My 2003 wrx Impreza is making a strange noise on spool up. It drives fine but seems a little down on power. When i accelerate the turbo spools up as normal but when it hits around 12psi there seems to be a loud sort of whistling / screaming noise coming from the engine (this isn't a wind up i know what a normal turbo sounds like lol) I had some second hand headers fitted last week but have used the car a fair bit since then and it's been fine.
There is no smoke pouring out the back or anything like that does anyone know what the problem might be to save me taking it to the garage for an expensive diagnosis?

I noticed the noise when i was on a dual.c.w doing around 70mph whilst accelerating. You can hear the turbo spool up but then this loud screaming like sound drowns out the normal turbo sound if that makes sense.

Any info would be great!

Cheers

Jonny

 

Check your boost hoses and do the soapy liquid test to check for air leaks. Sounds like you'e losing boost somewhere through a tiny leak that whistles it's head off when you're on boost.

 

When the headers were put on did you change the up pipe as i had a gasket leak a while back that gave the same symptoms, when it hit boost screeeechhh out of the turbo to up pipe gasket

 

yeah the up-pipe was changed as i was going from after market headers back to standard, not sure on the condition of the gasget as it was done at a garage. I was thinking of getting a new turbo but maybe i'll try an up-pipe gasget before splashing out!