Hi all

When i start up my car from stone cold i get a strange odd rattle, its like a bearing kind of sound and its not a solid rattle just on and off till the car heats up then nothing ? Am sure some of you will have an idea what it is. I opened the bonnet to try and pin point it but cant hear it too much then seems to be lower down in the engine bay somewhere.

PS its an RB320, and only have 2k on clock.

Thanks for any replys

 

Could it be piston slap? That's quite common on Imprezas and goes away when the engine is warm.

 

if its still under warranty get it back to m/dealer

 

Sounds very much like the good old piston slap! With the ambient temps. around zero or below, engines which, in warmer conditions, show no (or very little) sign of slap, will often show signs of it following a cold start. My 03 STi has on a couple of occasions lately.
Let the engine run for a couple of minutes before driving and keep the load on the engine light for a couple of miles.
For piece of mind, let the dealer listen to it although you will need to leave it with them overnight (outside?)

JohnD

 

i had a simalar problem on my impreza where it rattles like that when cold and goes quiet when hot, found out to be top end problems (lifters), but could also be piston slap!

 

Piston slap i,d say, if it goes away after a few mins then it,s ok, mine has it, all be it an older car but clears quite quickly.

 

Yet another vote for piston slap. Best get it checked out if you're worried though.

 

what oil you using just a thought.

 

thanks for the reply folks , yip its under warranty and will take to main dealers and leave overnight ... as long as its staying inside that is :-)
have never came across piston slap before , i imagined it would be a slap sound not an intermediate rattle ?

 

just been on youtube and found a few posts of piston slap , its for sure not that. it reminds me on a couple of cavaier gsi s i owned many moons ago where the water pump was on the way out.
will see if i can record the sound and post up later.

 

Unfortunately, the temp. inside the workshop may be just high enough to reduce slap to a level where the mechanic will say "they all sound like that, sir"

JohnD

 

this might help , just started it up

YouTube - rattle NEW4

 

that sounds a little bit more than piston slap to me

 

Sounds like a bearing on the alternator, PAS pump,, or one of the cambelt pulleys has dried out or water pump.

Removing both ancillary belts and checking if the noise is still there would eliminate the PAS, alternator and A/C from the equation.

If its coming from behind the plastic cambelt cover, avoid driving the car til you get it checked properly, as the last thing you want is an idler pulley dropping off.

 

yip seems like a good idea to get it checked out sooner rather than later , will be getting it seen to as soon as the bloody snow clears :-)

thanks all

 

I've had that noise on my car from new.
Done 60,000 miles. sounds like a bearing in an electric motor about to fail. If it is, it is taking it's merry time.
Odd that it is only when cold.
Mechanic had a look and said something I can't remember and not to worry - so I don't.
If you get it checked out, can you please post up ther diagnosis
ps I've had the water pump replaced, so it ain't that.
It sounds like something ancillary if you know what I mean.

 

ive got the same problem too, it sounds like a low pitch kitten crying. I think its coming from the front somewhere but cant be certain.

 

its the clutch release bearing mate , had it confirmed by one or the lads on rb320oc .. car will go into subaru when weather better in a few weeks so will post findings then.

try dipping your clutch and see if noise goes , if so thats the prob

 

yeah it doe's change when i dip clutch, but i dont think it dissapears tho.