Clicking sound with cold engine?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,023
From: Phoenix, AZ
Car Info: Subaru Impreza WRX 2002
Clicking sound with cold engine?
I have a 2002 WRX just past 18,000 miles (I got it LATE 2002) and I have noticed something interesting... When I start the car in the morning, I hear a LOUD repetitive clicking sound (loud enough to be heard over engine noise and the radio) that sounds like it is coming from the "bottom" of the engine just forward of the firewall. The clicking is loudest when I have put in the clutch and the engine drops towards idle; under load, the sound goes away entirely. After about 5 minutes of driving, the sound is gone.
So, any candidates for the source of this noise? It isn't any of the belts, I suppose, because those don't click if they are damaged (they scream!). Anything to be worried about, besides sounding like a @!#* sewing machine?
So, any candidates for the source of this noise? It isn't any of the belts, I suppose, because those don't click if they are damaged (they scream!). Anything to be worried about, besides sounding like a @!#* sewing machine?
Chewwwwy
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from what i understand this is normal... unless it is obnoxious, i wouldnt be worried. i would say take it to the dealer if its keeping you up at night.
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Man, I know exactly what you are talking about. Last winter I had the same problem. It happened twice on real cold mornings. A lou d obnoxious clicking noise coming from somewhere in the dash on the passenger side. Almost like a loud relay chadder.
mine does that too. unless it falls apart on me I am not gonna worry. maybe I'll mention it to the dealer when I bring it in but I know they are gonna say its normal just like all my other problems
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does it click and go away after it warms up?
if it does, then you might have bad lifters or pistons even.
these components expand during heat and thus the noise goes away when engine is warm, but makes noise when cold.
might want to get it checked out.
if it does, then you might have bad lifters or pistons even.
these components expand during heat and thus the noise goes away when engine is warm, but makes noise when cold.
might want to get it checked out.
Thread Starter
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Car Info: Subaru Impreza WRX 2002
The engine has less than 18,000 miles on it and I am a gentle driver (no launches) so the odds of having a misaligned piston or lifters (which have to do with valves? or cams?) is hopefully not that likely... It also isn't the clutch, because the sound is consistent whether I have the clutch engaged or not... Maybe it is a belt, after all, or perhaps even the radiator fan is nicking a corner on the radiator. The sound definitely goes away after about 5 minutes of driving, and if I let the car sit for an hour and then drive again, the clicking still doesn't happen -- only when the engine has sat overnight does it occur.
Hmm, maybe that is BAD -- it suggests that it only happens when the oil pressure is low (such as a cold start) -- maybe it IS my damn pistons!
Thanks for all of your suggestions, I'll take it to the shop next week and let you know the results...
Hmm, maybe that is BAD -- it suggests that it only happens when the oil pressure is low (such as a cold start) -- maybe it IS my damn pistons!
Thanks for all of your suggestions, I'll take it to the shop next week and let you know the results...
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From: Williamsport,PA
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When the engine is cold and oil pressure is low is when you'll hear
hydraulic lash adjusters (HLA) clicking. It should go away too, once the engine warms up. If it doesn't go away is when you have a problem. May not be what you're experiencing but it very well could be too.
hydraulic lash adjusters (HLA) clicking. It should go away too, once the engine warms up. If it doesn't go away is when you have a problem. May not be what you're experiencing but it very well could be too.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Buffalo NY :(
Car Info: 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX
Have the exact same problem. Talk to the service techs at the dealership, and took one of the out for a ride and reproduced the sound. Here was his diagnosis:
Possible reasons:
1) belt tensioner was starting to go "bad" (dont know what that means). I guess its common, and can go on like that for 50000 miles before you have a real problem, and they will replace if for you as long as it is documented when the problem started.
2) piston slap. apparantly this was a big issue in 1996 when the pistons and heads were manufactured sliglty different. Our forced induced 2.0l engines run HOT, so it is my understanding that the pistons are manufactured slightly smaller in diameter than the cylendar, to allow for expansion as the engine heats up. Under load, and after then engine warms, you will not hear the noise.
Im kinda ignorant when it comes to engine mechanics, especially when it come to valve oppereation etc, so I cannot comment further. Im mearly repeating what Ive been told (and found searching here in the past). All and all, i was told not to worry about it.
good luck
Possible reasons:
1) belt tensioner was starting to go "bad" (dont know what that means). I guess its common, and can go on like that for 50000 miles before you have a real problem, and they will replace if for you as long as it is documented when the problem started.
2) piston slap. apparantly this was a big issue in 1996 when the pistons and heads were manufactured sliglty different. Our forced induced 2.0l engines run HOT, so it is my understanding that the pistons are manufactured slightly smaller in diameter than the cylendar, to allow for expansion as the engine heats up. Under load, and after then engine warms, you will not hear the noise.
Im kinda ignorant when it comes to engine mechanics, especially when it come to valve oppereation etc, so I cannot comment further. Im mearly repeating what Ive been told (and found searching here in the past). All and all, i was told not to worry about it.
good luck
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This might help.. if it doesn't then you might have an actual problem 
Take a pretty long screwdriver and touch it to stuff and put your ear to the handle end. Touch it to various places on the block, the intake manifold, the valve covers and most imoprtantly the fuel injectors. Where the clicking sounds/feels louder is closer to the source of the noise... closer audibly if not phsyically, as in it might be close to an open passage to the noise source.
At any rate, there was losta talk about this when the v7 WRXs first came out. It turned out to be unusually noisey fuel injectors. It might be the same thing here. Since boxer engines are uncommon for most of us, sounds might not seem like their coming from the right places.
Oh yeah, please don't put the screw drive close to moving parts
jason
Take a pretty long screwdriver and touch it to stuff and put your ear to the handle end. Touch it to various places on the block, the intake manifold, the valve covers and most imoprtantly the fuel injectors. Where the clicking sounds/feels louder is closer to the source of the noise... closer audibly if not phsyically, as in it might be close to an open passage to the noise source.
At any rate, there was losta talk about this when the v7 WRXs first came out. It turned out to be unusually noisey fuel injectors. It might be the same thing here. Since boxer engines are uncommon for most of us, sounds might not seem like their coming from the right places.
Oh yeah, please don't put the screw drive close to moving parts
jason