pmm

Thanks Porcupine, but I did find those already. What I hoped to find was an actual bulletin that provided Subaru's guidelines for the mechanics concerning piston slap.

"Subaru has a TSB out on engine noise. If I remember correctly: from a cold start if any piston noise goes away after 5 minutes it is considered OK. If the noise persists after 5 minutes then the warranty kicks in and the pistons or cylinder block is replaced. Maybe someone can get you the TSB number so you can read it yourself." I received this helpful advice on another forum. Does it ring a bell for anyone? Do you know the TSB number? My mechanic said he couldn't find such a TSB on Alldata. Thanks.

I'm getting a constant tapping noise from the engine of my '03 Legacy (w/76000 mi). One mechanic told me that it was a serious problem with the pistons, due to poor maintanence and that I need to replace them or put in a new engine (I bought the car six months ago). Another mechanic, at a dealership, this time, said that the noise was due to the design of the pistons and that Subaru had a campaign about the problem and would have replaced the pistons under the warranty. If I don't fix it, he said, the noise would get louder. That makes me think the noise might be just piston slap, which I could live with. But this mechanic still suggests that I replace the short block. I think it's just a routine thing with him and perfectly fine for those with cars still under warranty. I just want someone to put a little more effort into determining what the problem is.

Can anyone recommend a reliable Subaru mechanic in or around New York City?