Timing belt tensioner update

[SchnauzerDad]

Hello group, so far my timing belt tensioner replacement on my 02 Forester
has made no noise. A regional rep asked to be present when they tested the
car to hear the noise, and it was replaced, no questions asked. It's been
about 6 weeks now, and no problems.
chas

 

[Gilles Gour]

Hello group, so far my timing belt tensioner replacement on my 02 Forester
has made no noise. A regional rep asked to be present when they tested the
car to hear the noise, and it was replaced, no questions asked. It's been
about 6 weeks now, and no problems.
chas

Sorry I missed the first part of the thread. Could you describe the
noise it was making. I'm having a stange knock that I'm trying to
identify and the belt tensioner is amongst the suspects.
Thanks in advance.

 

[SchnauzerDad]

Sure. It was always at startup, and primarily when there was some type of
temperature drop from the time I shut down until the next morning. It
sounded like a dry lifter, 'a "rapping" sound.
Chas

 

[Mike B.]

My '01 OB had the same noise. I put a audio file of the noise on my site
www.butkus.org (look for Subaru) You may need to download the file and then
play it.
BAD tapping below 35 degrees. I had the tensioner replaced first then the
next day the dealer told me they would replace 4 pistons under warranty. They
also replaced my timing and 2 drive belts for just the belt cost when doing the
timing tensioner. The difference is night and day. It is 25 degrees in Jersey
and NO startup noise now...none. Got 300 miles on the pistons now. Took 35-
40K to start making the tapping. Very slight during summer but noisy last
winter. Thought it was a valve tap. Very happy. New timing belt, all new
seals when they redid the motor, and new trans fluid when they were fixing a
flashing dashboard trans light which was my orginal complaint when I brought
it in. Plus this is the first time the dealer touched the car. Do my own oil
and check-ups Definite looking at buying my '05 from this dealer... PLUS I
got a free loaner for 3 days.

 

[Jim Stewart]

My '01 OB had the same noise. I put a audio file of the noise on my site
www.butkus.org (look for Subaru) You may need to download the file and then
play it.
BAD tapping below 35 degrees. I had the tensioner replaced first then the
next day the dealer told me they would replace 4 pistons under warranty. They
also replaced my timing and 2 drive belts for just the belt cost when doing the
timing tensioner. The difference is night and day. It is 25 degrees in Jersey
and NO startup noise now...none. Got 300 miles on the pistons now. Took 35-
40K to start making the tapping. Very slight during summer but noisy last
winter. Thought it was a valve tap. Very happy. New timing belt, all new
seals when they redid the motor, and new trans fluid when they were fixing a
flashing dashboard trans light which was my orginal complaint when I brought
it in. Plus this is the first time the dealer touched the car. Do my own oil
and check-ups Definite looking at buying my '05 from this dealer... PLUS I
got a free loaner for 3 days.

You just made a hell of an endorsement for your dealer.
Anyone in your area looking to buy a Subary would do
well to contact you for his name.

 

[SchnauzerDad]

Boy Mike, yours sounded worse than mine! I videotaped mine, and left it
with the dealer.
Chas