ScoobyWrxSti84

Hi Lads

I bought the Rb5 in the end but when i was driving it home i came across and issue. On tick over the car sounds fine and the car has had all the engine internals done with the engine rebuild not too long ago. As you increase the revs during acceleration i get a tapping noise which i can only hear with the window down hence did not notice it during test drive. It actually sounds like a bag of spanners under acceleration. It performs as it should and is a very smooth drive and there is no noise on tick over.

A friend thinks it may be piston slap but to me it is a little too loud for that. I phoned the bloke who i bought it from and he said he had not noticed it before (huummm strange) and he then went on to say it might be the actuator.

Does any one have any ideas

Cheers

Rory

Myles

iTrader: (40)

The experts on here will probably find it difficult to diagnose without hearing it. Do you have a Subaru specialist nearby, if so run it over to them. They will give you a good idea.

pslewis

Piston Slap disappears after the engine has warmed up AFAIK.

Tappets you would hear at idle too.

Difficult to know .... but if it is bad I'm surprised you didn't hear it on the Test Drive?

ScoobyWrxSti84

Not sure if any specialists near me will be looking today though

Yeah i thought piston slap disappears when the engine has warmed up and on idle it sounds fine.

In the test drive he had the window up and as i said you only hear it when the window is down. Sounds like tappets as they the tap gets quicker/louder the more revs you give it

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

When the bottom end went on mine the car sounded ok on tick over, when it was revved to 3k & some load applied then the knocking would start. As previously mentioned, get it to a specialist. You could check that the spark plugs are done up, that also happened to me & the engine sounded like a bag of spanners.

Good luck

ScoobyWrxSti84

Bottom end :-( now i am worried. The engine was re-built around 72k and it is now on 79k

phil739

iTrader: (30)

same with mine , was bottom end , mine got worse the more i drove it untill the point of BANG
if it is bottom end i would take it straight back to where you got it and get money back , even with private sales you get 28 days according to cit advice centre

Marin

iTrader: (1)

No expert in these things but I can hear the boost solenoid ticking sometimes - not as loud as you describe but worth checking I guess? (have an RB5 too - hope you get it sorted!)

Abx

iTrader: (15)

Also check to see if anything is loose in or around the engine bay, could possibly be something that has worked loose and rattling under higher revs, glass half full etc!

pslewis

28 days for what????

I cannot believe that is true .... there is no warranty on private sales.

If the car was mis-represented then you have a claim ..... I doubt you have anymore than that?

But, yes, if it's the bottom end I would get the car right back and kick off until you get your money back!

rbaz

iTrader: (1)

If a downpipe, manifold turbo etc is blowing slightly they can make a tapping like sound (will sound like a bag of spanners) and you would hear it a lot more with a window open driving through a town etc.
Easy to check your self open the bonnet and rev it a bit check around the turbo

Off Your Marks

iTrader: (3)

if its a hard metallic knocking, then something aint right thats for sure. Get a mate to sit in a rev when warm and get your lugs around and under the engine, try and determine the location from which it eminates.

Piston slap sound more like a diesely rumble/groan and does indeed disappear when warmed up.

check the basics like oil level too. in reality it could be a number of things mate and only a specialist will help as you will just get a load of guessing otherwise

hope you get it sorted

53

iTrader: (41)

I have a blown gasket on my Volvo, manifold to head, goes fine but sounds horrible ! Blows under load.

chris-RB5

injectors!

bob r

iTrader: (46)

Have you called the seller and asked him if he has any ideas what the noise could be?

It could be something or nothing. But defiinitely get is checked out if the seller can't come up with an explanation.

Splitpin

^ That's the way forward. End of thread, basically.

None of us here can help you out on this, you need the car looked at and that's all there is to it.

Among the things that would worry me here are firstly that whatever led to the engine needing a rebuild 7000 miles ago may not have been fixed during the rebuild. Cue the possibility of an early repeat.

It certainly ain't injectors and it won't be tappets bearing in mind the engine doesn't have any and that valve clearances would/should have been checked and if necessary reshimmed during the rebuild.

There are too many questions on this one and you can't really afford to sit there while people on an internet forum take it in turns to either guess or tell you their own stories. Use the forum to find yourself a good local specialist and get it to them for a check over - the outcome will be better and quicker that way.

ScoobyWrxSti84

Cheers guys

Took it to Subaru spec they think air is escaping from the manifold possibly maybe turbo downpipe. Trying to ring Zen but cannot get through. Someone mentioned something about a place near me in letchworth that maybe detailed on here somewhere but cannot fine it

rbaz

iTrader: (1)

Told Ya
Hope thats all it is easy fix

Allen

iTrader: (1)

Hello mate, im fairly local to you. Have you tried Quenby's Subaru on Baldock high street? Thats our closest Subaru dealer.

ScoobyWrxSti84

yes Allen that is where i got the diagnosis from. He has nothing for two weeks so he suggested one in Letchworth (but cannot remember the name) or Zen Performance

Cheers

Marin

iTrader: (1)

I think Zen are only doing mapping now and not mechanical work any more? Would still try to give them a call though in case I have my wires crossed.

Marin

iTrader: (1)

API are not too far away though - sort of north west of Daventry and that's only 45 mins from Baldock (ish)

pslewis

Sounds like something simple ... phewwww, that's good news!

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Zen closed down - effectively - for this sort of work around the turn of the year. He might be available for a diagnosis, but as far as l know is restricting his actual work to remapping these days.

We are up at Junc 12 of the M40 or not too far from Junc 16 of the M1 and can offer a sensible diagnosis / solution.

I have to say the description of the noise does not sound good, but stranger things have happened.

I have limited time on Saturday morning the 20th [ until maybe 11.30 ] Or we can take a look for you on Monday 22nd.

Until you have an expert opinion, don't drive it unless you have to.

David APi

01926 614333

carl26

i have rb5 mine was bit like that it was de cat pipe you will get bit off taping

ScoobyWrxSti84

Hi David

I booked it in over the weekend and they found that my exhaust manifold was cracked all the way along. They are welding it and hoping that this should suffice. My engine was actually put in by A.P.I as i have the receipts for it.
If they do not resolve or i need a new manifold i may be giving you a call

Thanks

Rory