Engine Piston Slap

[Monte Smith]

I have a 2001 Forester that has a rather load clicking sound coming
from the engine when cold. The noise diminishes as the engine warms up
but never goes away. The noise is more evident when accelerating. The
car only has 28K miles. The dealer claims many of the Subaru's have
this problem(piston slap) and will not fix it under warranty. Anybody
experience this problem? A car with this problem is a little hard to
sell when it sounds like the engine is starting to come apart.

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Douglas Barr]

I have a 2001 Forester that has a rather load clicking sound coming
from the engine when cold. The noise diminishes as the engine warms up
but never goes away. The noise is more evident when accelerating. The
car only has 28K miles. The dealer claims many of the Subaru's have
this problem(piston slap) and will not fix it under warranty. Anybody
experience this problem? A car with this problem is a little hard to
sell when it sounds like the engine is starting to come apart.

(e-mail address removed)

Has the dealer actually investigated the noise and diagnosed it, or have you
suggested to them that it is piston slap?

Reason I ask is that there are other problems that fit your description. I
have an '02 Legacy which had a very similar problem at 36K miles. Clicking
sound that is louder when cold, speed of the clicks increases with engine
speed, noise _almost_ disappears when warmed up, sometimes worse than
others. If the noise is coming from the front left side of the engine it
could be the timing belt tensioner. While not exactly a weak spot, this
isn't an uncommon problem.


Doug

 

[TrAsK]

Has the dealer actually investigated the noise and diagnosed it, or have you
suggested to them that it is piston slap?

Reason I ask is that there are other problems that fit your description. I
have an '02 Legacy which had a very similar problem at 36K miles. Clicking
sound that is louder when cold, speed of the clicks increases with engine
speed, noise _almost_ disappears when warmed up, sometimes worse than
others. If the noise is coming from the front left side of the engine it
could be the timing belt tensioner. While not exactly a weak spot, this
isn't an uncommon problem.


Doug

Same issues I experienced with my 2000 Forester with 47,000. I had
the Timing Belt Tensioner Replaced and it corrected the problem, and
Subaru covered it Under Warrenty.

 

[Jerry and Bea]

Same issues I experienced with my 2000 Forester with 47,000. I had
the Timing Belt Tensioner Replaced and it corrected the problem, and
Subaru covered it Under Warrenty.

Here's another one, my Mazda pickup was doing the same thing, it was an
exhaust manifold leak.

 

[JCee]

I agree, have the tensioner checked. I've changed quite a few. Your
dealer should have a bulletin referring to this very issue.