It's time to play "Guess that Sound"!

Viral E · 11-14-2012, 05:41 PM

So after a good solid afternoon of searching NASIOC for WRXs of my model year with similar conditions, I came to the conclusion that my sound was at least different enough to justify a separate thread. If this is an easy answer and I simply overlooked something, well... I tried.

I got into my car one morning two months ago, started it up, and finished my phone call as I began to buckle up. When all of a sudden...

Conditions of the symptom:

- 2002 WRX - 170K miles - Original engine, no rebuild
- Ambient Temperature: Both Cold and Hot (-10 F to 80 F)
- Duration: A little more prominent at start-up but still present after complete warm-up (Intensity is reduced perhaps 10-20% after warm up)
- Sound matches RPM's almost exactly (1 sound per RPM or 1 sound per 2 RPM)
- Most audible at idle in gear and neutral with clutch both in and out, but slightly more audible under load when accelerating from 750-1800 RPM's then falls off quickly after that
- Tone is incident to a small knocking sound almost like a clicking
- Sound appears to be coming from driver's side (90% certain)
- Sound appears to be coming from front of engine (50% certain)
- Sound is barely audible and you wouldn't notice it unless you were listening for it like I was. Once you hear it though, it is distinct enough to catch every time it happens.

Given the symptoms I've compiled a list of possibles, some of which are much more likely than others:

Rod Knock
Bearing failure (perhaps one of the journals?)
Idler pulley
Loose Bolt
Bad Alternator (Bearing or pulley)
Bad AC Belt Tensioner
Piston Slap
Engine Knock

Unfortunately I can't just tear apart my engine on a whim, nor can I afford to have a shop tear it apart without being absolutely certain of what I'm getting into (to put it bluntly, I'm broke, in between a rock and a hard place, with no way out). Suggestions would be most appreciated or even things I didn't consider. I'm working on getting a logging cable so I can check AFR's soon to make sure engine knock isn't a possibility.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

rocketperson7 · 11-14-2012, 05:50 PM

sounds like lifter tick, you have solid lifters, it happens

wrxlaunch · 11-14-2012, 05:52 PM

How is the maintenance of the car...up to date?, which oil do you use, have you checked the compression?

420WRX · 11-14-2012, 06:15 PM

You need to make a clip, like this:
http://soundkey.com/index.php?option...id=62&autoplay

(Funny that the first upload of an engine problem sounds exactly like a WRX with exhaust mods??)

For me this was play in the crank bearing/spun crank bearings, apparently a common woe for this car/motor.

It started off pretty subtle and got very loud without much driving.

When it was subtle I could keep it away by keeping the engine under load and once the RPMs were up it'd die off.. only to return as I'd let the engine load drop and the RPMs dropped.

I have a video I recorded of it on my camera if needed?

Viral E · 11-14-2012, 06:27 PM

Car originally had Mobil 1 used for nearly 60K miles before I got it, and i started using Rotella T6 (5w-40) when I got it, HOWEVER the noise started before I switched to T6. I have the Carfax and according to it, the car was in an accident around 95K but I'm unsure of the extent of the damage. Nothing in the block was replaced (I know that).

All other maintenance is indeed up-to-date, and compression is good in all cylinders sitting around 156-160 for all four of them.

EDIT: Listened to your sound clip and mine sounds absolutely nothing like that. It's WAY softer and much less "booming". Rather, mine is more like a click... but not high-pitched.

420WRX · 11-15-2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viral E

EDIT: Listened to your sound clip and mine sounds absolutely nothing like that. It's WAY softer and much less "booming". Rather, mine is more like a click... but not high-pitched.

Sorry that was posted as an example, not my clip at all, I was just wondering if there's any good sound clip sites to link to and then found an engine noise clip so that was perfect.

420WRX · 11-15-2012, 01:01 PM

This clip is VERY close to the sound I had:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvxaR7HSmWc
(Especially the 'clack' sound as he comes off the throttle, that's tell-tale)

This clip is a good example of a similar sound caused by a tensioner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmZ1F8V8pc8

Viral E · 11-15-2012, 01:10 PM

Listening to these clips you're posting, I almost feel guilty for even mentioning my sound. Mine is barely audible compared to those massive clackings and clankings. It's a VERY light knock. I'll post a sound clip as soon as I can. I just have trouble getting my hands on good recording equipment (I've got an archaic cellphone so that one is out)

420WRX · 11-15-2012, 01:18 PM

It's good! You really don't want the sound that's in the first video.. I'm still paying for that one as you could probably guess from my 'vehicle' info.

jaysh · 11-15-2012, 01:28 PM

Does it sound like this?

This was mine caused by a cracked oil pick up.

STi Rattle / Knock - Deceleration - Broken Oil Pickup - YouTube

11-14-2012, 05:41 PM	#1
Viral E Scooby Newbie Member#: 242246 Join Date: Mar 2010 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Montana + Indiana Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX WRB	It's time to play "Guess that Sound"! So after a good solid afternoon of searching NASIOC for WRXs of my model year with similar conditions, I came to the conclusion that my sound was at least different enough to justify a separate thread. If this is an easy answer and I simply overlooked something, well... I tried. I got into my car one morning two months ago, started it up, and finished my phone call as I began to buckle up. When all of a sudden... Conditions of the symptom: - 2002 WRX - 170K miles - Original engine, no rebuild - Ambient Temperature: Both Cold and Hot (-10 F to 80 F) - Duration: A little more prominent at start-up but still present after complete warm-up (Intensity is reduced perhaps 10-20% after warm up) - Sound matches RPM's almost exactly (1 sound per RPM or 1 sound per 2 RPM) - Most audible at idle in gear and neutral with clutch both in and out, but slightly more audible under load when accelerating from 750-1800 RPM's then falls off quickly after that - Tone is incident to a small knocking sound almost like a clicking - Sound appears to be coming from driver's side (90% certain) - Sound appears to be coming from front of engine (50% certain) - Sound is barely audible and you wouldn't notice it unless you were listening for it like I was. Once you hear it though, it is distinct enough to catch every time it happens. Given the symptoms I've compiled a list of possibles, some of which are much more likely than others: Rod Knock Bearing failure (perhaps one of the journals?) Idler pulley Loose Bolt Bad Alternator (Bearing or pulley) Bad AC Belt Tensioner Piston Slap Engine Knock Unfortunately I can't just tear apart my engine on a whim, nor can I afford to have a shop tear it apart without being absolutely certain of what I'm getting into (to put it bluntly, I'm broke, in between a rock and a hard place, with no way out). Suggestions would be most appreciated or even things I didn't consider. I'm working on getting a logging cable so I can check AFR's soon to make sure engine knock isn't a possibility. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

11-14-2012, 06:27 PM	#5
Viral E Scooby Newbie Member#: 242246 Join Date: Mar 2010 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Montana + Indiana Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX WRB	Car originally had Mobil 1 used for nearly 60K miles before I got it, and i started using Rotella T6 (5w-40) when I got it, HOWEVER the noise started before I switched to T6. I have the Carfax and according to it, the car was in an accident around 95K but I'm unsure of the extent of the damage. Nothing in the block was replaced (I know that). All other maintenance is indeed up-to-date, and compression is good in all cylinders sitting around 156-160 for all four of them. EDIT: Listened to your sound clip and mine sounds absolutely nothing like that. It's WAY softer and much less "booming". Rather, mine is more like a click... but not high-pitched. Last edited by Viral E; 11-14-2012 at 09:02 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-14-2012, 05:50 PM	#2
rocketperson7 Scooby Newbie Member#: 283968 Join Date: May 2011 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Fort Wayne, IN Vehicle: 2003 WRX MBP	sounds like lifter tick, you have solid lifters, it happens

11-14-2012, 05:52 PM	#3
wrxlaunch Scooby Specialist Member#: 181298 Join Date: May 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: MD Vehicle: 02 , Vf43 Inside.. 12 seconds at a time	How is the maintenance of the car...up to date?, which oil do you use, have you checked the compression?

11-14-2012, 06:15 PM	#4
420WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 27752 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Victoria B.C., Can Vehicle: 2004 WRX+Ver.8 EJ207 Silver	You need to make a clip, like this: http://soundkey.com/index.php?option...id=62&autoplay (Funny that the first upload of an engine problem sounds exactly like a WRX with exhaust mods??) For me this was play in the crank bearing/spun crank bearings, apparently a common woe for this car/motor. It started off pretty subtle and got very loud without much driving. When it was subtle I could keep it away by keeping the engine under load and once the RPMs were up it'd die off.. only to return as I'd let the engine load drop and the RPMs dropped. I have a video I recorded of it on my camera if needed?

11-15-2012, 01:01 PM	#7
420WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 27752 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Victoria B.C., Can Vehicle: 2004 WRX+Ver.8 EJ207 Silver	This clip is VERY close to the sound I had: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvxaR7HSmWc (Especially the 'clack' sound as he comes off the throttle, that's tell-tale) This clip is a good example of a similar sound caused by a tensioner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmZ1F8V8pc8

11-15-2012, 01:10 PM	#8
Viral E Scooby Newbie Member#: 242246 Join Date: Mar 2010 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Montana + Indiana Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX WRB	Listening to these clips you're posting, I almost feel guilty for even mentioning my sound. Mine is barely audible compared to those massive clackings and clankings. It's a VERY light knock. I'll post a sound clip as soon as I can. I just have trouble getting my hands on good recording equipment (I've got an archaic cellphone so that one is out)

11-15-2012, 01:18 PM	#9
420WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 27752 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Victoria B.C., Can Vehicle: 2004 WRX+Ver.8 EJ207 Silver	It's good! You really don't want the sound that's in the first video.. I'm still paying for that one as you could probably guess from my 'vehicle' info.