I bought a 93 WRX a month or so ago and am begining to worry about the rattly nature and knocking sound of the engine.

It has 56 000 m on the clock and apart from this seems in reasonably good condition (its come straight from Japan). The noise is very noticeable when cold (at idle) and decreases when hot (but can still be heard!). When I test drove the car it didn't seem that bad but before picking it up the importer/dealer performed an oil change and it seems to have made the noise more obvious, crap oil?

I have a warranty with the vehicle but the max. amount per claim is £1000. I know a lot of UK cars have had a short engine change under warranty but did not say how much this would have cost them, any ideas?

Any early WRX owners had an engine change (or pistons), or any imported Imprezas for that matter?

I'd be grateful for any ideas or advice as it is know causing some concern.

Tone.

 

Tone,

I'd get the car checked out by an expert/specialist asap. If the car does have engine problems, then I'd use up as much of the £1000 allowance under warranty to get it fixed.

It could just be a worn tappet or something, which is now making more noise due to a thinner oil having gone into the engine recently (it's not unknown for people selling cars to put in very thick oil and other additives to mask out any engine noises).

If the car does have serious problems with the engine, then I'd try and reject it under the sale of goods act and get your money back from the dealer.

 

Could be heat shields, mine are always going and make a wide variety of noises that change with temperature.

 

Tone,

I've got a 94 WRX and my engine was very rattly until I had the Cam belt changed. Has yours had 'The Op?'

If you don't know the history then it may be worthwhile getting it done anyway just for peace of mind!

Mark

 

I've found that WRXs are louder than UK ones. They tend to make a rattly noise when cold but calms down after it gets warm. It might just be nothing to worry about, as mine is a bit noisy but I just think thats the way it is. Get it checked out though just to be sure.

Tarra

 

Also I have heard from my service place that using to thin an oil can cause the tappets to stick on imports (and possibly UK cars too??)......but I use Mobil 1 Motorsport 15w50 in my motor and it's OK so far....

Gethin
MY97 WRX

 

My 93 WRX is noisy when cold, but fine when warmed up. I have done over twenty five thousand in the last year. Recently when i'm decelerating i get a clattering sound, could this be the heat shield?

Cheers
Tim

[This message has been edited by Tim Davies (edited 10-05-2000).]

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

The car is going into Stanford Garage in Manchester on Monday to have some odd ends done. I'll get them to check it over and see what they think.

It's probably me being overly concern over nothing. I must say they i went to see a few Nissan GTi-R's before getting the Scooby and they seem to have even worse engine noise, even one that had been rebuilt only 10 000 m ago!

Thanks again,

Tone

 

Tim,

My 94 WRX has just had the heatsheild replaced (by an official suabru dealer )!

It did indeed clatter/rattle/vibrate when coming off the throttle and decelerating.

Sounds like that could be your problem !

Hope this helps,

Jon.

 

SUBARU dealer !

Blimey, one glass of Cab Sav and I'm all over the place !!!!!!!