Hard acceleration noises in '04 STi

kangaroo128 · 06-16-2007, 03:56 PM

Hey guys. I just bought an '04 STi recently with 28,800 miles on it and in really good condition. I have a 5 year comprehensive extended warranty, so no worries there, but I'm wondering if I should get the car checked out or if I'm such a noob to turbos that it's normal sounds and I'm just paranoid. Under really hard acceleration, usually in 2nd and 3rd gear right before redline and when my foot is to the floor, I get a high pitched whining noise that almost sounds like a pulley or a belt. I don't figure this is the turbo because it would do it all the time on acceleration right? My main question is, does this sound like a serious issue or is it normal? Thanks a lot.

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pooster.online · 06-16-2007, 03:59 PM

are you sure it isnt the turbo spooling? Then again, I didn't get the turbo spool till I added a downpipe.

kangaroo128 · 06-16-2007, 04:17 PM

This is a really loud whining noise, and it sounds just like a belt, but I can't figure why a belt would be making that sound unless something is loose? But like I said I have no idea what a turbo sounds like when it spools under hard acceleration. This only happens when I'm REALLY on it, if I back off just a tad it doesn't make this sound at all. That's why I figure it can't be the turbo. I just hope it's nothing serious, otherwise the car is an animal.

SNE2040 · 06-16-2007, 05:08 PM

maybe a leak at the intercooler (piping)?

bryansonger · 06-16-2007, 08:03 PM

are you certain its coming from the engine and not inside the cabin? when i full throttle in 5th, my seatbelt harnesses vibrate really fast and it kinda sounds like whining.

STIred05 · 06-16-2007, 08:18 PM

Starting w/ your mods what is done to the car? A turbo spooling will sound like air rushing... sort of like if you have ever heard a plane start its engines. Is it gear based? RPM based? MPH based? Did you try checking your trans fluid? have you or have you thought about boost leak testing your car? Just trying to narrow down when and where it happens.

RSman2.5 · 06-17-2007, 01:54 PM

This was happening to my RSTi with a 2006 engine in it. Mine was leaking from the header, I replaced it and it was fine. Jack your car up and look at the header. If you can see black, charred looking areas then that is where your leak is.

Hope this helps. It only would scream at WOT on my car just like yours so I bet there is a leak somewhere.

kangaroo128 · 06-17-2007, 08:31 PM

Yeah I'm positive this isn't coming from the cabin and it's coming from somewhere under the hood. There are no mods on this car added by the previous owner or myself. It's a completely stock '04 STi. I'm beginning to believe it's a leak myself. I can hear the turbo spooling all of the time under normal or fairly heavy acceleration, it's a much quieter whine/moving air sound that quits when I let off the accelerator. This sound I'm describing sounds almost exactly like a belt under serious strain, whether it be a belt or not, that's just the sound it gives off. It sounds nothing like the turbo whine. It sounds like grinding belts. I will have my local Subaru guys look at it tomorrow and let you guys know the verdict. Wish me luck.

EDIT: Oh and about trying to narrow this down, it doesn't appear to be gear based or mph based, it will happen in 1st 2nd 3rd, sometimes even in 4th and at many varying speeds. It's mostly a high rpm issue, as I said, I have to be closing in on redline and then this sound kicks in. And if I back off JUST the slightest bit, it stops and just accelerates hard with no odd sounds.

kangaroo128 · 06-19-2007, 09:29 PM

Wow. I thought I'd give everyone an update on what's been going on with the car. I took it to my Subaru guys Monday and they dropped a bomb on me. The tech pulled up the service history through the Subaru network and there had been over $12,500 worth of repairs done to the car in the last nine months, including but not limited to, an entirely new short block, new heads, new cam shafts, new turbo and new intercooler. So basically the only things left from the stock engine were some of the electrical and the intake

.

I was sold this car as a stock original car with only "minor tweaks and repairs" performed. When test driving it the only thing I was able to notice from all of this work was this very odd screeching belt sound I've been describing. And apparently there had been work done to the timing belt and the valves as well, and I'm talking about on the SECOND engine, not the original.

The dealer was very quick to give back my old car and cancel the loan application and warranty. They of course did not want me to make a huge stink of this, but I'm furious nonetheless. I am now without an STi and have to find and purchase another one all over again. I think this time I'll buy from an individual and definitely get a history check done on the car through Subaru before I make the purchase. Thanks for all your help guys.

RuskeR · 06-20-2007, 04:37 PM

Wow that is crazy. It's obviously a good thing you no longer have the car.

Before buying a subaru can you check with SOA about the cars history? I always figured they wouldn't let you know since you don't own the car.

drewzter · 06-20-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kangaroo128

I am now without an STi and have to find and purchase another one all over again. I think this time I'll buy from an individual and definitely get a history check done on the car through Subaru before I make the purchase. Thanks for all your help guys.

How about an 04 with 65K on it. ? Not really for sale but Hey, everything is for sale at the right price.

mxboy15u · 06-20-2007, 09:17 PM

What was the big deal with the repairs that have been done? I think I would be happy that a car I bought had a whole new engine. Pretty nice if you ask me. I would have had them fix your exhaust leak and been on my merry way. I probably would have gotten some cash back for them covering up the truth, but if the repairs were done correctly there really isn't anything wrong with that. Should someone be mad at me if I was having a problem and had it fixed? I wonder why the intercooler had to be replaced...that is weird.

kangaroo128 · 06-20-2007, 11:09 PM

Ok you have a point, but here's the thing, the guy I know who is the service manager at the Subaru shop near me told me that he wouldn't really stand by the repairs that his guys had done BECAUSE, the first Subaru shop had done shotty work and my guys had to try to fix the second engine's issues. The original owner had obviously driven the car so hard that he blew the first engine completely beyond use, had a new engine installed, and the car was just never the same. The guys at my shop told me they wouldn't give me two grand for the car, it was just that bad. Now I'm hunting for a new one.

EDIT: Just a bit too many miles drewzter. You've driven that car A LOT huh? How do you like it as a daily driver?

drewzter · 06-21-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kangaroo128

O Just a bit too many miles drewzter. You've driven that car A LOT huh? How do you like it as a daily driver?

Lots of Fun. Somedays more that others. I drive 14 miles one way to work on I-95 in Jax. Sometimes the traffic gives me fits and sometimes I have fun with it. That 5th gear passing power is awesome. I autoX it on weekends. I have a lil trailer for the race rubber. I am winning SM this season after 5 events.

06-16-2007, 03:56 PM	#1
kangaroo128 Scooby Newbie Member#: 35261 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Newton, NC Vehicle: 1995 Impreza 2.2L Beige	Hard acceleration noises in '04 STi Hey guys. I just bought an '04 STi recently with 28,800 miles on it and in really good condition. I have a 5 year comprehensive extended warranty, so no worries there, but I'm wondering if I should get the car checked out or if I'm such a noob to turbos that it's normal sounds and I'm just paranoid. Under really hard acceleration, usually in 2nd and 3rd gear right before redline and when my foot is to the floor, I get a high pitched whining noise that almost sounds like a pulley or a belt. I don't figure this is the turbo because it would do it all the time on acceleration right? My main question is, does this sound like a serious issue or is it normal? Thanks a lot. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

06-20-2007, 11:09 PM	#13
kangaroo128 Scooby Newbie Member#: 35261 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Newton, NC Vehicle: 1995 Impreza 2.2L Beige	Ok you have a point, but here's the thing, the guy I know who is the service manager at the Subaru shop near me told me that he wouldn't really stand by the repairs that his guys had done BECAUSE, the first Subaru shop had done shotty work and my guys had to try to fix the second engine's issues. The original owner had obviously driven the car so hard that he blew the first engine completely beyond use, had a new engine installed, and the car was just never the same. The guys at my shop told me they wouldn't give me two grand for the car, it was just that bad. Now I'm hunting for a new one. EDIT: Just a bit too many miles drewzter. You've driven that car A LOT huh? How do you like it as a daily driver? Last edited by kangaroo128; 06-20-2007 at 11:18 PM.

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06-16-2007, 03:59 PM	#2
pooster.online Scooby Newbie Member#: 120461 Join Date: Jul 2006 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Bay Area/ L.A Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi JBP	are you sure it isnt the turbo spooling? Then again, I didn't get the turbo spool till I added a downpipe.

06-16-2007, 04:17 PM	#3
kangaroo128 Scooby Newbie Member#: 35261 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Newton, NC Vehicle: 1995 Impreza 2.2L Beige	This is a really loud whining noise, and it sounds just like a belt, but I can't figure why a belt would be making that sound unless something is loose? But like I said I have no idea what a turbo sounds like when it spools under hard acceleration. This only happens when I'm REALLY on it, if I back off just a tad it doesn't make this sound at all. That's why I figure it can't be the turbo. I just hope it's nothing serious, otherwise the car is an animal.

06-16-2007, 05:08 PM	#4
SNE2040 Scooby Specialist Member#: 72195 Join Date: Oct 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: North Jersey Vehicle: 2012 WRX GV SWP	maybe a leak at the intercooler (piping)?

06-16-2007, 08:03 PM	#5
bryansonger Scooby Newbie Member#: 73117 Join Date: Oct 2004 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: socal Vehicle: 2008 e92 M3	are you certain its coming from the engine and not inside the cabin? when i full throttle in 5th, my seatbelt harnesses vibrate really fast and it kinda sounds like whining.

06-16-2007, 08:18 PM	#6
STIred05 Scooby Newbie Member#: 115223 Join Date: May 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Vehicle: 2005 Subaru STI silver	Starting w/ your mods what is done to the car? A turbo spooling will sound like air rushing... sort of like if you have ever heard a plane start its engines. Is it gear based? RPM based? MPH based? Did you try checking your trans fluid? have you or have you thought about boost leak testing your car? Just trying to narrow down when and where it happens.

06-17-2007, 01:54 PM	#7
RSman2.5 Scooby Newbie Member#: 26863 Join Date: Oct 2002	This was happening to my RSTi with a 2006 engine in it. Mine was leaking from the header, I replaced it and it was fine. Jack your car up and look at the header. If you can see black, charred looking areas then that is where your leak is. Hope this helps. It only would scream at WOT on my car just like yours so I bet there is a leak somewhere.

06-17-2007, 08:31 PM	#8
kangaroo128 Scooby Newbie Member#: 35261 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Newton, NC Vehicle: 1995 Impreza 2.2L Beige	Yeah I'm positive this isn't coming from the cabin and it's coming from somewhere under the hood. There are no mods on this car added by the previous owner or myself. It's a completely stock '04 STi. I'm beginning to believe it's a leak myself. I can hear the turbo spooling all of the time under normal or fairly heavy acceleration, it's a much quieter whine/moving air sound that quits when I let off the accelerator. This sound I'm describing sounds almost exactly like a belt under serious strain, whether it be a belt or not, that's just the sound it gives off. It sounds nothing like the turbo whine. It sounds like grinding belts. I will have my local Subaru guys look at it tomorrow and let you guys know the verdict. Wish me luck. EDIT: Oh and about trying to narrow this down, it doesn't appear to be gear based or mph based, it will happen in 1st 2nd 3rd, sometimes even in 4th and at many varying speeds. It's mostly a high rpm issue, as I said, I have to be closing in on redline and then this sound kicks in. And if I back off JUST the slightest bit, it stops and just accelerates hard with no odd sounds.

06-19-2007, 09:29 PM	#9
kangaroo128 Scooby Newbie Member#: 35261 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Newton, NC Vehicle: 1995 Impreza 2.2L Beige	Wow. I thought I'd give everyone an update on what's been going on with the car. I took it to my Subaru guys Monday and they dropped a bomb on me. The tech pulled up the service history through the Subaru network and there had been over $12,500 worth of repairs done to the car in the last nine months, including but not limited to, an entirely new short block, new heads, new cam shafts, new turbo and new intercooler. So basically the only things left from the stock engine were some of the electrical and the intake . I was sold this car as a stock original car with only "minor tweaks and repairs" performed. When test driving it the only thing I was able to notice from all of this work was this very odd screeching belt sound I've been describing. And apparently there had been work done to the timing belt and the valves as well, and I'm talking about on the SECOND engine, not the original. The dealer was very quick to give back my old car and cancel the loan application and warranty. They of course did not want me to make a huge stink of this, but I'm furious nonetheless. I am now without an STi and have to find and purchase another one all over again. I think this time I'll buy from an individual and definitely get a history check done on the car through Subaru before I make the purchase. Thanks for all your help guys.

06-20-2007, 04:37 PM	#10
RuskeR Scooby Specialist Member#: 5824 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Hoquiam, WA. Vehicle: 2005 STi Aspen White 1990 240sx "SR20"	Wow that is crazy. It's obviously a good thing you no longer have the car. Before buying a subaru can you check with SOA about the cars history? I always figured they wouldn't let you know since you don't own the car.

06-20-2007, 09:17 PM	#12
mxboy15u Scooby Specialist Member#: 105115 Join Date: Jan 2006	What was the big deal with the repairs that have been done? I think I would be happy that a car I bought had a whole new engine. Pretty nice if you ask me. I would have had them fix your exhaust leak and been on my merry way. I probably would have gotten some cash back for them covering up the truth, but if the repairs were done correctly there really isn't anything wrong with that. Should someone be mad at me if I was having a problem and had it fixed? I wonder why the intercooler had to be replaced...that is weird.