I have just bought a 1999 UK Turbo wagon, FSSH, 38,000 genuine miles etc.

The engine was very quiet when I road tested it ( And it was cold), but now I have a tapping noise ( Sometimes quite loud) when the car is started....sometimes!

As soon as all is warmed up, the engine is quiet, and performance is as expected.

I was thinking piston slap, but don`t understand why sometimes it seems ok?

Your comments of doom would be appreciated.......

 

I'm sure someone will have a better more technical explanation but it could be....

Low oil, have you checked the levels?

Cheap / over used oil, when was the last time it was changed, specifically with the warming up thing this would indicate it is maybe the wrong grade of oil or something.

Tappets, not sure of the specifics of this but i know when i researched this previously i read a few threads which hinted at the tappets, TBH though i don't even know what these do!

Hopefully nothing more serious than the above!

 

Cheers for your reply..........but oil type/level are both "as recommended".

I am off to "Subaru4u" at Newbury in the morning, and hopefully they cah shed some light on it.

 

No bother mate, give us an update out of curiosity!

Hope its nothing major!

 

Would be worth looking at the cambelt tensioner, these somtimes can cause the noise you are describing, if you remove the cambelt cover, get someone to start the engine from cold, and look at the pulley on the tensioner, there should be no play or movement. I have a MY99 and replaced it at 42000 miles. Piston slap is not common on the MY99.

Hope this helps.