2002 Subaru Impreza WRX cold-start ticking noise!?!

[MXR2400ex]

Tipical subaru mine has 222,000 miles and still going strong !!

[palma0778]

nothing wrong with this engine no worrys

[tallica1]

I've had 3 Subaru's, one N/A impreza 1.5L and two EJ207 STi's and they all made this noise on cold starts. It's normal aparently...more so with forged pistons which are known to give the piston slap when cold.

[xxftwismymottoxx]

yea if you watch motorweeks review of the brand new 2002 wrx when they start it in the vid u can hear piston slap.. and thats on a new car. mine does the same and i run 5w30 mobil1 synthetic

[DrinaRS]

а чего лампочка подушек не потухла после старта ?

[snowrocket]

I've owned My '97 2.2 (EJ22) Impreza for seven years. 196,000 miles, currently. It's made worse knocking than this for five years! When it's below 20 degrees F, the noise never goes away, and gets louder when you're revving it up. Then summer comes and it sounds like a low mileage car! I wait for it to warm up before running it hard, then do what I like after that. The 2.2 NA and the 2.0 turbo are the best Subaru engines ever made; virtually indestructable if left stock and well maintained.

[Bubbly05subie]

just wanted to post what the problem is... see the wrx has a plating on the rods when the plating starts to come off it causes this "knock" my old motor (took it out to upgrade) did that very same thing for almost three yrs then i blew the main bearings out, took it apart put new mans and rod bearings in and guess what the knock was still there but the car ran strong for another yr till i swapped it to a 2.5 hybrid.

[Bubbly05subie]

@Bubbly05subie

By the way this is coming from a certified Subaru tech and Subaru enthusiast... he has owned them since he was old enough to drive and before lol

[TheNego]

Its piston slap, the pistons and rings need time to warm up and expand in the cylinder! Most Subies do this!

[jp9929]

piston slap

[t436]

05 LGT and it sounds something like that in the cold.

[Kstorm88]

Thats just what a subaru sounds like. my '02 wrx sounds alot louder on -30*F days. but that's totally normal, my car is the exact same way on a cold start even during summer. It still really hard and strong, and no issues at all. Enjoy it, It's just what subarus do. Thanks!

[jordan010178]

I have this noise on MY98, learn to live with it, mine only makes this noise for a couple of minutes then goes away, seems to be a very common thing with boxer engines, just listen to a german engine from cold, sounds like a piece of s**t, by that I mean the 911

[PaymentMade]

Hey man what ended up being the problem. I have an 03 WRX and it makes that exact noise when I first start it in the mornings. Once its warmed up you can just faintly hear it inside the car but under the hood you can't hear the sound at all, wondering if yours did the same thing?

[madscanman1]

had same noise after full rebiuld costing over 2000 g bp , went mad wit man and turned out it was ok , some make noise some do not piston slap is a noise you know is bad , sounds ok 2 me , try and kill it if you can not it s ok then , simple route i took , good luck

[matrix9eleven]

it's one of your idler pullies.... it's probably faint when the car warms up?...

i didn't read the other comments, i had the same noise.... and i'm 90% sure that's what it is....

have you changed your timing belt/ilders/water pump yet?, what mileage are you at?...

[bassbone1785]

97 obs, does the same thing, and a bit louder. I believe that its the lifters, which is not a problem and happens more often than not on subarus. That was gentle compared to the -15 F start I did a while ago. It made so many moans and groans, I felt sorry for the poor thing. I couldn't even get the car into gear, it was so cold.

[littlezrexer]

my 04 wrx does the same its normal.

[shabskats]

use 10/60 lucas oil trust me il go

[TheMastaPlan]

i took it in to my mechanic, wasnt the timing belt tensioner...also tried using 10w-40 oil and the problem still occurs....it also happens still when i shift at 2750-3250 rpms, its really weird and cannot figure out hte problem, i dont want to tear apart the engine unless my warranty will cover it and i wont know that unless its apart, so i either have to take it apart and hope its covered or take it apart and be stuck with a huge bill :/

[freakkk6sic6]

it could be that the cams shafts arnt getting enough oil until its warm. some EJ and MY engines are noted for it.

[LitOBOo]

Whats the update on this? Im havin the same exact problem

[L3g4cyTT]

piston slap is common on subies but from what i undersand if it goes away when warm its ok, just dont beat on it til its fully warm. also you could maybe use slightly thicker oil

[TheMastaPlan]

also if i idle or rev between 27500-32500 it makes that noise but only at those revs...hmmm

[jaydnisevil]

I got the same thing on my EJ25

99% sure its piston slap.

Not bad, but not good.

Its not going to nuke your engine :)

[TheMastaPlan]

i took it in and was told it was a push rob at subaru...then at my mechanic he said it was a timing belt resistor...and if you look up piston slap on other videos it sounds nothing like it...i checked timing belt resistor or somehtin like that...ill double check tonight on the reciet and estimate of what it would cost....ill let you know...seems like my mechanic was right and subaru was wrong..

[jaydnisevil]

Thanks appreciate it!!

tell me if its resolved by that timing belt resistor :s

I get that same noise between 2900-3800 under very light throttle.

[TheMastaPlan]

mine is in the shop today to fix a timing belt tensioner or transistor wahtever he said, i think its tensioner...im picking it up tomorrow, so when i get it and if the problem is fixed ill let you know what the problem is....its about 500$ to fix FYI

[TheMastaPlan]

not sure why your comment was removed by the author...but i found out its not the timing best transistor...next bet is the a piston slap...im gonna hold off and try using better oil...ill let you know how that works.. :/

[jaydnisevil]

Because, I realised what I wrote was completly wrong.. lol Thats a different squeek I have. Figured as such, Reckon its just the piston bobbleheading around..

Cure, boring out the cylinder a fraction and using oversized rings and/or pistons.

Cant really do much about it, I just did an oil change. REALLY QUIET now, can barley hear it (in comprison)

[TheMastaPlan]

did you ever figure out what the problem was?

i own a 04 wrx and i have the same issue on cold start ups....also when i shift at 3rpms from gear 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 it makes that noise again but 3rd to 4th 4th to 5th is fine...wondering if you found it was normal or if its serious and should replace soon? i was quoted 500$ for parts/labor and was told it was a timing belt tensioner , took it somewhere else and they said lower rod knock(700$ parts/labor)...anyone know?

[zerolegacy97]

normal

[00mckenna00]

gonna have to agree with knick106 on this one alot of our newer subies have been having issues with piston slap my 03 WRX did it when i bought it with 120XXX km on it, its now stage 2 with a TBE and intake sitting at 190 XXX still does it everyday, still goes away when shes warm I wouldnt be too concerned

[jutubbb555]

My 1997 legacy does the same sound when it's cold.

Car mechanic told me that its not a problem at all.

He suggested to buy a louder car stereo. :)))

[ror1n]

romanman45 is 100% right

[ericem10]

synthetic oil usually fixes the problem :D

[mediAz]

maybe you schould fill in 98 octane gas. not 95 or 93 ! that was the problem on mine 02wrx sti.

[ATLien69]

Just want to post an updated comment since I've gotten so much feedback... apparently this is NORMAL. My cars been running strong for over a year now and 40,000km later, not a problem. So relax and enjoy the car. :)

[illcm]

I have a 2008 WRX with 7500 miles. Same noise when the engine is cold, but it gets quieter when warm. From what everyone's said, it's nothing to worry about, but since mine is so new, I'm going to swing by the dealer.

[theshadowonme]

That is definitely not a normal sound at all.

Everytime I have seen someone with this issue, they spun a bearing not too long after this.

I've owned 3 subarus, 2 of them high mileage not a normal sound at all.

[macgc4]

same issue here... 04 WRX.. goes away when it warms up :) just a normal Subie sound

[KASTAS155]

this is ur tapit arms on ur valves are alittle worn u can get them tightened and it would go away this is normal! usually on high mileage vechiles doesnt hurt anything but ur ears.

[Clin10]

my 2.5i does it too, even after it is warmed up at low RPMs.

[romanman45]

If u live where its cold about 70% of the time then you just need to throw in some 10W30 motor oil when its below 30* i have had same problem and 10W over 5W in the colder weather lubes everything up alot faster then 5W in the cold. :) my kock went away!! simple 20% fix

[TheMastaPlan]

i had this problem, its warm out...70s all day every day...sstill does the noise, i haven't tried diff oil but i was told it was a timing belt tensioner - will find out tomorrow if the problem is fixed

[jayguy173]

its called lifter tick

[englerv]

My 04 WRX makes an identical sound, it goes away when its warmed up and only at low revs (idle-1500 rpm). Did you ever find out what the cause is? I'm hoping its the timing belt tensioner, it seems to be a pretty common problem with subarus.

[turbomyl]

i have 04 wrx samr proble, i dont think its a rod knock, but it dissapear ofter warm up

[Ilovesubarus]

My dads got a 1999 impreza, makes the same noise when cold

[Bigdave630]

Subaru SIB: Cam-belt tensioner (if not replaced already). Plus Subi engines are just loud when cold... learn to live with it.

[Foresterxt04]

Ive owned Subaru's my whole life. The Boxer 4 and H6 are just known for valve tick. Instead of 5w30, id use 10 30

[jayguy173]

use a better oil could be rod nock or valvetrain lifters

[JSHCUZ]

itll live.. buy a holden

[jaydnisevil]

Ya cause we want a commonwhore..

Id take a ford next. At least their I6 is engineered brilliantly. Holden just make engines bigger to get more power. Fail..

[dalejowen]

my mom's Subaru does the same thing, my dad thinks it's just the cold injectors

[tomie84]

ps also a impreza wrx

[tomie84]

i own a subaru 2002 myself

the noise you hear is a capsize cilinder.

but nothing to worry about

[LuxeXx]

If you live in a cold enviroment be careful about reving the engine. It could be a bent or broken valve.  If it was me I wouldn't be to woried about it.

[djmichaelallen]

My old '93 Legacy Turbo with an EJ22 had that same sound starting up, same with our '04 STi.

[knickl06]

I also had it on my forester i know that noise all to well it also went away with warmth

[knickl06]

ps i had that same noise on my forester it was piston slap

[knickl06]

I'm sorry but you have piston slap back in 1992 Subaru make the engine more efficient by adding a molly coating around the pistons it wares ours and the pistons slap on the wall and make that noise.