jtarne

Thanks Nipper!!!!! You asked about the warm / cold function. This helped me to explore the start sequence and the various cycles the engine goes through. It would sneeze 2 seconds after a cold start. Late one night I started the car and hurried to stick my head under the hood and saw sparks flash from the AC clutch. When warm (at idle ) the noise noes not happen, but can be heard at highway speeds ( high RPM ). I had been feeling a momentary loss of power durring the sneeze at highway speeds when the clutch engages ( added load ). This is seams to maks sense. Thank you all for your input to this forum, jtarne

This sneeze did happen at idle a few seconds after I started it but not at idle after it warmed up. It will sneeze at 30 - 40 second intervals at highway speeds. It is comming from the driver's side of the engine. I hope this helps.

Forester S not turbo

120,000 miles, Automatic, I think it needs to be warmed up. It happens regularly at highway speeds. I tried to load the engine by setting the brake putting it in drive with the AC on in my driveway but it wouldn't sneeze. I'll try running the engine at 3000RPM in park and see if it sneezes. Thanks for your interest

From the engine compartment, probably on the driver’s side, a sound of blasting air for a short interval that seems to affect the engine power in a small way. It may only happen when it is warmed up.

My forester started sneezing a month ago. (a loud 1/4 second blast of compressed air sound) This repeated at 36 second intervals at highway speeds. It doesn’t sneeze at idle and I don’t want to put my head under the hood at highway speeds. Occasionally I have gotten a 2 second blast. Any ideas?