Ok Guys and Gals, here's your starter for ten!

I have noticed a clattering from the engine when at fairly low revs.If I gently rev the engine, the noise tails off and goes at about 1500rpm.I guess perhaps because it's turning over quicker, so it becomes less noticeable?

Now, I have suffered the dreaded piston slap on an MY98 Sport, now I have a Turbo, guess what year? Yep, MY98!!
The symptoms seem very similar but the noise does not vanish after warming up like on the Sport.It seem always to be audible.

My warranty expires at the end of July, so I need to ideas, etc as to what could be the problem and get it sorted before I have to foot the bill.
An other problem which I have noticed recently, is that the car has a tendency to jump out of gear now and then.1st and 2nd, mostly, but I also had it in 3rd.It's at fairly low speeds, like when in traffice/car parks, etc

It's over to you!

Cheers
Steve

 

SPJ.

I read a thread about jumping out of gear the other day, and the advice was get it sorted quickly!
Apparently it has something to do with 1 nut coming loose on the back of....something or other, I can't remember. But it is a straightforward fix under warranty.
If you leave it till this nut falls off, you are talking major chewing up of internals.
Do a search and see what you find

Neil.

 

SPJ
When you say you rev the engine lightly I assume you are at a standstill in neutral? Does it rattle picking up from low revs as you drive? It could well be the gearbox e.g. excessive tooth to tooth play which could indicate endfloat or bearing problems allowing incorrect mesh. The noise reduces as the pulses from the engine smooth-out. The jumping out of gear problem could be related? It could even be the clutch release mechanism rattling! Talk to someone who has owned a Ford with the MT75 G/box!
JohnD

 

Steve,
I've been experiencing the same problems. MY98 recently started to make this tapping noise under 2000 rpm. I had read an article in the Evo mag stating the 98 models do suffer from piston slap on number 3. Panic stations as I only purchased the car 2 months previous. Contacted Subaru in Reading who advised me to take it in but even on the phone they suspected the dreaded piston slap. It turns out they were right and the car went in a week later. It had a new piston fitted under warranty which was good news and it took a week to fix.
The bad point with this is that tomorrow it's due to have the oil and filter changed which is advised after the first 1000 miles after the piston change, but that noise is back below 2000 rpm. Makes me wonder whether they were totally right. Have to wait and see. However with the time it took to take the engine out and replace the part I would definately advise you to race down to Subaru and get it done under warranty as the labour charge would be heartbreaking.

As for the gearbox question, again I have suffered with it jumping out of first when travelling slow in traffic. Interested to here that it may be covered under warranty so tomorrow I'll tackle Subaru with this too.

I have the feeling that our two cars were produced together on a Friday afternoon and rushed.

I'll let you tomorrow how I get on at the garage.

Iain

 

SPJ,

I think I have the same noise on my MY98.
It has had the noise from when I first got the car (1 500 miles on the clock) It now has just over 19 000.
At my last service (last Tuesday) the dealer diagnosed this as a noisy wastegate solenoid and said they had proved it; they bypassed the solenoid and the noise went away (I wasn't there when they did this).
They are getting me a new solenoid which they say can be fitted while I wait?? and they will phone me back when it arrives.
They haven't phoned me yet... are they talking a load of nollox?? - maybe it's worth a trying this test on your car.

 

Coo... That brings back memories re; the MT75 gearbox problem.
I cured mine by destroying the front prop shaft UJ which then flapped around. This in turn decided to have a look inside the bellhousing.
Sounds nasty but a bit of Al welding, a new clutch and cover and a beefed up prop shaft all for £600 did the trick.
Hope my Scooby won't do this.

Nick

 

the jumping out of first gear on over run is a problem that subaru know about and there is a warranty fix which invloves a new shaft and new synchro it has something to do with a 0.5 degree angle being out some where.
the nut coming loose is on fifth gear only and doesn't effect gears 1&2.

 

Cheers for the various replies.

I'm going to have a word with my dealer, and hope they can sort these problems out asap, and with the minimum of fuss.

John D, the noise is more noticeable when standing still in neutral and then gradually increasing the revs, and can also be heard when moving off in 1st gear.The lower the revs, the more it can be heard.It seems to disappear after the revs increase beyond about 1500

Ad: So what exactly is the job of the wastegate solenoid? I'm not particularly technically minded, and I am quite feared of so many things on a Turbo that can cause so many problem!!

Ian,

I'd be grateful to hear the results of your chat with the dealer about your problems.
Judging by wide awareness of these problem, it seems that Subaru rushed through a few more, on that Friday afternoon!!

To the others not specifically mentioned here, thanks to you too!


Steve

 

Steve,
Finally arrived home. The car went in for the oil and filter change. Opened the conversation with the service manager stating that I had concerns with three seperate issues with the car. His face suddenly looked concerned, but obviously not as much as mine will be if they result in non warrantied work. ££££££
Anyway the tapping noise did turn out to be the solenoid not the piston, on the driverside of the engine. Not a great problem. If you put your hand on it whist running you can actually feel it tapping. Big sigh of relief. Not going to change it.

Next was the gearbox problem and the fact that it jumps out of 1st when in traffic. The mechanic had a look and made a small adjustment which he felt would correct this and that there wasn't anything major wrong. Tested it in traffic and no problems. Again he did say that they can strip it down and make a change which would be covered under warranty but he didn't feel that this problem was related to mine. At least that's a piece of mind if it does happen.

The third which you weren't aware of was a wining noise coming from the clutch. This goes when pressed but has gradually been getting worse. It appears that the thrust bearing is causing the noise and it's been left that if it gets any worse then take it back and they'll change it under warranty.

So in fact apart from laying out the cost of the oil and filter change it's been a painless visit. The mechanic did say that these cars do have individual characteristics and some have problems with the gears jumping out of 3 or 4 and so on but he did assure me that Subaru Impreza's are reliable cars and that if I have any queries or concerns then just bring it down no matter how many times. I did feel as if I was sounding paranoid about the car but then at the end of the day the price we've paid I believe warrants a few questions now and again.

Any news on yours.

Iain

 

Hi Ian,

Glad to hear that there are no major problems for you to deal with and you've at least had some peace of mind.Still a worry at the time though!!

Funnily enough , I've just spoken with my dealer about my problems, and the guy there has been very helpful.It sounds like my tapping may be the same as yours.He mentioned about some valve related to the Turbo on the drivers side inner wheel arch which could be the problem.Is this the solenoid, then?

The jumping out of gear problem he said he'd never come across, but would certainly have a look at possible causes.I also mentioned clutch judder which I have occasionally suffered, and was told no problem with that as it's a problem SUBARU UK insist on curing with a new clutch and flywheel.

My car's tentatively booked in for a few weeks time when it's next service is also due, unless any of these problems get much worse before then.(the dealer is 50 miles away!)

I now what you mean about having that feeling of paranoia, but as the bloke at the dealers said when you've spent X amount of money you shouldn't have to put up with problems.
This is the first dealing I've had with these people since I bought the car, and if they carry on with that approach, I will be more than happy to use them again.
Let's see!!

Cheers
Steve

 

SPJ,

The way the service manager explained it, the solenoid works by controlling boost levels at low revs. to maximise low speed pulling power. I am not techy so I'll buy that explanation (and it seems he was not talking nollox.

Iain,
I am relieved to hear that your worst fears have not been met. I will be getting the solenoid changed out of mechanical sympathy,
and it will also give me chance to hear piston slap should that develop before my warranty is up!!

 

iain as a subaru mechanic i would be very interested to know what the small adjustment was he made as there is nothing adjustable on the gearbox especially on a turbo and on a non turbo the only thing that is adjustable is the cable operated clutch. i suspect that what he done was to put a washer in the indent spring hole to make it hold it in gear.