don80

I will do the old screw driver test and pin noise down futher. Right now drivers side front piston most likely area. where can i order a decent Manual for 99 forester? Thanks

I wonder if the fact that the knock goes away above 4krpm means anything? I changed the plugs to bosch 4 plat. about 2 mon. before this noise happened. Could crappy plugs be causing this in some weird way. i really like this car and I intend to keep it for a few 100k unless I drop a few engine parts along the road somewhere :-(

Ok i tried The spark plug pull method at the ignition coil and isolated it down to a particular cylinder. Pull wire sounds goes away. Wow does the fire ever fly around the coil when i did this. Glad i turned it off between test. I have read this still could be a lifter ajustment problem. I noticed this problem smoothes out and goes away above 4Krpm but returns below 3krpm. HUMMM

My 99 forester with 2.5 (115000 miles)is making this nagging engine knock once i get up around 3KRPM. it's not there cold but gets there when it warms up and remains even in idle. Once cooled down with engine off it goes away once again until warmed up and driving. I guess it could be a plugged valve lifter if this model has them . Sounds more knocky then tappy like i would expect a lifter.