So I haven't driven my Sti for nearly 3 days. I go out to drive it this afternoon, I turn the key, the engine fires, and it sounds like an old inline 6 with a stuck lifter. I immediately turn the car off, pop the hood, and look for leaves possibly being somewhere they shouldn't. I then checked the oil. I have plenty of oil, so I get back int he car and start it. It sounds bad again for a couple of seconds then it's fine. I drove it about 20 miles and it's still fine. Should I be worried? Like an idiot, I failed to look at my nice 60mm oil pressure gauge while this was occuring, and the car seems fine now. Has anyone else had this happen?

Bryan

Hey Bryan, I wouldn't worry about it. When my wrx broke about 20k miles when the engine loosened up a bit it would tap at start up on the cold mornings. Don't worry man, enjoy the car.. :)

Fess

Why does my car sound funny/unusual/like a diesel truck? Horizontally opposed engines (AKA Boxer motors) emit exhaust noises that are entirely different from engines of different configurations. It has been described as like a VW, diesel engine, ticking, or knocking sound at speed and especially at idle. The "boxer sound" is unique and is common on other engines of the same type. Additionally, the sound may be louder or more pronounced during start up. This Subaru .pdf document (http://www.endwrench.com/current/summer03/InsiderInfoEndFall03.pdf) details specific start up noise information on page 1 and 3. This Subaru .pdf document (http://www.endwrench.com/pdf/engine/EngineNoiseInfoS01.pdf) and this Subaru .pdf document (http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/EngineNoiseSum04.pdf) also detail engine noise.

Why does my car sound funny/unusual/like a diesel truck? Horizontally opposed engines (AKA Boxer motors) emit exhaust noises that are entirely different from engines of different configurations. It has been described as like a VW, diesel engine, ticking, or knocking sound at speed and especially at idle. The "boxer sound" is unique and is common on other engines of the same type. Additionally, the sound may be louder or more pronounced during start up. This Subaru .pdf document (http://www.endwrench.com/current/summer03/InsiderInfoEndFall03.pdf) details specific start up noise information on page 1 and 3. This Subaru .pdf document (http://www.endwrench.com/pdf/engine/EngineNoiseInfoS01.pdf) and this Subaru .pdf document (http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/EngineNoiseSum04.pdf) also detail engine noise.


Hey Fess,

It only did it that one time yesterday it's fine.

BTW Unabomber I appreciate the FAQ you provide on this site but I am far from a newb when it comes to engines. This was not the normal boxer sound on a cold morning. It sounded like it had no oil. The only time I've heard a sound similar to this is when the lifter was sticking on a my friend old F-150 with a 300 I-6. Not to mention, the sound went form being very audible to nothing in a matter of seconds.

Bryan

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632764&highlight=noise


Read the above.

You have a bad cam belt tensioneer/idler pully assembly. I'd bet the farm on that. Your description of the noise..and duration....are text book. This is a problem with the ej257....and there are probably plenty riding around thinking that it's typical boxxer valve tap. It's not. In my case....the severe lash(very loud knock) of the pully tore a grove on the cam timing belt.

Take it to the dealer...and demand that they call SOA on the issue...if they can't reproduce it on cold start.

My 2c

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632764&highlight=noise


Read the above.

You have a bad cam belt tensioneer/idler pully assembly. I'd bet the farm on that. Your description of the noise..and duration....are text book. This is a problem with the ej257....and there are probably plenty riding around thinking that it's typical boxxer valve tap. It's not. In my case....the severe lash(very loud knock) of the pully tore a grove on the cam timing belt.

Take it to the dealer...and demand that they call SOA on the issue...if they can't reproduce it on cold start.

My 2c


Interesting.... The A/C was on when this occured. I going to see if I can replicate it. Thanks for the link,

Bryan

No problem Bryan, just covering all the bases. ;) Hope you get it fixed and all is well.