This was printed in this weekends Telegraph, thank goodness it's merely annoying and not damaging to the engine!


I BOUGHT a new Subaru Impreza in January 1998. At 29,000 miles it developed a loud knocking noise on start-up. I was told that this was a known phenomenon, was not serious and would be cured under warranty by the fitting of a single replacement piston. I think that all pistons should be replaced, that the bores might have become damaged and that after the work has been done I should be provided with an extended warranty on the engine. These requests have been refused.
J.C., Oldfield
>Reply
Subaru has carefully explained that the knocking is caused by a change of piston skirt design in 1997. It is not detrimental to the engine and vanishes as soon as normal operating temperature is reached. Replacing one piston will eliminate start-up noise. At auction I have seen many Impreza Turbos with more than 100,000 miles on the clock - and they all run sweetly.

Regards
Chuck

 

Yeah, I read that too. Are they referring to the infamous no. 3 piston slap?

I think we should be told.

 

To the layman (and that is I) this would indicate that pn pre 97 cars this is not a problem, would this be true?

 

And thus the arguement for STI 3's rather than latter cars.
Chuck

 

My STI 3 is a late 97 car... ?

I did once have a noise a bit like piston slap... but that was because powerengineering managed to melt two of my pistons by forgetting to secure a vaccuum hose correctly!

STI 3 Cars are the best, that's all there is to it!

Moray

 

Total agreeance with Moray there! STI3 engines seem to be the best cars out of all! The engine seems to be the best powerplant for everything! Nearly dropped one of those in my car once, what a relief I didn't after seeing Moray MEGA Power

Harj...

 

No doubt Moray is having his <I>(better cos it's older)</I> Quartic Steering wheel fitted as we Speak?

[This message has been edited by Mike Tuckwood (edited 29-06-2000).]