Clicking Sound on 2002 Forester

[DwarfInc]

I am getting a plastic sounding continuous clicking that occurs when I am driving.  It seems to match my speed.  It happens when I depress the accelerator any amount but diminishes when I coast.  I have looked at the wheels, axles and drive shaft and found nothing.  Any ideas what might be making this sound?

[idosubaru]

check your transmission fluid level immediately.

if an automatic transmission check the front diff and ATF levels.

 

an auto with very low ATF will click.

 

my first guess is simply heat shields or exhaust leak. it can sound like a ticking at first and they are very common.

second guess would be rusty rotors/brakes - just a very small bit of rust and click every rotation as it strikes something and a simple bent dust shield or out of adjustment rear ebrake can reduce the already small clearances.

 

1.  front, rear?

2.  left, right?

3.  all speeds? (or until road noise drowns it out)

4.  if you're coasting down a hill does it go away completely or just not as loud?

5.  any change around right or left turns?

6.  does it change when braking?

[DwarfInc]

Thank you.  That gives me ideas to follow up on.

 

It sounds like the front of the car.  I can't tell if it is more left or right.  It clicks at all speeds with a rhythm that matches the speed I'm traveling.  It is loud in the car but I can't tell if it is very noticable outside.  People aren't looking up when I go past.  The sound diminishes quite a bit when I coast.  No change that I noticed with left or right turns.  When I brake my foot is off the accelerator so the sound drops.

 

I will check the ATF fluid and front diff fluid in the morning, though I had an oil change yesterday where they usually check all of those.  The clicking preceded yesterday's oil change so it does not relate to that.

[idosubaru]

left/right/center might be the most helpful/important question.  maybe drive it slowly past someone (you like LOL) on both sides?

 

Assuming speed related is drivetrain and centrally located:

inner axle joint or front differential ,or possibly still heat shields/exhaust leak. 

i would expect these noise to go away complete in neutral or coasting, but it can vary.

 

how long has it been doing this?

 

have the axles ever been replaced?  aftermarket axles are notoriously problematic and a standard inner DOJ axle symptom is noise under throttle/acceleration/load.

 

exhaust leaks or heat shields make clicking noises and can be semi-central sounding.

 

if it's engine related

then it wouldn't be "speed" related and you should hear it while idling with the hood popped standing in front of the engine

have you tried that yet?

 

just in case it's not centrally located:

Sorry to ask again but all we have is words unfortunately:

you said "diminished" and "the sound drops" - so it's definitely there, just not as loud when coasting?

any noise revving the engine in park?

any noise when coasting down a hill in neutral?

 

left/right would suggest wheel bearing or brake related (rust, hanging caliper, pad, bent dust shield - all really simple)

 

front rules out carrier bearing and driveshaft.

[DwarfInc]

The noise started on Friday.  There is no noise when idling.  When coasting there is clicking but it is much less than when accelerating.  I only have to hit the gas a little bit to get full volume clicking.  Possibly when the engine torques over whenever the gas is applied causing the rotating element to bear more on what is rubbing against it. It is very immediate when I apply any amount of gas.  If it were brakes it wouldn't be affected by the accelerator. 

 

The car is relatively new to me.  I haven't changed any of the axles, but the left front does look to be newer/different from the others.