The Chief

After a high speed blast at weekend, my car started making a horrible knocking noise, the rac guy said it could be my big ends which is obviously a major job - new short block plus labour so quite a few quid - but someone at work who knows a bit about engines asked me a few questions, and he's not convinced that its as catastrophic as i am making out.

1. It is definitely knocking but not overly loud and only on medium revs, it does not make a sound at tickover.

2. There has been no oil light come on or anything like that.

3. There was no loss in performance and no smoke from the exhaust.

4. The lad asked me to check my dipstick and to look for any silver particles - there is nothing whatssoever.

Could it be something else, i'm pretty sure its not pistonslap but then again i know ****all about engines.

The car is a MY99 UK classic - totally standard apart from am STi panel filter so not overly stressed dcent oil and Optimax goes in it.

Its just knocking when revved

Cheers guys

Bob Rawle

Does sound like you have big ended it, oil pressure light is set at 0.2 bar so it will never normally come on after big end failure, pretty rubbish setting it at that. However could also be a cam belt tensioner.

bob

The Chief

Cheers Bob - thing is only out of damn warrenty by 3 weeks so i'm not a happy bunny.

could i change just the bearings or 'shells' or is definitely a short block jobbie???

The Chief

I've just done a search - well it seems the cam belt tensioner seem to fail a lot on the MY99 cars.

****ing hell i hope its this. i've not got 3 grand for a new engine

Andy S.

Fingers crossed its this Carl Did you phone Dale?

The Chief

Yeah - still will cost em a few quid

ZIPPY

A hell of a lot of Impreza engines go just after a good blast, my old MY97 blew a piston 3 days after maxing it out on a spirited drive, just out of warranty as well, Subaru did cover 80% of the cost of the job as the car had a full service history.

It had to have a new short motor.

Your problem doesnt sound too good.

Zippy

Gillp95

Yeah, fingers crossed its just the cambelt tensioner

The Chief

My old fella has heard it and reckons its something to do with the cambelt, he is certain its not the big ends!!!

i hope he's right

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

On my first Impreza my water pump started knocking, I thought it was the big ends. Took it to barretts motorsport and they thought it sounded dodgy too. They rang me later in the day to tell me the good news

scoobfan

Any way of adjusting that?

Or is it set via the ECU.

Rob