoxicating? Sweet - I'm going for a drive Seriously... It comes and goes for me, and I'm at 32,000 miles. It smells kind of like pastachio/spumoni ice cream to me, LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warnoldscu Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I noticed it more when I first bought the car as well... but just the other day I did a little launch, nothing to harsh, just for fun since I hadn't in a while, and it stank for soooo long - I was really blown away by how strong and how long it stank for. I'm curious if the issue people are having is just when they ride the clutch on accident or launch, or if it's happening during everyday driving...?? Weston Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-2.5-GT Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I was getting it mostly on the highway in either a strong 3rd gear or 4th gear pull. There was even one time when it came in so bad that it was almost like the vents were pumping it in the cabin. Very much a sulfur smell. However i will say it again, I changed up my gas i was buying and put several thousand more miles on the car and it hasn't been back in at least 20k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDTURBO Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I've never had it, but in regards to a coating burn off, that may be a reason. I had that protective undercoat thrown in on my deal...perhaps that's why I got no stink. If it was an undercoat burn off, I would think you would smell it moreso at a stop than a highway run. 2012 Forester XT. Stage 2+ Retired from Racing. I used to build FMIC and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmm def Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Ok I just had some gauges put in at Subaru, I have 30k miles on my car, never got the smell before until now. When I really get on the gas I get a brief oil smell and then it goes away. I'm guessing a seal for the firewall hole isn't plugged somewhere. Taking my car to Precision Sat for a look. i'll post their findings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melayout Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 mmm_def, I remember you had the Performance Gauge pack installed in the cubby. Postman may have an unplugged or loose firewall plug. I keed I keeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castor Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Well, my new 05 5MT wagon now has about 1000 kms and no stink at all... There was an undercoating type material similiar to amber Diamond Coat antirust which my car had applied to the underchassis. Dealer stated that the Legacys / OB's get this standard from the factory...he described it as an undercoating. I did notice a burning smell for the first few days, however it was the undercoating overspray burning off some parts. Other than that, no stink..... Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRP800 Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 I was the originator of the "stinky clutch..." about year ago (Turboman). Wrote to all the big shots at SOA, dealership's own driver duplicated the stink in front of the Zone Rep and the Service Manager. They said," wow, smells like dead fish". Didn't do any good. No new clutch (My WRX got a new clutch and flywheel and I never even complained. Go figure) After 9000 miles the smell has totally gone away. No matter how hard I launch or slip the clutch there's no smell. I guess that's the best you can hope for. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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