My WRX is making dumb noises. Take a listen? (Morning Crowd)

"Burrito de EJ25" (alexcarrillo01)
10/29/2014 at 07:30 • Filed to: None

Here are two of the awful noises my 2 year old car is making:

This is squeal happens only during cold starts and only when the car is sitting outside. It's probably the throwout bearing. It does it halfway through the clutch's engagement point. The car is in neutral while this is happening. It goes away after the car has been warmed up. Typically when I've driven about a block.

I'm having a shit of a time trying to get the dealership to work on it. I've taken it once, they've heard it, but now they want the shop foreman to listen to it and he's never around on the weekends. And they won't offer me a loaner car or a rental for the weekdays despite them needing to keep it over night in order to actually hear it. It's frustrating.

I was told to call Thursday and maybe, hopefully there might be a loaner available. That is if someone without a bigger issue doesn't come a long and snap it up before me.

Sound number 2 is a chirp. I hear it when I'm driving. It seems to be getting progressively worse. I used to not hear it during idle, but during around 1500 - 3000 RPMs. Now it's just a thing it does.

I asked the dealership about it when sound number 1 was being investigated. In true service department fashion they really couldn't hear it. I wasn't with them during the road test, and maybe it was less audible, but I'll bring it up again. I'll show them this video, but doing so doesn't really help. The car has to be doing it in their presence, and my WRX is a fucking asshole when it comes to this stuff.

I've had the original turbo replaced so far. It was leaking oil. I'm nervous about them possibly needing to further pull apart my car. The last thing I want is for this thing to be disassembled in case something is overlooked and my car is left in worse shape. But it's a $30,000, 2 year old vehicle. It shouldn't be doing this shit.

Any ideas on what's wrong? I know it's just sound. It's hard to discern anything from just that.

The car is an entirely stock 2013 WRX.

DISCUSSION (24)

E92M3 > Burrito de EJ25
10/28/2014 at 22:28

Prepare yourself for this "I'm sorry sir but wear items are not covered under warranty (such as clutches and brake pads)".

I hope I'm wrong though, and they do what's right.

Steve in Manhattan > Burrito de EJ25
10/28/2014 at 22:29

Call the Zone Rep (and hopefully Lehto will weigh in on this as well) - make sure the ZR authorizes a loaner and makes them start the car cold. Threatening this might be enough. Force them to write on the repair order: "Customer suspects _______." That way, they'll have to fix it out of warranty if it pops up later.

Finally - one big problem Subaru has is piston slap. Do some research and make them check for it. 18K is early, but don't take the chance on having to rebuild the top end of the engine.

Carlitos the Fünfer > Burrito de EJ25
10/28/2014 at 22:29

Is the second sound you're hearing the one that sounds like a burble as it falls around 2000 rpm? I can't really make that one out.

Burrito de EJ25 > E92M3
10/28/2014 at 22:32

I never got that from the service manager when they first had it. They heard the noise and just told me that they needed advisement from the shop foreman. Whether he had to pull the entire transmission or not and if I'd need a loaner while they did.

My issue right now is looking for a convenient time for him to hear it. Because it needs to be a cold start under certain conditions that means my car has to stay with them overnight and I can't be without my car during the weekday. It's just impossible.

I was told to call the dealership on Thursday to see if there is a loaner available, but I'm not high priority. It's annoying. It feels like I'm asking them for a favor.

Burrito de EJ25 > Carlitos the Fünfer
10/28/2014 at 22:36

No. It's a chirp. Like a cricket.

Carlitos the Fünfer > Burrito de EJ25
10/28/2014 at 22:47

I'm hearing it now! It almost sounds like a belt to me... But I'm no Subie expert. Have the guys on the forums said anything?

Burrito de EJ25 > Carlitos the Fünfer
10/28/2014 at 22:52

I haven't asked. NASOIC is full of jerks.

Burrito de EJ25 > Steve in Manhattan
10/28/2014 at 22:55

For the first issue they've already confirmed that the clutch is making noise on my repair order.

I just have to be more pushy about the other noise. Thanks for the advice.

Carlitos the Fünfer > Burrito de EJ25
10/28/2014 at 22:55

Now that I think about it... That doesn't seem entirely out of character.

Carlitos the Fünfer > Burrito de EJ25
10/28/2014 at 23:00

Just checked out the forum out of curiosity. Proven Power Bragging. This is a thing. http://forums.nasioc.com/forums//forumd…

Burrito de EJ25 > Carlitos the Fünfer
10/28/2014 at 23:01

Dick measuring contests run rampant.

Steve in Manhattan > Burrito de EJ25
10/28/2014 at 23:05

Get it written down - in '92, had a Toyota Camry wagon w/ a bad 2nd gear. I think I had warranty up to 60K (extra factory) and the transmission failed about 60,400. I said I'd mentioned it, and the only reason I got Toyota to pay 1/2 the rebuild cost was a service manager acknowledged that I'd been complaining about it since around 40K. I actually had to outline my ownership of cars with 5-speeds where I'd gotten 100K or more out of one clutch/transmission. I know how to drive. $1,200 from me, same from them, and the transmission was made right. But only because one guy told the truth.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Burrito de EJ25
10/29/2014 at 01:05

It always amazes me how poorly so many dealers treat their customers. They should make an appointment for you and reserve a loaner. If someone messes up and gives away your loaner they should give you a sales car as a loaner, whether it be a new car or a nice used car, or even a rental from enterprise etc. Go for a ride with a technician, with you driving, so that you can replicate the noise and point it out to him. Also, a throw- out bearing shouldn't be a wear item any more than a pinion bearing is. Definitely make sure you get all of your complaints on a repair order, even if they don't fix anything. Even if you need to top off your oil or coolant between services, go to the dealer and get it on a repair order. That way if you have any issues related to consumption of those fluids after warranty expires there is proof that the problem began while under warranty. Or three visits/repair attempts without a resolution for lemon law or whatever the requirements are. Sorry I can't really help with your noise, all I know about Subaru's are that they use 180° V4 engines.

SteveLehto > Steve in Manhattan
10/29/2014 at 06:58

What Steve in Manhattan said. Try that and let us know what happens.

jkm7680 > Burrito de EJ25
10/29/2014 at 07:33

Both of those are strange, I'm just surprised the dealer isn't more accommodating.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Burrito de EJ25
10/29/2014 at 07:48

The second noise sounds like it's likely turbo related to me. Maybe a sticking valve or something.

DipodomysDeserti > Burrito de EJ25
10/29/2014 at 08:53

The first one definitely sounds like a noisy throwout bearing. The second one sounds boost/turbo related, but it's hard to tell on a video. Check the boots connecting the turbo to the intercooler and the intercooler to the throttle body as they like to slip off. My WRX made lots of little chirps and whistles as it got older, and nothing was wrong with it. Subaru's get noisy as they age. That first sound might indicate a worn out bearing though. At least get your complaint documented so if the tranny takes a crap at 60,001 miles you have it in writing that you'd complained about a noise.

Burrito de EJ25 > jkm7680
10/29/2014 at 10:10

Especially since they've confirmed the first issue. At that point if you need to keep the car overnight again to check it again give me a damn rental or a loaner.

JGrabowMSt > Burrito de EJ25
10/29/2014 at 16:04

Throwout bearing. Definitely. Crunch crunch crunch. I know the sound well. I would not call this a wear item at all. I've only seen poorly installed ones fail.

S0und 2 might be a pulley or other bearing. Not sure. My PCV valve sometimes makes a fluttery noise, but the car is a POS so I don't even really care. Could be boost related as mentioned, but beyond me on that one.

SantaRita > Burrito de EJ25
10/29/2014 at 16:43

throwout bearing and vacuum leak based on very little info. . check your aftermarket boost guages and small vacuum lines near or around the turbo they replaced for air leaks.

Marcus > Burrito de EJ25
10/30/2014 at 10:05

The first noise, which my 2010 WRX also made when it was parked outside overnight, is light rust on the flywheel. Don't worry about it. It happened every day for the two years I lived at the beach and had the car parked outside. Now that it's in a garage, it never happens.

Burrito de EJ25 > Marcus
10/30/2014 at 10:07

I'd rather have it fixed since I can.

Uah > Burrito de EJ25
10/30/2014 at 15:42

TRUTH. I've asked a few questions there and most responses I get are sarcastic/condescending. I started using http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/ instead. Nice people there.

Meatcoma > Burrito de EJ25
11/04/2014 at 10:13

Can you take it to another Subaru dealer? Maybe talk to the shop manager and express your displeasure with the other dealership on this particular issue.