I finally heard the noise my wife mentioned this morning when I drove my 2005 Legacy 2.5i 145K (not turbo) from a cold start. About 4 minutes after starting a sound started that made me think it is some type of solenoid. The sounds lasted about 8 minutes, then went away. The sound did not change with the engine speed. If I go full Click and Clack - it sorta went vvvt, vvvt, vvvt, pause a beat, then vvvt, vvt, vvt again over and over. It felt like a three beat syncopation but I cannot really confirm. I had to get my daughter to school so I could not pop the hood in time to figure out where it is. coming from. I suspect it is only on cold starts after sitting because I did not hear it last night when I drove the car. I don't think this is timing or serpentine belt, or pulley related since the noise is unrelated to rpm. Thoughts?
Power steering? I didn't notice any specific changes on turning the wheel, but I only started to suspect that after interweb and youtube searches.
If its related to vehicle speed and not engine speed/rpm, then I'd start looking at a driveline issue or a wheel bearing. Driveshafts have also been known to cause wierd noises cold/low speed. I had that on my '07 Outback wagon. It was a center support bearing on it's way out.
This could be several things and it might be best to wait until it gets louder to determine where it is coming from. My only other advise is to check fluid levels in everything including the differentials.
How fast is the noise? Like once per revolution of the tire? Once per revolution of the pinion gears? If it's once per tire rotation (which I'm guessing it is, otherwise it would be hard to separate out the rhythm unless you're Neil Peart)
Could be a CV joint if so.
Is the vehicle doing anything wrong?
I wouldn't worry about it.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Is the vehicle doing anything wrong?
I wouldn't worry about it.
When my less automotively inclined buddies ask about a noise, I barely let them finish before I say, "your radio isn't up loud enough" and then advance the conversation to something unrelated.
When my wife hears a noise, I have to immediately address, otherwise I eat crow for how many times I've complained (loudly) to her about how long it takes her to bring up things like CV axle clunks or brakes screaming as loudly as they know how, "we're pretty much out of pad, here!"
I have a 2.5 NA (05 Impreza) and vaguely recall it making a similar noise when it was running. But sadly now it's not running, so I can't confirm.
The noise happens when the car is stopped or moving. I tried to catch it on cold start today but the noise wasn't there. We have a road trip next weekend so I would prefer to have a handle on it. Will touch back if I get more.
I didn't mean to sound flippant, but if you knew how many times I'd get a work order for "heard funny noise while adding washer fluid" and it turned out to just be the purge solenoid working normally...
Subarus don't have electric vacuum pumps, and I don't think that model had an air pump, but those are also common "what's that noise" concerns. Or even the A/C compressor short cycling because it's cold, or low on charge.
