Engine chirp experience with Subaru

[Podge]

Engine developed chirp, no surprise there...

Fuel pump replaced (the service department said they hadn't ever heard of the issue) and the noise was gone.... for about a month, then it come back with a vengeance , much louder and happening a lot sooner after startup.

After quite a bit of back and forth between myself and the dealer and then escalating to Subaru Australia (who also said that they had not heard of the issue) for various issues I was having with the dealership, the service department.

Finally the dealership was approved by Subaru Australia to investigate issue and they found that there is some sort of cap that is mounted in to the pipe leading from the fuel line to the fuel pump itself and the cap was moving up and down, they found score/wear marks from the cap moving up and down. They have replaced the pipe and the noise has gone away.

It has only been a week so I am not being overly convinced just yet but the noise has gone and they did not replace the fuel pump.

Anyone else had this fix applied and it failed?

[treminaor]

Haven't heard of this fix yet, the standard response is just to replace the HPFP and your experience with that sounds typical. The cap issue is interesting, definitely keep driving it and check in with us again with an update if the noise stays gone.

[humfrz]

Well, like they say, "for any problem, there is a simple solution ..... but it's usually wrong" ....... or something like that.

HOWEVER ...... THAT observation deserves some follow up ......


humfrz

[BRZnut]

very interesting! Did they give anymore info on what this "cap" is?

[Podge]

No, they didn't really give much of an explanation at all other than they found score marks where it had been moving up and down in the 'neck' that attaches to the fuel pump. The guy I spoke to was not technical at all, just the one who takes the keys and makes the bookings.

The fuel pump replacement 'fixed' the noise for about a month so I will give it at least a month before I claim victory but still no noise after a couple of weeks...

[PandaSPUR]

Interesting... Not sure how replacing the cap would fix the issues though? Unless that cap is somehow making the noise itself or causing some weird pressure fluctuations for the pump.

[Podge]

I believe the issue is that the cap should be seated in to place but it moves up and down and makes the squeaking/chirping noise.

Just reporting, still no re-appearance of the noise.. still good so far!

[ZZT86]

Assume you have 2013 car, what month ? How many k's ? What fuel did you have in your tank - ethanol blend ?

[radroach]

It's not the issue as described by other threads. The explanations I've read were that the pump's plunger seal develops a small amount of water moisture which causes it to squeak, happens more when its hot and humid outside. No idea what cap you're talking about, maybe show us with a picture or diagram?

Second, you already knew the fuel pump was going to chirp, did you also know that changing the fuel pump wouldn't do anything as well? I'm 3 years of ownership on original fuel pump, some days it doesn't chirp at all, sometimes its a racket. Its a characteristic I've just become used to.

[atlbrz]

Jusr a thought/comment. I never knew what the chirp was unitil I left me radio on and it killed the battery. I used my neighbor's jump cables to start the car and shortly after the car started I heard the cricketets. After a minute of two of idleing, the idleing speed increased and the chirp went away. I haven't heard the noise over the last month. Low voltage to the fuel pump or something else?

[Podge]

Originally Posted by ZZT86

Assume you have 2013 car, what month ? How many k's ? What fuel did you have in your tank - ethanol blend ?

MY2014 car delivered 23rd November 2013

Developed the chirp around 40000kms

Only ever had premium (98RON) run through it

[Podge]

Originally Posted by radroach

It's not the issue as described by other threads. The explanations I've read were that the pump's plunger seal develops a small amount of water moisture which causes it to squeak, happens more when its hot and humid outside. No idea what cap you're talking about, maybe show us with a picture or diagram?

Second, you already knew the fuel pump was going to chirp, did you also know that changing the fuel pump wouldn't do anything as well? I'm 3 years of ownership on original fuel pump, some days it doesn't chirp at all, sometimes its a racket. Its a characteristic I've just become used to.

I'll take your word that it isnt the same issue, certainly sounded the same as the multitude of youtube videos i watched but if you say so...

I dont have a diagram, i didnt even see the part they were talking about, i dropped the car off and picked it up.

As for making the noise some days and not others, i believe mine made the noise every day as soon as the car warmed up (was really noticeable in an enclosed environment such as a drive thru, underground carpark and even when driving beside a 6 foot high fence).

[Podge]

And for the record, still no noise after whatever Subaru did...

Cautious but hopeful they fixed whatever issue it was having.

[ZZT86]

Can you find out what it is they did to recrlticfy ?