Clutch whine during cold start
 

Hi all. First of all, sorry if this is a repost but I did do a fairly extensive search into the issue but never really found anything conclusive.

Lately during cold starts my car has been making a noticeable whining noise, particularly when I press the clutch pedal. It does get higher in pitch as the revs increase but I never have a problem with engagement or shifting. The whining noise goes away after about 15 minutes when the car is warmed up. The clutch travel also feels completely normal except for a small clutch fork squeak. I am quite worried that this is an early sign of a bad throwout bearing or something like that. My car is a 2013 model with about 47k miles.

I have tracked the car in the past, but I was never did any hard launches or clutch kicks. Nowadays, I drive the car pretty gently and rarely rev the engine above 4000 rpm. I have a habit of short shifting and I don't ride the clutch.

Can anybody tell me what's going on here? Any help would be appreciated.

Throwout bearing. You didn't break it. They just suck. Get it replaced before it kills the rest of your clutch.

I concur^^^^^^^

Guess what happened to me today!!!!!!

... it was making a slight sound for about a month ... super quiet though.. only could hear it in the garage.... today it seized.

getting it towed to a shop friday.

And that is the way of the TOB.

If it's making noise with the clutch not depressed, it shouldn't be the throw out bearing. Typical TOB symptoms are no noise clutch out, noise as soon as you start pushing the clutch.

I've had cars where the TOB is in constant contact with the pressure plate fingers by design, and had the throwout bearing go bad... would make noise without touching the clutch pedal

This is one of them.

Old thread I know …

Is it possible that Cold starts during the cold winter months cause the TOB to make the whirring sound when pressing clutch? It goes away after car is warmed up. Clutch feels fine, no issues shifting.

It is never acceptable for a bearing to make any noise. It is failing now and won't improve on its own.

Yeah likely the TOB. I'm mid rebuild and mine had been making a noise. It was very "crunchy" spinning it once I had it out.

I have same car and observation. Did you ever figure it out?

did you read the thread?

OMG that's too hard!

Add me to the list of who this is happening to now. 2014 with 67k. Same exact symptoms as the OP, where it whines & makes a friction-y metallic whirring/grinding noise regardless of if the clutch is depressed or not (but the sound changes/gets louder when clutch pedal is pressed in) while the car is cold, and goes away when warmed up.

I've already ordered this TOB kit with fork and pivot, just waiting for it to come in so I can get it installed: https://shop.battlegarage-rs.com/pro...earing-upgrade

Yes, I did read it, that’s why I’m asking for an update and not just opinions. Subarus are known to have clunky clutches.

All of us in this thread have replaced our TOBs. It's going to be either that, or the accessory belt squeaking over the alternator pulley. You can unplug the control connector from your alternator while it's squeaking. If it suddenly stops when the load is removed, it's your belt.

You can also reach back and pull the top of the clutch fork forward to lift the bearing from the pressure plate. If the squeaking stops there, then it's your TOB.

correction-- i haven't. but i have all the parts on my shelf ready to go because i'm only at 52k, but i know it'll need to be done by the 60k service interval, along with spark plugs, brake fluid, diff, and trans fluids...

my clutch doesn't make any noises, other than some squeaking during activation(think that's the pivot, not the bearing), but just doesn't feel as rosy as it did when i first bought the car...