Hey all. I've recently purchased an '09 WRX 5-door and I have one concern that I am reminded of everyday. When I start it up and begin to roll out (after about 20 ft) there is a mechanical clank that is audible and also slightly noticeable by feel. This happens every time I start the car and begin to move (only in a forward gear...can't get it to make the noise in reverse). It's never particularly loud. In fact if, one wasn't listening for it you probably wouldn't notice it. However, if the car sits overnight, the clank is more noticeable than if the car has only been sitting for a few minutes.

 

I'm new to the AWD and turbo world, so this could very well be something to be expected, but none-the-less, it's bugging me. I asked a service manager down here in Florida about it and he kinda sloughed it off as nothing, saying that there are four separate drive shafts and that some noise is to be expected. He also said that there is a 1 in 100,000 chance that there is something wrong with the car. Neither one of these statements was very reassuring to me and I'm wondering if anyone here may have any similar experience as this with their vehicle.

 

Both of my parents have non-turbo Subarus and I know a few other people with one and none of them have heard anything similar to this.

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The ABS pump I think makes a noise when you start rolling. Maybe that is what you are hearing?

Manual or Automatic?

Where in Florida are you located?

 

I'd suggest trying to see if there are any other WRX owners around you that are technically inclined to take a listen. You may want to check out the regional forums on nasioc http://forums.nasioc.com/forums

It's a manual.

 

Also, I lied. I reversed all the way down my street to see if it would make the noise and it did. I guess I just hadn't backed up up far enough before.

 

This area of Florida (Juno Beach/Jupiter) doesn't have a whole lot of Subarus running around. In fact, I've only seen one other Subaru here in 5 years of seasonal work! I worked on the north shore of Mass for 9 months and I probably saw 25 a day. I'll check out the link anyway, thanks!

 

I don't think it sounds like a pump kicking in. To me it sounds drive train related and could very well be the synchronization of the AWD system or something akin to that.

Some guys over on another forum suggested I check my manual...

 

"ABS system self check: Just after the vehicle is started, you may feel on the brake pedal a vibration similar to when the ABS operates, and you may also hear the sound of the ABS working from the engine compartment. This is caused by an automatic functional test of the ABS system being carried out and does not indicate any abnormal condition."

 

Although the noise doesn't sound like an ABS action to me, I've certainly been wrong before and it seems as though my ear has led me astray once again! Comforting for sure...

Interesting!

 

And thanks for your courtesy, cvlooper, coming back on to let us know.

Don't want to be the bringer of bad news. Did you see this?

 

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1648372

Ya get your wrx checked out just incase you have the same problem.

Well, thank goodness, so far, this is DEFINITELY NOT the noise I am referring to. There were a couple youtube links within one of these terrifying threads that clearly identified the noise that is causing so much fret in the WRX/STI community. Here they are in case you want to check them out:

 

 

Subaru seems to be acknowledging these engine failures as a manufacturing defect within the engines, which is disconcerting, but they are replacing the engines under warranty. There is even one case where a guy received a new WRX. Most are still upset that they now have an engine number that doesn't match the body (which leads to severe depreciation), but I for one am looking to own my car for it's viable lifetime and really don't care that much about matching numbers. If my motor pops, then so be it. Subaru is doing the right thing as far as I've heard.