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2010 Forester XT "Clunk"

29 messages,  Last post on Jun 23, 2011 at 7:49 PM

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 4

#18 of 29 Re: 2010 Forester XT "Clunk" [maybesubie1] by aatherton

Feb 05, 2011 (6:00 am)

Replying to: maybesubie1 (Feb 04, 2011 7:26 pm)
Just google "ABS self test noise" and you will see that all cars do it, you just can't always hear it.

"Are you sure you're not just hearing the ABS self-test? That makes a bit of a clunk, I believe. I've noticed it in every Subaru I've driven."
#11 in http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/clunk-after-sitting-98295.html
 
"I think I've come up with a way to prevent that awful ABS Self-test brake noise to occur. Right after starting the car, press the brake pedal down a few times before putting the car into gear. I've been doing that for the past few days and haven't heard that sound since!"
http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=1368781

#19 of 29 Re: 2010 Forester XT "Clunk" [aatherton] by aatherton

Feb 05, 2011 (6:11 am)

Replying to: aatherton (Feb 05, 2011 6:00 am)
Page 7-16 of my 2008 Forester Owners Manual:
"ABS system self-check.
You may feel a slight shock in the brake
pedal and hear the operating sound of
ABS from the engine compartment just
after the vehicle is started. This is caused
by an automatic functional test of the ABS
system being carried out and does not
indicate any abnormal condition."

#20 of 29 Re: 2010 Forester XT "Clunk" [maybesubie1] by aatherton

Feb 05, 2011 (8:51 am)

Replying to: maybesubie1 (Feb 04, 2011 7:26 pm)
"... VDC-check of some kind seems plausible..."
VDC is traction control that senses vehicle direction and uses brake, throttle and engine management to help maintain stability. I don't think Subaru has such a thing a self-checking VDC. Some Subarus have VDC, although not my 2008 X with the 4EAT automatic. VDC is a completely transparent feature as it is not even mentioned in the Owners Manual, much less any self-checking of it.

#21 of 29 Re: 2010 Forester XT "Clunk" [aatherton] by maybesubie1

Feb 06, 2011 (1:45 pm)

Replying to: aatherton (Feb 05, 2011 6:00 am)
2011 Owner Manual has similar language now that I look. So ABS seems likely, even though I haven't noticed anything in the brake. Thanks.

#22 of 29 Re: 2010 Forester XT "Clunk" [maybesubie1] by bcj77

Feb 07, 2011 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: maybesubie1 (Feb 06, 2011 1:45 pm)
This does sound encouraging, but I'm still a little skeptical. Mine is often fairly loud and it really sounds like something is stuck and then releases, making the "clunk" sound.

#23 of 29 2011 Forester XT "clunk" by mariner9

Feb 20, 2011 (3:16 pm)

I have a new 2011 Forester XT with only 1800 miles on it that has made this noise since I bought it. After starting it any time, not just first thing in the morning, and within moving 50 yards or so there is a very noticeable clunk. I told the dealer at the 30 day check and at first they were surprised. Then they said all Foresters do this. So i asked to drive a new on on the lot to confirm that. It didn't make the noise. Now it may be that it's a benign issue in terms of being a mechanical problem. But it is nonetheless a problem that Subaru needs to fix. I have had lots of cars with ABS. This is the first that has made this noise. Is there a fix that anyone has heard of? This seemingly is a mechanical/electrical engineering problem and that's what engineers do. I think.
 
I'm thinking of asking the dealer to replace my car with one that doesn't make the noise. After all I'll probably drive this car for years and the prospect of hearing this noise 1000+ times a year is not a good thing.
 
Mariner

#24 of 29 Re: 2011 Forester XT "clunk" [mariner9] by bcj77

Feb 25, 2011 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: mariner9 (Feb 20, 2011 3:16 pm)
I have a 2011 XT as well, making the same noise at the same time. Just had my first service and had them check it again. They initially said they didn't hear it, so I had the service guy get in the car with me when I was picking it up. He heard it and agreed that it did not sound right. He said he had never heard that noise before and would look into it. Just spoke with them again and they are still saying it is the secondary air pump and that all Turbos make that noise. When I told him it doesn't sound like air, but metal, he said he would look into it and get back to me...

#25 of 29 Re: 2011 Forester XT "clunk" [bcj77] by soulersurfer

May 21, 2011 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: bcj77 (Feb 25, 2011 1:15 pm)
I bought a 2011 Forester Limited (not turbo) and it has the same problem. The car now has ~1500 miles, but has made the clunk noise ever since we bought it. The first few times, I ignored it thinking i ran over a plastic bottle or aluminum can. But after a few times, i started to realize it wasn't just my imagination. Of course the dealer says they have never heard of this problem before. The way i describe it is, it happens when the engine is cold. Even if it's been sitting in the sun all day, when you turn on the car, let the engine idle until the blue light turns off indicating the engine is warm, and then slowly drive away. At about 10 miles an hour, you hear the one-time clunk or thunk noise. You can feel it in the passenger and driver floor board, so it is pretty loud. This doesn't happen while turning, it only happens once. Living in San Diego, I rarely use the AC. Since it's not on, i wouldn't expect it to be an AC compressor. Also, i don't use the parking break, so i don't think the breaks would be sticking. Any suggestions? What's the policy for asking the dealer to give you a forester in exchange for one that doesn't make this noise?

#26 of 29 Re: 2011 Forester XT "clunk" [soulersurfer] by bcj77

May 23, 2011 (10:15 am)

Replying to: soulersurfer (May 21, 2011 2:49 pm)
I finally got the service manager to look into mine and he came back with the conclusion that it is the ABS self-test. It still seems odd to me that not all cars make the noise if that is actually what it is, so I'm skeptical, but the car runs fine otherwise.

#27 of 29 Re: 2011 Forester XT "clunk" [bcj77] by ateixeira

May 23, 2011 (10:28 am)

Replying to: bcj77 (May 23, 2011 10:15 am)
FWIW I've heard about that before, so I think he could be right...

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