Yesterday I showed this to another forum member(Enewtabie) and he seemed to agree with me that its not normal:
I have a sorta high pitched noise coming from the left head on my motor right at the cam gear end of cam shaft area.
It sounds like an old power steering pump when its maxed out, that whining..
It goes with they rpm's of the car but lessons after the car warms, and cannot be heard in 5th or 6th gear.
any ideas? We could not hear a similiar noise in his ej20 and I dont recall one in my old car.
Possibly something to do with the AVCS? are there any bearings in our cam gears?


TIA
Chris

It did not sound normal.The sound would fluctuate up and down.
It sounds like its coming from the cam gear housing.

Drill a hole in the cam gear cover and spray some WD-40 in there. That'll do it. ;)

ill be sure to try that ;)

Do a search I saw a thread in this forum a week or so ago on the the same topic.

Turns out it was the idler pulley

cool, ill check that, I did some more listening and the sound is directly below the ac compressor.

can you point me in the direction to that thread.. I found some info on that going bad on older imprezas but nothing on an STi. I guess I need to set up and appointment with my dealer at the same time.

whoa! I have the exact same prob! :eek:

started at about 30K and has been slowly getting louder, about 48K now and was thinking theres no way my ps pump could be going out this soon

searched for "idler" couldnt find anything:(

wow, mine started at the beginning of the summer, but it was so faint no one else could hear it.. Its loud now, almost like a supercharger.. I made an appointment with Suby to get it checked out.

Sorry I cant find it now.

just to let people know, my noise was coming from a bad bearing in my ac compressor, subaru is replacing as soon as the new parts come in.

just to let people know, my noise was coming from a bad bearing in my ac compressor, subaru is replacing as soon as the new parts come in.


hmm, just went outside and pulled the AC belt off the compressor and its still loud as hell, hope that was a correct diagnosis on your noise, you might want to take 5 minutes to pull the belt off and see if it stops the noise before your dealership wastes your time:(

hopefully thats what they already did... but i may just do the same if it works ill leave it off till they get the parts in, the sound is really annoying..

There has been another problem in this area with the Cam belt tensioneer(this is under the timing belt cover). Most of the time it shows up as low to really loud knock. But the effects of it's mal-adjustment could show itself in many ways......I'd assume. I've heard folks say that they took it in for warranty check (for the knocking)....and was told that it was the typical valve tap of the boxer heads. I knew that was not the case....and I stuck a dealership into calling SOA on the issue.

Turns out......that yep...the tensioneer was bad/mis-adjusted....and it had torn a groove in the timing belt. Both were replaced under warranty.

Just make sure your issue is not the same.

There has been another problem in this area with the Cam belt tensioneer(this is under the timing belt cover). Most of the time it shows up as low to really loud knock. But the effects of it's mal-adjustment could show itself in many ways......I'd assume. I've heard folks say that they took it in for warranty check (for the knocking)....and was told that it was the typical valve tap of the boxer heads. I knew that was not the case....and I stuck a dealership into calling SOA on the issue.

Turns out......that yep...the tensioneer was bad/mis-adjusted....and it had torn a groove in the timing belt. Both were replaced under warranty.

Just make sure your issue is not the same.

timing belt tensioner and timing belt idler are the same thing;)

hopefully thats what they already did... but i may just do the same if it works ill leave it off till they get the parts in, the sound is really annoying..

so what happened? wasnt the AC compressor was it?

they replaced the ac compressor yesterday the noise is still there.. kinda ticks me off that the service guy at subaru didnt even have the sense to remove the belt to see if the noise went away.
Also it was very clear the noise was still there and they told me it was fixed.. I told them about the timing belt tensioner and they have ordered one. I also reminded them what could happen if it was to seize.. Once again I am reassured that I know more about my car than the mechanics who are supposed to be trained to work on it. Which scares me.

they replaced the ac compressor yesterday the noise is still there.. kinda ticks me off that the service guy at subaru didnt even have the sense to remove the belt to see if the noise went away.
Also it was very clear the noise was still there and they told me it was fixed.. I told them about the timing belt tensioner and they have ordered one. I also reminded them what could happen if it was to seize.. Once again I am reassured that I know more about my car than the mechanics who are supposed to be trained to work on it. Which scares me.

yep.

I used to be a tech at an Acura dealership, belive me, people here, and on car forums in general, know more about whats going on with their cars the guys in the service dept.;)

hondas are my roots. I was in good with the parts dept guys.. They used to call me to come show the "techs" at the dealers my gsr swapped /turboed 2000 civic hatch...

"that motor wont work in that car boy" was something i often heard

It just blew their minds. :devil:

http://www.phear7imports.net/gallery/albums/EK01/boost.jpg

man there sure are a lot of ex-turbo civic guys here with STIs!

Hey when you go back in find out EXACTLY what pulley they replace(well whatever one they finally fix it with :rolleyes: ) Looks like theres THREE idler pulleys(in red 7,13,14) and a seperate tensioner pulley (in blue 6) if Oi8ur5.0 is right its probably this one, but I would like a confirmation before I buy one so if you can get a part number on your work order that would help us all out, thanks!:D

http://img11.paintedover.com/uploads/11/belt.PNG

I believe these are the part numbers and the description.

13033AA040 Adjust AY Belt Tensione
13028AA200 Belt Timing


I don't know if any of that is dealer specific jargon or SOA jargon.....so..if someone can check if those are SOA part numbers....then that would be best. If they are not...then I post some other jive off of the work order.

This work order is as clear as tax code.

Good thing I got this taken care of before the MOD ferry visited.

damn your planning alot of mods coming in on a "ferry" hahah... i kid

Allright...allright.....so My spelling and grammer be bad.

:D

hmm, just went outside and pulled the AC belt off the compressor and its still loud as hell, hope that was a correct diagnosis on your noise, you might want to take 5 minutes to pull the belt off and see if it stops the noise before your dealership wastes your time:(

I took my car into service for the same problem. They said the AC belt was on too tight and they checked all the bearings on the pulleys but everythign seemed to be fine. They did not fix the problem however. Dealer does waste your time.

Mine has been making the same noise... even with the A/C off so I dont think it's the A/C belt...

I like how it was described as a supercharger sound... because that's what it sounds like...

goes to the dealer this weekend, until then I have both a turbo and supercharger on my sti :)

this is all really funny(or not) as i have an ej257 block in my ver 3 sti and it makes the same noise you guy's are talking about. its a little loud when cold and then gose mostly away when hot.
its deffantly not the aircon on mine as there is none.
when i did the swap i put all new idlers on and there was no noise for about 500k's then the next thing you i start it up and it sounds like its supercharged.
my old block didn't sound like this with the old idlers so i'm hopping there wsa just a bad batch of idlers come out of japan.
it dosn't bother me too much but if i can fix it i will so i'll be most interested to see if you guy's solve it.

the supercharger description is dead on.. A friend of mine said the same thing when he rode with me to lunch last week..
I guess Im just a cool ricer with a "supercharger sound maker" ;)

mine didn't make the noise until I got it back from the dealer after they replaced a rear CV joint...

maybe it made the noise but not as loud before, but it sure as hell makes the noise now...

.......i'm slowly noticing this noise as well.
sounds like fishing reel....

how many miles are on everyone's STi's?

I have about 14k on mine, and I think the noise started around 12500-13000 miles

16k on mine, just started noticing it

50K on mine, started noticing it around 25K

14k on mine it started id say around 10k

when the car is cold its the only thing you hear. is it like that for everyone else?

yea... I doubt it has anything to do with my A/C belt... it makes the noise even with the A/C off...

if anything else, i'll have the car back from the dealer on Nov 1... it goes in this sunday.

yea... I doubt it has anything to do with my A/C belt... it makes the noise even with the A/C off...

if anything else, i'll have the car back from the dealer on Nov 1... it goes in this sunday.

It may still be your AC, as it spins regardless of the on/off condition of the cabin switch. Turning on your AC just engages the clutch on the compressor.

ahhh... I see...

i'll suggest it then when I see the dealer this weekend... i'm happy other people are having the problem too... now I know i'm not crazy

how many miles are on everyone's STi's?

I have about 14k on mine, and I think the noise started around 12500-13000 miles

Started on 9k on mine and still does it I've got 12 now. It does sound much louder when its cold outside.

It may still be your AC, as it spins regardless of the on/off condition of the cabin switch. Turning on your AC just engages the clutch on the compressor.

yes thats why I advise pulling off the AC belt and run your engine to confirm like I did, takes 5 minute. you would think the dealership would do this before before warrantying out a whole new AC compressor :confused:

yes thats why I advise pulling off the AC belt and run your engine to confirm like I did, takes 5 minute. you would think the dealership would do this before before warrantying out a whole new AC compressor :confused:
but they sure as hell didnt. sucks.

I have a similar noise...not *that* loud, but it concerns me because my WRX didn't make the same sounds. Mine has done it since day one (450 miles on it when I picked it up).

(I have an FXT, btw)

I have a similar noise...not *that* loud, but it concerns me because my WRX didn't make the same sounds. Mine has done it since day one (450 miles on it when I picked it up).

(I have an FXT, btw)
There is two types of noises, it could be the regular whine belt noise the cars have, which most cars have. Or it could be the high pitch whistle.

There is two types of noises, it could be the regular whine belt noise the cars have, which most cars have. Or it could be the high pitch whistle.
I'm not sure if it's normal, but compared to my ej20, it seems abnormal and almost like there is extra drag/resistance on the engine.

Well, I looked (listened) under the hood with the engine running, and it seems like the sound is coming from the water pump (top left pully when looking into the engine). Sort of a fast clicking. :confused:

man, i tried to pinpoint it and no dice... hear it the best when i'm driving... if only i could install microphones around the engine...

eh, i'll let you know what the dealer says...

man, i tried to pinpoint it and no dice... hear it the best when i'm driving... if only i could install microphones around the engine...

eh, i'll let you know what the dealer says...

unless yours is a different than all of ours, its most likely your timing belt tensioner.

is this sound like a pulsating sound? thats what kinda sound thats coming from my car.

is this sound like a pulsating sound? thats what kinda sound thats coming from my car.

hmm, nope you might have something different, ours is a constant whine coming from under the drivers side timing belt cover, you can even push down a bit on the timing belt cover and here the noise change pitch a bit.

I found a solution. My car is running open downpipe and I can't hear anything. No whisteling, no differential clunking, no driveshaft, I can't even hear myself. hehehhehe.
Hey it doesnt fix the problem but it helps. :)

i guess ill be calling suby back, They havent called and were supposed to be ordering the top tensioner

I found a solution. My car is running open downpipe and I can't hear anything. No whisteling, no differential clunking, no driveshaft, I can't even hear myself. hehehhehe.
Hey it doesnt fix the problem but it helps. :)

turning up the radio also works pretty good too :p

Any new info on this. I've had the same exact problem, or maybe mine is different. I only hear a whining/supercharger noise when I go WOT, the whine starts at around 3k and continues until 6k, or until I let off the gas. Just curious if this is what you guys are experiencing. If so, I may have to take mine into the dealer as well.


-Wes

Colonial Subaru off of Street Road in Trevose, PA found the problem to be the idler belt tentioner.

...it did the trick, and now I just have a turbo... no more supercharger ;)

That sounds like that would make sense. Thanks for the info, I'll call Subaru when I have some spare time.

-Wes

Was the sound louder when the engine was cold? I've noticed it more in the mornings. Still, I can hear it all the time...I guess it's time to go to the dealer. :(

yes its much louder when cold.. ive called subaru twice and they are not returning my calls.
I need my tensioner replaced, any idea how much the part is, if its cheap ill do it my damn self!

My Evo makes a faint noise as well and my WRX did and it got louder as the years and mileage accumulated. Honestly I think any Japanese car with a timing belt will make some kind of noise from the idler pulley. Might be worth it just to take the cover off and clean it. I would also replace the belt and Idler.

IMHO
Eric

I would also replace the belt and Idler.

IMHO
Eric

thats what we are trying to do, but all of us are under warranty and having a hard time getting subaru to change the tensioner.

I didn't have trouble getting Subaru to do it... maybe try another nearby dealer?

thats what we are trying to do, but all of us are under warranty and having a hard time getting subaru to change the tensioner.


When I first took mine for a warrenty check.....I anticipated them calling me back and saying...."we couldn't here any thing abnormal". I responded to them in a truly kind tone and said " Great....well...there have been alot of ej257 owners that have had this tensioneer failure....but now that I have YOU down as signing off on it being problem free...then I'll have some documentation for Subaru should there be an expensive timing belt related failure in the future"

Funny thing is...that I got a call back 15 minutes later...with " well we went out and gave it one more Listen.....and this time we could here the knock you referred to. We've got a tensioneer on order for ya"

And as I said before....I also got a new timing belt out of the whole thing because the effects of the mis-aligned/flopping pulley had torn a groove in the belt. Only had about 4 k on it at that point.


So go get em.

well i got an appt for the 22nd @ 8:30 they have the tensioner in and hopefully a new timing belt.
Ill let you guys know the results.

well i got an appt for the 22nd @ 8:30 they have the tensioner in and hopefully a new timing belt.
Ill let you guys know the results.


Hey, did you get any results? I dont have a Sti , i have a wrx but the description you guys made of the supercharger sound and louder when cold is exactly what I have.

Thanks

n/m i just saw the date of your appointment

Hey, did you get any results? I dont have a Sti , i have a wrx but the description you guys made of the supercharger sound and louder when cold is exactly what I have.

Thanks

n/m i just saw the date of your appointment

its the idler belt tentioner

its the idler belt tentioner
you have a hard time with that word dont ya? its "tensioner" ;)

hope to have mine fixed monday.. cant wait, people who ride with me are starting to make fun :(

yes I do... especially after a few beers which I had at that time :devil:

Is this a must fix? Or is it just a little annoying sound that can be ignored?

well sooner or later the bearing will wear to a point where it will either sieze or race will fall off, either of these will lead immediatly to your timing belt coming off:(

Is this a must fix? Or is it just a little annoying sound that can be ignored?

As I mentioned earlier. Mine was replaced at only 4 K. And the faulty idler had torn a goove in the timing belt that quickly. I'd fix it.

As I mentioned earlier. Mine was replaced at only 4 K. And the faulty idler had torn a goove in the timing belt that quickly. I'd fix it.

yeah im at 16,5xx mine started around 9k. It scares me to think of what my timing belt may look like..

I wish I could have seen the belt when they took it off.....cuz I'm still not clear as to how the damage happens. I think the pully arm itself may develope some for and aft play......which in my case it was smackin the block....and it knocked loud.

That movement maybe allowed the arm to come into contact with the belt ?

I don't know. I do know that Timing belts that jump real bad and or let go....can = an unscheduled rebuild.

well mine is finally fixed

it ended up being the #7 circled in red below
http://img11.paintedover.com/uploads/11/belt.PNG

the dealer was pretty good, they let me look at the car torn down and agree with what they found.

Its so nice to have the boxer rumble back and no more hideous supercharger sound..

Also, the bearing looked completly trashed, there was alot of the black residure coming out that you get when you have improper metal to metal contact.

glad this is behind me finally! :banana: :banana: :banana:

ttt for people who need to know

cool..glad your back and running smooth again.

looks like my STi might be exhibiting the same symptoms. whining noise. it's very faint at this point but it is audible, the car doesn't have to be moving for it to occur and it doesn't happen at idle, only at 3k rpm+

:(

turns out mine wasnt the tensioner but a much smaller idler pulley thats right underneath it(in the above pic its "14" with the T3 nut going through it, not the "14" circled in red), when we got it out it felt like it was about to fall apart :eek:

looks like my STi might be exhibiting the same symptoms

My car is at the dealer right now having this looked at. They just called and want to keep the car over night... "bad timing belt tensioner/idler"

crap
wonder how many others have had this problem?

I'll post the final diagnosis and fix info tomorrow when I get the car back.

I got my STi back from the dealer, all fixed up. It was a bad timing belt idler. The service rep mentioned that they've had a few cases of them going bad, something about it being a new design, a good design, but a few have had problems.

symptoms: high pitched whining sound at 2,700RPM and higher. the sound oscillates at a constant RPM (almost like a slow beeping noise). the sound seems to emminate from under the hood near the dip stick (hard to pin-point exactly).

problem: bad timing belt idler (or tensioner)

fixed under warranty

take it from me its jsut the belts, they make a high pitched whining noise at start up, because it just does for some reason...........i have had this noise on my 04 wrx and my 05 sti.

maybe you should read the thread first.. its not the belts. Its a tensioner, and quite a few people have had the issue, including me.

maybe you should read the thread first.. its not the belts. Its a tensioner, and quite a few people have had the issue, including me.
i read it after i posted lol, im at work so i go in and out.......sorry, oh ya for sure maybe i shoudl goto the stealership

our symptoms were not just at startup though. mine was constant, hot, cold, whatever, as long as the RPM's were over 2700.

take it from me its jsut the belts, they make a high pitched whining noise at start up, because it just does for some reason...........i have had this noise on my 04 wrx and my 05 sti.


:lol:

:lol:
lol wrong whining noise :P the belts do make a noise, its more like a tick though.... i heard the whine this morning it was just during start up then then it stopped

I got my STi back from the dealer, all fixed up. It was a bad timing belt idler. The service rep mentioned that they've had a few cases of them going bad, something about it being a new design, a good design, but a few have had problems.

symptoms: high pitched whining sound at 2,700RPM and higher. the sound oscillates at a constant RPM (almost like a slow beeping noise). the sound seems to emminate from under the hood near the dip stick (hard to pin-point exactly).

problem: bad timing belt idler (or tensioner)

fixed under warranty


Just had them same issue
Started doing at ~15K miles - dealer replaced under warranty - seems like a common problem - 05 STI.

maybe not common ...but certainly something they are aware of
:)

After Subaru fixed the problem on my STI, it never came back... and i'm almost at 60,000 miles on my 04! :)