loud ticking noise! :(

DioRio · 12-10-2008, 12:32 PM

i just got the car a few weeks ago and it is my first subaru i have had. i was told they are louder then most other cars ( ticking wise) but this seems a bit excessive. it isnt really there when i am just sitting there if i rev the engine up. but under load when excelerating, it is pretty loud. i dont think its knock becauase its not low of a sound to be knock. would the timing belt tensioner make this sound? what are some ways to check the tensioner to see if its bad?

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dlong27 · 12-10-2008, 04:34 PM

Is it constant or does it vary with engine temperature? and do you know the maintenance/ ownership history of the car? that info would be helpful

Storm · 12-10-2008, 05:04 PM

You just got the car......its 7yrs old.....it's time to do some preventitive maintenance.

It would be good to have the valve clearances checked and adjusted if necessary. Depending on milage, timing idlers, tensioners may be needing attention.

There isn't really much in the way of specific subaru traits other than the boxer sound and what some people think are loud fuel injectors.... Have it checked out by a mechanic knowledgable in subarus.

...oh, and congrats on the purchase!
Jay

mannyOlicious · 12-10-2008, 05:09 PM

turn up the radio and don't worry about it

juuust kidding

DioRio · 12-10-2008, 11:43 PM

forgot to mention, i have replaced the spark plugs and have done the valve clearance twice to make sure got it done correct. it has about 145k on it.

i have also replaced the exhaust manifold gaskets.

it has the normal loud kinda piston slap when first start when cold, most that goes away when warm, but the noise i am talkin about is still there when it is warmed up.

i dont know the A LOT of the maintenance records but he did show me some of the stuff he had for it and all the stuff was done at subaru. like oil changes and such. all at 3k each time. but other then that, dont know.

mannyOlicious · 12-10-2008, 11:47 PM

check to make sure the exhaust manifold is securely tightened

DioRio · 12-11-2008, 12:00 AM

ya =/ its hella tight. wish that was all it was

Vizzionz · 12-11-2008, 01:25 AM

take it back to the place you bought it from and have them take a look at it!!!

DioRio · 12-11-2008, 11:54 AM

i bought it from a private party

rdodger · 12-11-2008, 12:58 PM

Your best bet is to take it to a mechanic who works on alot of subarus or make us a video and post it on youtube, if we can hear the actual sound it becomes alot easier to diagnose.

yarrgh · 12-11-2008, 12:59 PM

I'm not saying you have something bad, but when I had a bad bearing, it would rattle for about half a second on startup(no oil pressure yet), then come back when warm. I'd say to keep going on the tensioner path for now. I can't help you on that, but search.

Old School Scooby · 12-11-2008, 03:19 PM

my car had a wrist pin let loose at 135K on it, it was a light ticking and now sounds like a knock, but it could just be the fuel injectors.

subaru injectors are quite loud, get a long screw driver and put it to the block and the handle to your ear, move around until it gets louder or quieter, and you will find where its coming from.

DioRio · 12-11-2008, 10:48 PM

it sounds like its coming from the front of the engine. could this sound even be the tensioner? or would it not make the noise when warm and excelerating.

also, i noticed it does make the noise in neutral a bit when reving it but not as much as when under load.

Vizzionz · 12-12-2008, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DioRio

it sounds like its coming from the front of the engine. could this sound even be the tensioner? or would it not make the noise when warm and excelerating.

also, i noticed it does make the noise in neutral a bit when reving it but not as much as when under load.

sounds like a spun bearing, you just described what was wrong with my subaru when my engine spun it's bearing! take it in ASAP!!!! i ended up having to replace my complete short block and complete heads! due to metal shaving getting ALL over the place.

Back Road Runner · 12-12-2008, 04:21 AM

Cold weather = ticking noise. The ticking should lessen and go away as the car warms. In very cold temps, the ticking may lessen but sometimes not completely go away. After switching to a low base synthetic (ow30, 0w40) for improved cold weather driveability, I've noticed the tick seems to be less, but I don't know why.

I can't comment about other "noises" specifically. Because it is a new car to you, you will find various sounds you are not familiar with. This sort of makes everything suspicious.

A spun bearing is a pretty specific sound. You get a lot of physical movement between the parts and start getting definite clanging between parts. It's a pretty obvious sound generally. You'll hear it quite audibly with the car just sitting and idling.

Just some little tick, tick, tick while the car's sitting there may be very little. Then again, it may grow to be something big.

Try and record some audio of it if you can.

DioRio · 12-12-2008, 11:20 AM

it didn't have the noise when i first got the car. i will see if i can get a recording later today.

Vizzionz · 12-12-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back Road Runner

A spun bearing is a pretty specific sound. You get a lot of physical movement between the parts and start getting definite clanging between parts. It's a pretty obvious sound generally. You'll hear it quite audibly with the car just sitting and idling.

Just some little tick, tick, tick while the car's sitting there may be very little. Then again, it may grow to be something big.

when my car spun it's bearing, for a month prior to it fully going. it was just a "tick tick tick" at idle, when reving up between 2,5K-3K RPM you can really hear a tick tick tick. then a month went by and i was on the freeway when i gave it a little gas and the next thing i heard was "ping pong ding" and my car dies completely and wouldn't start up again.

so moral of this story! TAKE IT TO YOUR MECHANIC OR DEALER SHIP ASAP!

yarrgh · 12-12-2008, 02:15 PM

drain the oil and look for shiny, copper bits. you may have to shine a bright light in the oil pan to see them. That's a definite sign of bearing failure.

Vizzionz · 12-12-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yarrgh

drain the oil and look for shiny, copper bits. you may have to shine a bright light in the oil pan to see them. That's a definite sign of bearing failure.

true.......

DioRio · 12-12-2008, 10:06 PM

ok so i drained the oil and there was nothing in it at all. still looked almost new. does no one think this could be tensioner?

DioRio · 12-13-2008, 01:27 PM

so i started tearing into it today, can i run the car with the crank pully off so i can watch the tensioner and other pullys to see if there moving at all or see where the noise is coming from?

SiCkSTi04 · 12-13-2008, 04:25 PM

sure can, the crank pulley only drives the PS pump and a/c compressor. i would keep the pulley on after removing the plastic covers.

DioRio · 12-13-2008, 04:44 PM

ok so with it running i cant really tell if the tensioner is moving or not.... if i put a long screwdriver on it on the arm i can hear ticking... also, the bottom left pully has some movement. ideas?

Counterfit · 12-14-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiCkSTi04

sure can, the crank pulley only drives the PS pump and a/c compressor. i would keep the pulley on after removing the plastic covers.

It also runs the alternator, so make sure you don't run it for too long, but you should be able to find (or not find) a problem well before the battery runs out.

BE6STI · 12-15-2008, 11:28 AM

What does the bottom left pulley go to.. it may just be an idler or something...

12-10-2008, 12:32 PM	#1
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	loud ticking noise! :( i just got the car a few weeks ago and it is my first subaru i have had. i was told they are louder then most other cars ( ticking wise) but this seems a bit excessive. it isnt really there when i am just sitting there if i rev the engine up. but under load when excelerating, it is pretty loud. i dont think its knock becauase its not low of a sound to be knock. would the timing belt tensioner make this sound? what are some ways to check the tensioner to see if its bad? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

12-13-2008, 04:25 PM	#22
SiCkSTi04 Scooby Newbie Member#: 105676 Join Date: Jan 2006 Chapter/Region: South East Location: South Florida Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi JBP	sure can, the crank pulley only drives the PS pump and a/c compressor. i would keep the pulley on after removing the plastic covers. Last edited by SiCkSTi04; 12-13-2008 at 04:32 PM.

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12-10-2008, 04:34 PM	#2
dlong27 Scooby Specialist Member#: 191010 Join Date: Oct 2008 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Clinton, MA Vehicle: 2011 Lego Premium	Is it constant or does it vary with engine temperature? and do you know the maintenance/ ownership history of the car? that info would be helpful

12-10-2008, 05:04 PM	#3
Storm Scooby Guru Member#: 5218 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: SAUL'S Motorsports Vehicle: 96L Most Over- Developed Beater	You just got the car......its 7yrs old.....it's time to do some preventitive maintenance. It would be good to have the valve clearances checked and adjusted if necessary. Depending on milage, timing idlers, tensioners may be needing attention. There isn't really much in the way of specific subaru traits other than the boxer sound and what some people think are loud fuel injectors.... Have it checked out by a mechanic knowledgable in subarus. ...oh, and congrats on the purchase! Jay

12-10-2008, 05:09 PM	#4
mannyOlicious * Banned * Member#: 173829 Join Date: Mar 2008 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Irvine, CA Vehicle: 04 dom3 +meth pyah 09 triumph daytona 675	turn up the radio and don't worry about it juuust kidding

12-10-2008, 11:43 PM	#5
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	forgot to mention, i have replaced the spark plugs and have done the valve clearance twice to make sure got it done correct. it has about 145k on it. i have also replaced the exhaust manifold gaskets. it has the normal loud kinda piston slap when first start when cold, most that goes away when warm, but the noise i am talkin about is still there when it is warmed up. i dont know the A LOT of the maintenance records but he did show me some of the stuff he had for it and all the stuff was done at subaru. like oil changes and such. all at 3k each time. but other then that, dont know.

12-10-2008, 11:47 PM	#6
mannyOlicious * Banned * Member#: 173829 Join Date: Mar 2008 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Irvine, CA Vehicle: 04 dom3 +meth pyah 09 triumph daytona 675	check to make sure the exhaust manifold is securely tightened

12-11-2008, 12:00 AM	#7
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	ya =/ its hella tight. wish that was all it was

12-11-2008, 01:25 AM	#8
Vizzionz Scooby Specialist Member#: 139109 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Southern Colorado Vehicle: 2007 Impreza 2.5i Crystal Gray Metallic	take it back to the place you bought it from and have them take a look at it!!!

12-11-2008, 11:54 AM	#9
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	i bought it from a private party

12-11-2008, 12:58 PM	#10
rdodger Scooby Newbie Member#: 156447 Join Date: Aug 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: NWIndiana Vehicle: 99 18g'd 2.5RS-T Black	Your best bet is to take it to a mechanic who works on alot of subarus or make us a video and post it on youtube, if we can hear the actual sound it becomes alot easier to diagnose.

12-11-2008, 12:59 PM	#11
yarrgh Scooby Specialist Member#: 80465 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Aurora, CO Vehicle: 2001 2.5RS Black Diamond Pearl	I'm not saying you have something bad, but when I had a bad bearing, it would rattle for about half a second on startup(no oil pressure yet), then come back when warm. I'd say to keep going on the tensioner path for now. I can't help you on that, but search.

12-11-2008, 03:19 PM	#12
Old School Scooby Scooby Specialist Member#: 64128 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Burien,WA Vehicle: 86 Lifted, Lowered 96	my car had a wrist pin let loose at 135K on it, it was a light ticking and now sounds like a knock, but it could just be the fuel injectors. subaru injectors are quite loud, get a long screw driver and put it to the block and the handle to your ear, move around until it gets louder or quieter, and you will find where its coming from.

12-11-2008, 10:48 PM	#13
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	it sounds like its coming from the front of the engine. could this sound even be the tensioner? or would it not make the noise when warm and excelerating. also, i noticed it does make the noise in neutral a bit when reving it but not as much as when under load.

12-12-2008, 04:21 AM	#15
Back Road Runner Scooby Guru Member#: 60082 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Minnesota Vehicle: 2004 Forester STI Silver	Cold weather = ticking noise. The ticking should lessen and go away as the car warms. In very cold temps, the ticking may lessen but sometimes not completely go away. After switching to a low base synthetic (ow30, 0w40) for improved cold weather driveability, I've noticed the tick seems to be less, but I don't know why. I can't comment about other "noises" specifically. Because it is a new car to you, you will find various sounds you are not familiar with. This sort of makes everything suspicious. A spun bearing is a pretty specific sound. You get a lot of physical movement between the parts and start getting definite clanging between parts. It's a pretty obvious sound generally. You'll hear it quite audibly with the car just sitting and idling. Just some little tick, tick, tick while the car's sitting there may be very little. Then again, it may grow to be something big. Try and record some audio of it if you can.

12-12-2008, 11:20 AM	#16
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	it didn't have the noise when i first got the car. i will see if i can get a recording later today.

12-12-2008, 02:15 PM	#18
yarrgh Scooby Specialist Member#: 80465 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Aurora, CO Vehicle: 2001 2.5RS Black Diamond Pearl	drain the oil and look for shiny, copper bits. you may have to shine a bright light in the oil pan to see them. That's a definite sign of bearing failure.

12-12-2008, 10:06 PM	#20
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	ok so i drained the oil and there was nothing in it at all. still looked almost new. does no one think this could be tensioner?

12-13-2008, 01:27 PM	#21
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	so i started tearing into it today, can i run the car with the crank pully off so i can watch the tensioner and other pullys to see if there moving at all or see where the noise is coming from?

12-13-2008, 04:44 PM	#23
DioRio Scooby Newbie Member#: 193781 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Port Angeles, WA / Astoria, OR Vehicle: 2002 WRX aspen white	ok so with it running i cant really tell if the tensioner is moving or not.... if i put a long screwdriver on it on the arm i can hear ticking... also, the bottom left pully has some movement. ideas?

12-15-2008, 11:28 AM	#25
BE6STI Scooby Newbie Member#: 192815 Join Date: Oct 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: West Des Moines Iowa Vehicle: 2003 Outback Regatta Red Pearl	What does the bottom left pulley go to.. it may just be an idler or something...