Idle issue?

[Stu L Tissimus]

Well folks, I finally got mine back and it is running great, no problems. The idle issue is gone for me. As a side effect, my engine just generally feels a lot more solid, I can't really put a finger on what it is (this may just be placebo effect, but another family member who drove it before/after agrees with me).

The repair paper says the changed the exhaust oil control valves and the camshaft position sensor. They had the regional head Subaru engine tech come in and take a look at it.

[Hanzo]

Originally Posted by Stu L Tissimus

Well folks, I finally got mine back and it is running great, no problems. The idle issue is gone for me. As a side effect, my engine just generally feels a lot more solid, I can't really put a finger on what it is (this may just be placebo effect, but another family member who drove it before/after agrees with me).

The repair paper says the changed the exhaust oil control valves and the camshaft position sensor. They had the regional head Subaru engine tech come in and take a look at it.

Did you ever have the engine idle chirp sound? If you did, did it go away?

[TMayes86]

1200 Miles in and mine is chirping like crazy. Whats the deal here?

[Stu L Tissimus]

I never noticed any chirping noises, I'm afraid. I'm gonna go drive it in a bit, I'll keep you updated if I hear anything.

EDIT: Can't say I noticed anything.

[Lonewolf]

If you are not throwing check engine lights there shouldn't be a problem...

[ahausheer]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

If you are not throwing check engine lights there shouldn't be a problem...

Not true at all. There are plenty of situations where something can deviate from the planned design that it constitutes a problem or issue that should be resolved. It is better to be safe. If you are not sure about something take it to the dealer and at least have it inspected and noted.

[civicdrivr]

Mine is starting to chirp at idle. Its very faint though. I haven't experienced the rpm dip since I last reported in. At 4400 miles now.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by ahausheer

Not true at all. There are plenty of situations where something can deviate from the planned design that it constitutes a problem or issue that should be resolved. It is better to be safe. If you are not sure about something take it to the dealer and at least have it inspected and noted.

Crimony, no crap. I'm talking about with respect to this particular cam/valve issue...at least as its manifested itself so far.

If everyone with a boxer freaked out about some odd intermittent behavior with their idle, the Subaru techs wouldn't be able to go home at night...they would have to work 24/7 to investigate
all these issues.

*Chances are some sort of revision or reflash may be coming at some point this model year, but that doesn't mean all these people with idle issues are going to have the serious problems
that whiteout and stu had.

[ahausheer]

If I buy anything that will end up costing me 30K or more it better work like its supposed to. If ''weird'' idle issues are not covered in writing or personal communication at the time of purchase I will take it in, and I will get a mechanic to tell me its either fine or it is not. If its fine then there is a design issue which reflects poorly on Subaru's engineering ability. If it not meant to do that, then I will have it fixed. You should not discourage people from at least getting things checked out. Thats what mechanics are for and thats how people learn what is ok and what is not. If you have a question or issue don't ignore it. Ignoring things is not how you learn about your car.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by ahausheer

If I buy anything that will end up costing me 30K or more it better work like its supposed to. If ''weird'' idle issues are not covered in writing or personal communication at the time of purchase I will take it in, and I will get a mechanic to tell me its either fine or it is not. If its fine then there is a design issue which reflects poorly on Subaru's engineering ability. If it not meant to do that, then I will have it fixed. You should not discourage people from at least getting things checked out. Thats what mechanics are for and thats how people learn what is ok and what is not. If you have a question or issue don't ignore it. Ignoring things is not how you learn about your car.

At no point did I discourage people from having their car checked out if something is wrong.

What I am trying to say is that random idle fluctuations (could be moisture in gas, fan kicking on among many other things) and weird sounds every now and then from a boxer motor with DI is nothing to freak about...

[ahausheer]

Ok I can concur on that.

[b.e]

Originally Posted by Stu L Tissimus

The repair paper says the changed the exhaust oil control valves and the camshaft position sensor. They had the regional head Subaru engine tech come in and take a look at it.

Get it on a dyno, see what they did to it.

[Stu L Tissimus]

Dyno wouldn't really tell me much if I didn't have a readout from before the repair, I'd imagine.

[AshWilliams]

If it's chirping (and I'm going by experience from older cars/trucks)...

A bad throwout bearing in the manual transmission can cause chirping at idle, so can bad bearings in any of your pulleys.

There can be a intermittent chirps if you have oil on your belts/serpentine belt.

A constant chirping at idle can be a T/O bearing or any of the engine pulleys.