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Subaru Legacy/Outback Unusual Clunks and Noises

50 messages,  Last post on Feb 12, 2008 at 3:17 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Engine, Wagon

Messages Page 5 of 6

#32 of 50 Re: 96 AWD Legacy Wagon Drivetrain Noise [dimwittedmoose] by rees_stephan

Dec 19, 2007 (10:52 am)

Replying to: dimwittedmoose (Aug 26, 2007 5:13 pm)
I have the same problem with my 1999 Subaru Forester. The rumbling you describe started at around 80K miles. I had the wheel bearings checked out at that point but there was no problem there. The noise worsened significantly from 100K miles. Now, when driving off, the car emits a 'sneakers in the tumble dryer' noise from the rear. At speed, the rumbling is more pronounced when making sweeping turns to the right, as you describe. I even have the distinct feeling that the car pulls occasionally to the side, as if buffeted by a gust of wind, but that may just be my imagination.
 
Have you got any further with your investigation? It would be useful to know what you have found out before I take mine to the mechanic.
 
Thanks,
 
Alex

#33 of 50 Re: 96 AWD Legacy Wagon Drivetrain Noise [rees_stephan] by paisan

Dec 19, 2007 (9:36 pm)

Replying to: rees_stephan (Dec 19, 2007 10:52 am)
Definitely sounds like a wheel bearing in your case Alex. I'd have it re-checked at a different dealer/shop.
 
-mike

#34 of 50 Ticking/"flapping" noise by rodin1

Jan 18, 2008 (9:24 am)

I have noticed a loud ticking or flapping (like the sound those old rubber-bladed fans that we grew up with used to make when you stuck something in the blades at slow speed!) in my 98 Impreza Outback. It's intermitten, of course, so mechanic never hears anything, has looked under the hood & not seen anything obvious. It comes & goes but when it comes, it is primarily upon slowing down as for a stoplight. Once stopped & idling, the noise idles down too & stops! It seems to be coming from the left side of the engine up close to the driver compartment.
 
Any ideas,
 
Frustrated

#35 of 50 Re: Ticking/"flapping" noise [rodin1] by paisan

Jan 18, 2008 (9:33 am)

Replying to: rodin1 (Jan 18, 2008 9:24 am)
Does it stop as soon as you stop? In other words is it relative to your speed? or relative to engine speed?
 
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host

#36 of 50 Re: Ticking/"flapping" noise [paisan] by rodin1

Jan 18, 2008 (12:16 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jan 18, 2008 9:33 am)
No, it doesn't stop as soon as I stop. As the engine speed slows, like in coming up to a stoplight, the noise slows. And when I am stopped at the light, for example, the noise slows down & stops. And it's not constant. A few days ago, I drove from town to home, making several stops along the way. It started on the first leg of my trip home, was silent for the next leg, started up again on the third leg, was silent on the last leg!

#37 of 50 Re: Ticking/"flapping" noise [rodin1] by xwesx

Jan 18, 2008 (11:31 pm)

Replying to: rodin1 (Jan 18, 2008 12:16 pm)
Just to eliminate them as possibles, check the plastic covers in the engine bay, especially the timing belt cover, which extends across the whole front of the engine. It may be that one is rubbing a moving part intermittently. If so, and it is on the outside or under a lip of said cover, you should be able to notice - either by sight or touch - wear marks on a point where it comes close to a moving part.
 
If it is a "dull" noise rather than a metallic ticking, then it is likely plastic.
 
You might also check to see if there is something small and flexible wedged through the radiator and protruding into the space where the dual cooling fans spin. The fans might be sucking it in occasionally, while other times it flops down and sticks to the radiator.
 
Just brainstorming here....

#38 of 50 Clicking sound on Legacy 2008 2.5i by cjtech

Jan 22, 2008 (7:29 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 18, 2008 11:31 pm)
I bought a Subaru Legacy 2008 2.5i several months ago and have questions about engine noise.
 
When I turn the car off after driving, the engine continues to make a clicking sound for a while. It almost sounds like a faucet dripping (but there is no leak on the ground) or clicking sound which continues for a minute or two. Someone told me that this is the sound of the exhaust system cooling down. Is this true? I hear the same sound if I stop the car and put it in park but leave the engine on.... I don't hear it when just idling at a light (not in park).
 
Also, when I do I a cold start of the engine, it is very loud at first. The noise goes down significantly as the car warms up. After fully warm, the car is very quiet. Just wondering whether is normal or not and what other people's experiences were with both types of engine noise.

#39 of 50 Re: Clicking sound on Legacy 2008 2.5i [cjtech] by xwesx

Jan 22, 2008 (10:03 am)

Replying to: cjtech (Jan 22, 2008 7:29 am)
The clicking sounds are normal and tend to be louder when vehicles are new. It is just metal contracting as it cools. Sort of a slow, quiet symphony of *tink* *pop* *tink* *click* *click* *tink*. You hear the noises in park? Perhaps transmission components cooling, but yes, the majority of the sounds typically come from the exhaust and associated heat shielding once the engine is shut off.
 
As for noise on start-up, what sort of noise is it and at what temperatures do you hear it?

#40 of 50 Re: Clicking sound on Legacy 2008 2.5i [xwesx] by cjtech

Jan 22, 2008 (11:40 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 22, 2008 10:03 am)
Thanks for the information on the clicking sounds.
 
The noise at start-up is not really an unusual sound... regular engine start-up sound but it is a lot louder than other cars I've had in the past... mostly Hondas. Once the car warms up, the engine sound is ok. Is this just typical of boxer engines?

#41 of 50 Re: Clicking sound on Legacy 2008 2.5i [cjtech] by xwesx

Jan 22, 2008 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: cjtech (Jan 22, 2008 11:40 am)
The boxer engine is a noisier engine in general, but it should not sound... harsh. In sub-zero temperatures, the engine on my 08 Outback only exhibits the extra start-up noise for 15-60 seconds, depending on temperatures. The most notable noises when it is extremely cold (about -20 and lower) are belt and accessory complaints. I do not really blame them.
 
Some folks have reported PZEV engines running very rough upon cold start. I noticed on Subaru's website a few days ago that there is a TSB related to this, though I have not looked at it.

Messages Page 5 of 6

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