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Old 06-10-2013, 10:07 AM   #1
MA_Boxer
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Default 2013 WRX water problem/rattling noise

Before WBM I decided to go through a touch less car wash. During the wash my wife noticed her feet where getting wet. This car doesn't even have 500 miles and water is getting through somehow. Then, we hit I-91 and after 5 mins of going about 75mph we noticed a rattling noise coming from the undercarriage. Now I'm extremely pissed. I bought a new car not to have these kind of problems.

Today I took it to the dealer. The service lady was a *****. I told her about the leak, but instead of telling me any reason why or at least trying to ask someone about it, she said with a smirk, "we don't have a warranty on car washes." I was about to go off, what does that mean? I'm not allowed to wash my car, or drive when it's raining?? WTF am I driving on a horse and buggy? But then we scheduled an appointment. The noise might be a heat shield according to her.

Has anyone had any of these problems?
I drive a stock 2013 Subaru 5-door WRX
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Old 06-10-2013, 10:50 AM   #2
Jack
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Does water come in when it's raining?
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Old 06-10-2013, 11:05 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by Jack ffr1846 View Post
Does water come in when it's raining?
I haven't drove in the rain. I will check next time it rains.
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Old 06-10-2013, 12:14 PM   #4
Fiveohmagnet3000
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What dealership are you dealing with? Is it the same one you bought the car at?
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Old 06-10-2013, 12:37 PM   #5
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Take a few breaths and relax man, a new car doesn't mean no problems. Why don't you get a hose and a friend and find the source of the leak? A little troubleshooting on your part will likely find the causes of both problems.
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Old 06-10-2013, 12:58 PM   #6
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What dealership are you dealing with? Is it the same one you bought the car at?
Betera Subaru in West Springfield. Yeah it's the same one.
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Old 06-10-2013, 01:01 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Snowphun View Post
Take a few breaths and relax man, a new car doesn't mean no problems. Why don't you get a hose and a friend and find the source of the leak? A little troubleshooting on your part will likely find the causes of both problems.
I will its just I'm not happy because I paying a good amount of money for a new car. I didn't buy a new car to troubleshoot it. I do enjoy working on cars.

Paying for a new car and having trouble with it from week 1 wouldn't make anyone happy I don't think lol
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Old 06-10-2013, 01:11 PM   #8
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If you expected a Subaru to be rattle free you're going to be in for a rough ownership. If you don't want to troubleshoot then work with the mediocre after sales support offered by SOA. Seems a lot easier to me to spend five minutes finding a leak myself rather than waiting on SOA and sitting around at the dealership.
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Old 06-10-2013, 08:40 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Snowphun View Post
If you expected a Subaru to be rattle free you're going to be in for a rough ownership. If you don't want to troubleshoot then work with the mediocre after sales support offered by SOA. Seems a lot easier to me to spend five minutes finding a leak myself rather than waiting on SOA and sitting around at the dealership.
That's true too. I appreciate the advice.
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Old 06-11-2013, 07:35 PM   #10
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i would put my money on the windshield having a leak in the urethane glue. while that would be fairly uncommon on a new car it isnt that uncommon or unheard of in aftermarket window replacement.

did you talk to the dealer at wbm? they were there.
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Old 06-11-2013, 09:47 PM   #11
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if her feet were getting wet in the passanger seat it might be the A/C drain hose thats clogged with a spider web. Before you go on and explode in laughter, creep under the passanger area, find the HVAC box, find the hose that goes down the firewall, remove it by pulling down on it and look inside. If you can, try to blow compressed air in to the hose. The fact that the water came in after the car wash might be a coincidence. Even though you just bought the car, its been sitting in New England weather and spider infested parking lots (spiders love vent hoses). As far as the rattles, make sure your undercover is fastened all the way. WRX doesnt have a lot of heat shield issues.
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Old 06-11-2013, 09:48 PM   #12
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oh by the way, I'm a certified Subaru tech in Milford CT. hope this helps
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Old 06-12-2013, 11:44 PM   #13
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It's a brand new car, so as annoying as it is, at least you can get it fixed on Subaru. The only rattle my WRX had was from the back seats after I put in stiffer suspension. I wrapped the little bars that connect when the seats are in the up position with a piece of electrical tape and it went away. I haven't had any undercarriage noises.
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Old 06-13-2013, 07:45 AM   #14
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Yep, I had similar - I'm with crizza on this, it'd be the 1st thing I'd check.

Within 500 miles on my '12 WRX I noticed water on the passenger side one time when it was raining but it turned out to be the A/C drain hose was clogged. Was worried it was something big like a gasket leak (had that issue with my old truck) so took it to the dealer and they cleared it in 10 minutes. Not uncommon from what I hear. No problem with it since that one time. I'd guess it's the heat shield for the rattle as well, not a big deal.

New cars can have quirks but wow, the service person you dealt with there sounds like a real gem... Might need to remind her it's not the car wash warranty your asking about, but ah the water getting into the car when it shouldn't? I'd actually mention how they responded to someone else there, like the service manager, just because responses like that will certainly hurt business - I know they'd lose mine with an attitude like that.

Hope they get this stuff resolved & you have better like with the dealer from here on out, if not I'd look for another dealer.

Good luck,
- Steve
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Old 06-13-2013, 09:00 AM   #15
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maybe she was just joking and didn't realize you were actually angry?

it's under warranty for a reason. This likely isn't a major mechanical issue. Just hand it over, let them fix it, and be on your merry way.
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Old 06-13-2013, 09:46 AM   #16
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Touchless car washes use high pressure water jets to get the car clean. What the service advisor meant was that Subaru does not consider water intrusion that only occurs in a high pressure wash to be a defect.

Subaru builds cars, not submarines.
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Old 06-13-2013, 12:28 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by SpamBot View Post
Subaru builds cars, not submarines.
Damn, I guess I need to reschedule my plans this weekend...
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Old 06-13-2013, 12:59 PM   #18
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Not sure this is relevant to newer cars, but my 2002 was getting wet on the passenger side consistently a while back. Turned out to be one of the firewall grommets on that side had popped out.

Shot in the dark, but there you go.
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Old 06-13-2013, 01:59 PM   #19
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Damn, I guess I need to reschedule my plans this weekend...
Yes, driving out to view the Titantic wreck will have to wait.
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Old 06-15-2013, 01:01 AM   #20
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Thanks for the help guys. I went and got it checked out today, the a/c hose was the reason for the leak. The noise turned out to be the short throw shifter was installed incorrectly. The car originally came with the short throw shifter.

The tech said he has never herd anything like that before. Once the problem was solved, the lady came up to me and said I installed it wrong. I said, no you guys did. Man, did her smile fade fast.
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Old 06-15-2013, 07:17 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MA_Boxer View Post
Thanks for the help guys. I went and got it checked out today, the a/c hose was the reason for the leak. The noise turned out to be the short throw shifter was installed incorrectly. The car originally came with the short throw shifter.

The tech said he has never herd anything like that before. Once the problem was solved, the lady came up to me and said I installed it wrong. I said, no you guys did. Man, did her smile fade fast.
Thats awesome, these service people are such jokes.what did they install wrong its pretty straight fwd
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Old 06-15-2013, 07:26 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MA_Boxer View Post
I'm not allowed to wash my car, or drive when it's raining??
Read the manual. On page 42 it clearly states: "As with all Subarus that have a TMIC and hood scoop, driving in the rain is NOT RECOMMENDED."
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Old 06-16-2013, 10:12 AM   #23
MA_Boxer
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Originally Posted by nhmtns View Post

Read the manual. On page 42 it clearly states: "As with all Subarus that have a TMIC and hood scoop, driving in the rain is NOT RECOMMENDED."
Thanks for the info. It's the same for motorcycles too lol I understand what you are saying, but having a water leak on a brand new car is very frustrating.
I didn't buy this car for sunny days only. It's my daily driver.
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Old 06-16-2013, 04:25 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MA_Boxer View Post
Thanks for the help guys. I went and got it checked out today, the a/c hose was the reason for the leak. The noise turned out to be the short throw shifter was installed incorrectly. The car originally came with the short throw shifter.

The tech said he has never herd anything like that before. Once the problem was solved, the lady came up to me and said I installed it wrong. I said, no you guys did. Man, did her smile fade fast.
Cool, glad to hear that that's all it was on both counts. I always worry with a new car; big investment, everything's different. Been loving my WRX, was ym 1st Subie and after almost a year, couldn't be happier.

As for the 'rain thing', it's from the part of the manual where like it warns you about everything; like ladders now have warnings on them that you shouldn't climb them

best of luck -

- Steve
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Old 06-16-2013, 05:00 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pakal967 View Post
As for the 'rain thing', it's from the part of the manual where like it warns you about everything; like ladders now have warnings on them that you shouldn't climb them
Tell me more about this part of the manual.
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