tlm724

Hi, I am new here and sure could use some advice!! 1998 Forester automatic.I was driving down the road and my brake and battery light came on,then I noticed a funny smell and limped home the last mile.When I opened the hood and the smoke cleared I noticed the front belt was off and that there is oil dripping on the ground under the car. What did I do?? Please help a girl out with some advice. Thanks in advance. Trudy in Vermont

tlm724

Anyone out there??

dpm

which belt? What colour of fluid?

tlm724

The front belt closest to the radiator (steering pump belt) and it was engine oil leaking underneath.I did "not" lose any antifreeze, just oil blown everywhere underneath.I did notice that the water pump pulley is loose.What do you think?? Thanks

BlueBrick

The water pump is behind the black plastic cover for the timing belt so I don't think it's a loose water pump pulley. Sounds like you blew a power steering line and that could have caused the belt to slip off. Also, if the front of your engine is soaked with either power steering fluid or engine oil it will cause the other belts to slip and that would trigger the alternator/battery light to come on. Old power steering fluid could look like engine oil as it can get pretty dark if not changed regularly. As there is oil everywhere under your hood, you'll have to check all the fluids to see which one is low or empty. I wouldn't run it with that bad of a leak for fear it could catch on fire and the possibility of making the repairs more costly.

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03 X Pacifica Blue Metallic Smooth Brick.

Elmy

My first car was leaking alot of oil. so naturally I was not paying so much attention to that old car. I drove it until the started ticking and a little more it blew and there was smoke coming up from the hood. a small piece of the engine block had been blown into the radiator and oil and water was all over the place. not so much oil since it was more or less empty but you get my point. I wrecked it after that not wanting to try getting a new engine and a new radiator.
Hope nothing like this happened to your car. Since the car I had was worth **** and yours is worth alot more.

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Forester S-Turbo SF 2.0L 1999 AT.

Peaty

I'm going to guess the front oil seal. It's a very common problem. Most often it will start off as a small leak that can be seen at the front of the motor between the cam belt case and motor block at the bottom. I have read of cases where the seal just lets go but that is not as common. If you do a search on NASIOC or even here you will get lots of hits. "Front Oil Seal" or "Front Crank Seal"

Here is just one:

99 subaru Oil leak - NASIOC

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Peaty

04 -XT

06 B9 Tribeca & 99 Miata

ScoobyMods

peatpics

tlm724

Just a follow up on this problem.With my friend in Texas as a guide to me I was able to find a few of the problems.First was that the crank pulley bolt was only on finger tight, I was able to remove it with my fingers, no wrench required which explains why the belt came off.Second I got brave and removed the fans etc..to reveal the timing belt and found that the inside of the timing belt covers were soaked in oil, what a mess!! This is as far as I have gone so far.

TexasForester

You were a very fortunate fellow. Someone failed to properly tighten the harmonic balancer/crankshaft pulley.

I had this happen on a 97 Acura 2.5TL due to poor work when replacing a failed (slipping rubber bushing) harmonic balancer/pulley. Timing belt sprocket woodruff key came out and timing belt became mistimed w/ valve train. Result ~ bent valves. Rebuilt cylinder head was required to fix.

Probably bad camshaft or crankshaft oil seal.

good luck

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See you down the ROW!
1999 Subaru Forester