Drivetrain Encompasses driveline components such as the torque converter, clutch, transmission, shifter, front and center differentials, driveshaft, rear differential, and axles.

unknown problem after a trip to tahoe

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-26-2012, 04:04 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
seckSti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 321
Car Info: 2011 Spark Silver Sti 4DR
Hey guys!
So I went to tahoe this past weekend during a storm. Went to sugarbowl and at the end of the day car was covered in snow and ice etc.
I warmed up my car while loading up and changing back to regular clothes and stuff.
About 10 mins or so later we were good to go engine all warm and everything all functional. I put the car in first gear and took her out of the snow. As i did that, we all heard a medium-loudish sounding thud from the front(bottom maybe) of the car. At first i thought it was just something iced up that broke loose and no lights or anything came on to signal any problems and the car drove fine.
Then today (back home in s.f for 2 days), i started my car to go to work. The car was not moved at all for 24+ hours since the night I got back. I began to back the car out of my driveway and it wouldnt move until i gave it more gas than usual and i would hear that "thud" sound again. There's no problem after the first thud and I can't make it happen again. So i think I need to have the car sit for awhile before it happens again (just speculation).

So right now my only guess is I should change my tranny fluid and rear diff (havn't changed it yet 12k miles).

Does anyone have another guess at what the problem is? I might bring the car in to dealer for a complimentary multipoint inspection but if someone has had this problem before and knows what it is, then i can just get straight to the problem rather than waste time at the stealership. Thanks

Sent from my i4s using i-Club
seckSti is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 04:20 PM
  #2  
Registered User
iTrader: (6)
 
04caliwrx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: on the way to lake tahoe to shread! turbo beast
Posts: 9,581
Car Info: 2016 WRX, 2014 lifter forester XT, 2005 JDM207 WGN
quick question for you,, was you have the ebrake on when you were in tahoe? in snowing conditions and temptures under 30 its never smart to use the ebrake
04caliwrx is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 04:22 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
seckSti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 321
Car Info: 2011 Spark Silver Sti 4DR
yea i did. i was parked on a slight hill. strong winds etc this past weekend. so maybe the ebrake stuck due to the cold?
Sent from my i4s using i-Club
seckSti is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 04:37 PM
  #4  
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
fishie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: san jose, ca
Posts: 199
Car Info: 04 wrx wagon
Originally Posted by seckSti
yea i did. i was parked on a slight hill. strong winds etc this past weekend. so maybe the ebrake stuck due to the cold?
Sent from my i4s using i-Club
Would something like this be covered by warranty?
fishie is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 04:45 PM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
seckSti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 321
Car Info: 2011 Spark Silver Sti 4DR
Originally Posted by fishie

Would something like this be covered by warranty?
tbh I don't know. i only have the 3yr or 30k mile powertrain warranty left. I'll have to look into it later. But i'm hoping if it is the ebrake, I won't have to do anything and maybe the sticking will stop. Not gonna use ebrake for awhile to check.

Sent from my i4s using i-Club
seckSti is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 07:09 PM
  #6  
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
 
05_WRex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Bay
Posts: 782
Car Info: drives a STi
I have 2011 5 door Sti hatch and that thud sounds happens with my car as well. Especially after a cold night and car has been sitting overnight is when I hear the sound. I believe it's your brakes that's causing the sound.
05_WRex is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 07:19 PM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
seckSti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 321
Car Info: 2011 Spark Silver Sti 4DR
Originally Posted by 05_WRex
I have 2011 5 door Sti hatch and that thud sounds happens with my car as well. Especially after a cold night and car has been sitting overnight is when I hear the sound. I believe it's your brakes that's causing the sound.
ok thanks! yea i just got a msg from a friend of mine and said he had this happen to his gc before too but never happened again. so i hope it isn't anything serious and i guess i can put off changing my tranny fluids till i put more miles on.

Sent from my i4s using i-Club
seckSti is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 07:37 PM
  #8  
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
 
theoutbackdream's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: gone hunting, be back maybe
Posts: 3,836
Car Info: 12Teens crazy 4 me
Originally Posted by 04caliwrx
quick question for you,, was you have the ebrake on when you were in tahoe? in snowing conditions and temptures under 30 its never smart to use the ebrake
Wow didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
theoutbackdream is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 08:07 PM
  #9  
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
TheFozz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: S.F.BayArea
Posts: 2,695
Car Info: Whatever The Lot Provides ;)
Originally Posted by theoutbackdream
Wow didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
Yep, happens all the time. Same thing when people running 10w30 goto start their older engines when temps have been like they have this week. 10w30 turns into almost caramel syrup.

OP, park the car, jack it up, block it and pull your rear wheels and see if you knocked the brakes out of alignment at all. Do it before it get's too many miles on it. If it's just knocked loose it's an easy fix versus waiting and possibly causing more damage and expense.

*Also, put your windshield wipers up, even if ya got a ride w/ All-Weather like I do, they'll accumulate less ice than while down sitting on a warmer windshield melting the snow and over-freezing.
TheFozz is offline  
Old 12-26-2012, 08:26 PM
  #10  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
seckSti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 321
Car Info: 2011 Spark Silver Sti 4DR
Originally Posted by TheFozz

Yep, happens all the time. Same thing when people running 10w30 goto start their older engines when temps have been like they have this week. 10w30 turns into almost caramel syrup.

OP, park the car, jack it up, block it and pull your rear wheels and see if you knocked the brakes out of alignment at all. Do it before it get's too many miles on it. If it's just knocked loose it's an easy fix versus waiting and possibly causing more damage and expense.

*Also, put your windshield wipers up, even if ya got a ride w/ All-Weather like I do, they'll accumulate less ice than while down sitting on a warmer windshield melting the snow and over-freezing.
yea i put my wipers up. just an old habit even with that heated windshield wiper strip.
why do i check only the rear wheels? The sound came from the front.

Sent from my i4s using i-Club
seckSti is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
i<3dirt
Sacramento & Reno
5
10-20-2014 10:26 AM
Irrational X
Sacramento & Reno
38
01-05-2008 08:11 PM
DarkRaven6916
Suby Shopping & Maintenance/Warranty
4
05-09-2004 12:53 PM
boardoholic
Bay Area
12
01-10-2004 06:37 AM
yellowsnow
Bay Area
1
03-02-2003 09:44 PM



Quick Reply: unknown problem after a trip to tahoe



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:18 AM.