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Old 01-04-2010, 10:31 PM   #1
Nimbus09
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Default very cold starts and noises

obviously engines are harder to start in cold weather, i know. last week it was about 6F at night and i started my car up which made it emit this hoarse, scratching-like noise. i've noticed this at <20F weather and i every time i hear it. even the drive belt sounded like it had to loosen up for a sec or two. is that about the right temp these things start to happen for you guys? i'm still on 5w30 dino.
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Old 01-04-2010, 10:34 PM   #2
pfinch117
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Mine has done the same thing. I have owned it since Oct 08 and it hasnt seemed to be a problem. I have a 2002 WRX
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Old 01-04-2010, 10:36 PM   #3
macmedic09
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05 wrx and mine's doing the same thing. it isn't my battery either... figured that out the same day when I left my parking lights on all day while I was at work and it still started when I got back to it
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Old 01-04-2010, 10:43 PM   #4
Nimbus09
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yup, outside of the noises and a little more hesitation, she still starts up. not worried about the battery at all. what sort of temps are you guys looking at when this starts happening?
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Old 01-04-2010, 10:46 PM   #5
olivertwisto
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you should hear mine turn over at -30. Ugh. I'm never taking it outside of the sunbelt again.
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Old 01-04-2010, 10:47 PM   #6
Jubert69
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Same thing happening to mine. Happens around below freezing.
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Old 01-04-2010, 10:48 PM   #7
under5
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I'm not sure about this particular noise, but all kinds of noises come out of my car in cold starts. When does spring get here?
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Old 01-04-2010, 11:11 PM   #8
macmedic09
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimbus09 View Post
yup, outside of the noises and a little more hesitation, she still starts up. not worried about the battery at all. what sort of temps are you guys looking at when this starts happening?
about 5-30F and the colder the worse it gets
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Old 01-04-2010, 11:31 PM   #9
gopsu
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mine sounds like diesel engine
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Old 01-05-2010, 02:32 AM   #10
snook07wrx
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I hate the sound of our engines on cold starts. We keep having a cold spell or two of negative temps/single digits. I know it's 'normal' for our cars but man it doesn't sound good sometimes...
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Old 01-05-2010, 02:56 AM   #11
kh15
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mine does the same thing, you have to remember what oil does in single digit weather.
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Old 01-05-2010, 03:06 AM   #12
REVNU
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Even here in beautiful SoCal it's been getting really cold at night (30's) and when I go to start it in the morning you can hear it struggle to turn over. It does a little sputtering and stuttering, and clacks around like a diesel (I blame that on the forged rods and pistons though).

Battery is pretty new, so it's definitely not that, I just think it's normal for our cars. Everyone I talk to around here has similar noises and what not on really cold starts.

Last edited by REVNU; 01-05-2010 at 03:18 AM.
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Old 01-05-2010, 03:11 AM   #13
LASERBLUE135
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimbus09 View Post
hoarse, scratching-like noise. i've noticed this at <20F weather
Exact same thing, 2002 WRX. Freezing cold this week in Minnesota! I just got the car, so I was a little concerned, but after the car warmed up a little the sound went away. Bought a BRAND NEW BATTERY this morning, same sound.
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Old 01-05-2010, 08:57 AM   #14
ajp11
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same things here.... its been around 5Farenheit, with wind it feels like -10. Car doenst sound awesome at start, but it warms up and sounds fine. I'm running 10w-30 as well....tuner requires it! said I can switch to 5w-30, but doesnt think I need to at all.
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Old 01-05-2010, 09:16 AM   #15
xevets
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Default RE noise

This same exact thing happens to me, It almost sounds like some type of pressure release? As if a blow off valve is releasing pressure?

These motors make so many noises I just gave up worrying about it. I just turn the radio up louder when I imagine a weird noise

Still runs like a champ stage 2 150,000 miles burns minimal oil between changes, blah, blah, blah...

dont worry about it...
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Old 01-05-2010, 09:37 AM   #16
Davpat9467
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09 WRX here, I had that noise one time" like a pressure release" after the car set for a couple days.... Sounded like the coolant circulating... Hasn't done it again
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Old 01-05-2010, 10:45 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REVNU View Post
Even here in beautiful SoCal it's been getting really cold at night (30's)
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Old 01-05-2010, 10:47 AM   #18
AndyH
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Yeah, I was chuckling over that comment as well
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Old 01-05-2010, 11:05 AM   #19
genny_1
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Probably not related to the noises you are hearing, but I just got a recall notice for the PCV malfunctioning in cold weather. It looks like it may have only been issued in Canada (Subaru Service program HBA-48).
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Old 01-05-2010, 11:13 AM   #20
resideinva
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Yeah I'm getting the scratchy noised and stuff every once in a while and if it doesnt do that it'll start up and studder as it gets up in rpms as it's starting.

The thing is it I'm not seeing the cold way below freezing temps you guys are. the coldest it's really been is in the high 20s-low 30s
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Old 01-05-2010, 11:34 AM   #21
dubya-R-ex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REVNU View Post
Even here in beautiful SoCal it's been getting really cold at night (30's) and when I go to start it in the morning you can hear it struggle to turn over. It does a little sputtering and stuttering, and clacks around like a diesel (I blame that on the forged rods and pistons though).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefoton View Post
Battery is pretty new, so it's definitely not that, I just think it's normal for our cars. Everyone I talk to around here has similar noises and what not on really cold starts.
Yea, California has it so easy. 30 ain't ****. The entire nation has been under a deep freeze but I don't think Chicago has seen 20 in 4-5 days. Today I think it is supposed to get up to 17. 20 in the forecast tomorrow but 12 for a high on saturday and 0 overnight.
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Old 01-05-2010, 11:56 AM   #22
J. Steinbeck
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It's not just a Subaru thing...

I work on cars on the side, and about this time of year I'll have people come to me asking about strange scratching/ grinding noises that happen immediately after they start their cars.

Based on my experience, it often ends up being two things:

- A belt momentarily slipping on a cold pulley

- A sticking Bendix on your starter (often the result of lubrication within the drive congealing due to temperature)

If you want to start readjusting your belts or disassembling your starter to try and cure the issue, go for it. However, if is is only a problem for less than a couple of seconds and only in unusually cold conditions, it is more trouble than it is worth IMO. Especially if you're not going to be wrenching on it in the warmth of your garage.
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Old 01-05-2010, 03:05 PM   #23
Nimbus09
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^hmmm, never thought about belt slip. could be possible. but, yes, i only hear it for about two seconds after ignition. it sounds like something is winding up. really not worried. just wondering when i can expect to not feel like i'm abusing my baby. every time i hear it, i picture my pistons tearing through the cylinder walls.

@ 30F . saturday's high is supposed to be 9F
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Old 01-05-2010, 03:59 PM   #24
Claymra
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gopsu View Post
mine sounds like diesel engine
same here
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Old 01-05-2010, 05:40 PM   #25
REVNU
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I know 30F is warm for you people up north and in other parts. For us in SoCal that's pretty cold though. I don't mind it too much, I've spent a lot of time in the Utah mountains in near 0ºF conditions, so I'm no stranger to COLD. Sorry the weather here is much more livable than the freezing hell holes you're from. (I mean that in the nicest possible way of course).

Either way my car makes noises when it's cold. So does most other peoples.
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