pslewis

My Impreza today sounded like someone blowing over the top of a bottle - did it for about 10 minutes really loud - other than that it is quiet a quiet blowing noise.

Now, 3 years ago I read about this but have COMPLETELY forgotten what the hell it was??

Can anyone help enlighten me?? The warranty is up in 6 weeks!! gulp!

Pete

dhorwich

standard dump valve problem..!!

Dan

555 Markus

From the SIDC FAQ:


3.1 Dump Valves (aka Blow off Valves and By-pass Valves)
There seems to be a recognised problem with the 1997 specification car's dump valve. This does not shut properly under boost and thus vibrates giving the sound similar to someone blowing across the top of an open bottle. It has also been likened to a steam train whistle or ship fog horn in extreme circumstances!. Meanwhile the 1998 model seems to have a totally revamped and larger blow off system, but I have had reports that the problem sometimes still occurs.

pslewis

Thanks - knew you lot would come up trumps!!

Is it a warranty item??

Would it come and go?? It doesn't seem to do it all the time or everyday??

Would it affect the driving of the car?

Is it an easy quick fix for a dealer?

Pete

[Edited by pslewis - 3/22/2003 7:16:11 PM]

chrisp

Changing a dump valve is pretty quick for a dealer, unhook a few pipes, replace broken bit and reconnect. I would have thought it would be under warranty.

pslewis

Do you reckon the dealer will replace while its not blowing?? As, sods law says it will not be doing it when I roll into the dealer!!

The stock answer with some garages is, "Let one of our mechanics use it for a few days and see if he can replicate it" - I am NOT happy at anyone taking my car for their use, I assume I am within my rights to refuse such an offer without voiding my claim??

Anyone an idea how much a dump valve is??

Pete

stellaFella

aftermarket dump valve varies from about £40 to about £250. you pays yer money...... the standard item is pretty pathetic if its the same as the classic vavle. i think its by bosch and its made of plastic. you will have to stick with this for warrenty and i am sure our beloved subaru uk will sting you.

scooby_si

is MrLewis actually guna have 2 buy sumin tarty that makes a pointless noise lol
Seriously thou i can mail u list of breakers if u wana get a standard un cheap or i can even sell u my old un if yer desperate. wot the hell i'll mail u list in a sec anyway matey.
Go on buy a tarty shiny (they r silver) new (or 2nd hand as i did off scoobynet) dump valve
Si

pslewis

If its a Warranty Repair then I don't pay a penny!!!

Thats why I used my common sense and bought a good old UK model, solid residuals PLUS a luvverlly jubberly Warranty!!

Pete

chrisp

You do when the warranty runs out in 6 weeks .

chrisp

have you sdeen how much they are going for. Have a look and I dont mean dealer prices, have alook at private sales on autotrader.co.uk you may be surprised. The benefit with a UK car was its warranty, with out when you sell its worht the same as a euro import in the trade world.

pslewis

Nah, NEVER will an equivalent IMPORT have the same desirability as a genuine UK model!!

I'm keeping the car anyway so don't give a monkeys about used prices

BUT a 1 owner, UK car, Un-Modded, Un-Raced, low mileage, will be worth bucket loads more than some thrashed trashed Import!!

Pete

Spoon

That depends on how you define desirability.

I'd sooner have a much quicker better spec'd car so I guess that's how I define desirability.

johnfelstead

I think my STi is worth a little bit more than your common UK turbo Pete. The Gold wheels do it really. Solid residuals? what planet have you been on for the last 18 months?

StickyMicky

gahhhhh!!!
mine started making this fog type noise just as it comes on boost!!!!

i didnt have a clue what it could be, and even thought the turbo might be dieing lol
cheers chaps, i got loads of mates with standerd dump valves spare as they all fit them gay vented ones

pslewis

OK, being thick now - where is the Dump Valve and what does it look like??

I can hear a very quiet fog horn (if that makes sense) around the Turbo area, am I close?

What effect would it have on driving the car???

Pete

IanW

Pete,

The Dump Valve is bolted onto the Intercooler on the passenger side of the car.

Ian

Brun

Right here

scooby_si

on me UK MY97 the standard dump valve is attachhed about 12" or so along the black pipe which comes off the front right hand side (as u open bonnet) of the intercooler. Can take pix of wot me OE un looks lik e2morrow if yer desperate but basically it's just a black plastic thing
Si

scooby_si

im too slow is Pete's age catching lol isnt that an aftermarket recirc jobby thou brun?
Si

pslewis

Superb - how does it give the fog horn noise then? where would the noise come from? how would the drive be affected??

Pete

Brun

I assume it's a re-circ Si. Thats just some pic i robbed.
Pete - The fog Horn noise is air escaping, i assume. I'm only guessing at this, but i would think the car aint gonna be as smooth to drive as it should be. However we are talking about a Scoob, so you might not notice this

johnfelstead

Pete, the dump valve is basically an air valve. Under boost the valve should be closed, not letting air past it's seal. When they go faulty, they stick a little bit open, so on boost the air passes through this small air gap and makes a noise. Same theory as a whisle/horn.

Performance wise it will lose you pick up and on boost power, it's actually very bad for your turbo as it tries to speed up to produce the boost, so get it replaced asap and dont drive on boost at full thottle.

scooby_si

here we go
pikky of my freshly fitted VTA dump valve. Please note i deliberately installed it like a retard & left the original DV there so i could educate Pete The thing with a metal plug in it is the pipe which was attached to the intercooler & goes down to the OE dump valve.
Si (yes i have now tidied it up b4 u lot start lol)

Brun

Dammit:
I just went outside to take a pic and i lost the race
Here's the pic anyway.

Forge VTA

scooby_si

yeah but u obviously cleaned yers 1st lol
Si

Brun

Nope

scooby_si

take it back to dealer & ask em to replace protective dirt under waranty then
Si

pslewis

Cheers all - I now know where it is!!

BUT when it was loud, yesterday, I was at idle speed just cruising out of Newbury Racecourse .... nowhere near boost!!??

What does that say then?

Pete

PS can you just clean it out so it doesn't stick?

[Edited by pslewis - 3/23/2003 7:30:52 PM]

-=Buzz=-

Si - I cleaned it before I sent it

Voids your warranty if you've dirtied it, so I'll not be replacing it FOC with a clean shiny one

What do you think then? Like the noise?