Car is 2002 Impreza WRX Bugeye, 89,000 on the clock, no mods at all, all fluid levels OK not low, oil changed every 6 months, its well looked after, in fact its treated like a baby!

Wife was driving around 20mph (residential street) when she heard this noise from engine bay, pulled over turned engine off, there was no warning lights, or loss of power.
I went up to see the car and started engine, no weird noise at all. I left it running for 3-4 minutes, drove it up the street and back (off boost) and still no noise, no loss of power, nothing out of the ordinary at all.

Stopped and restarted car after a minute or two, and voila, noise ! turned engine off and left it.

Can anyone tell from this video clip what it could be?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8AEG...ature=youtu.be ( sorry about the link, not sure how you embed Youtube clips)

I've had a bottom end go on me in a Celica, didn't sound anything like this.
any help greatly appreciated!

Just been out and started it and it's not making the noise. kind of freaking out about it,

thanks

Oranges.

 

Could be classic cat in the uppipe breaking its welds, happens to a lot of newage wrx's. Only way to find out though is to take the uppipe off and see if it rattles when you shake it, if so then buy a decat version and problem solved. As a word of warning these have been known to distory turbos so get it checked sooner rather than later.

 

Not the turbo heat-shield?

 

Good ideas thank you guys, i will check both those out!

Cheers!

O

 

Update!

Checked the turbo heat shield, no rattle, not loose & couldn't see any other loose heat shields, Got a mobile mechanic I know to check it out and typically the noise wouldn't happen, drove about 10/15 miles yesterday and nothing, no noise, no warning lights, no lack of power, nothing unusual at all.

Wife drive car to work this morning and noise started about 1 min before getting to work, typical!!

I guess my next route is to take off the up pipe to check the CAT as suggested above ( thank you)

Does anyone have any other ideas on what it could be in the meantime?

Cheers

 

Not quite the same sound, but watch this and go to about 4 mins when he starts the car up.


yours sounds more metallic tho, not a thud like the big ends imo

 

have you noticed if it makes the sound with the aircon on or off? or both?
could be a pulley

 

You my friend are flipping awesome!

It's was the A/C compressor! Something inside the damn thing is shafted.

High five my good man and thank you very much for your input!!

 

That's the start of your troubles.

Wife with no aircon - omG !

Glad it's identified.

Good one Fudge

 

Ahh damnit! Hadn't thought of that !

And yes thank you Fudgy!

 

Your welcome mate, bit of a pi$$er but its a **** load cheaper than a rebuild!!

Glad it was a simple one.

Ps i take cheque or cash lol

 

It reeeally is! Would've been the end of the car, couldn't afford the rebuild costs!
Haha, if you're ever in my neck of the woods gimmie a shout and I'll buy you a few beers

 

ha no worries mate i was only joking!