Is this idle noise normal?

[feldy]

I ran the Chicago frs first drive event and all the demo cars were doing it as well. There was a regional rep there and he had not heard it before so I pointed it out to him and he heard it clear as day. My complaint was logged with the dealer last week. I'm not to worried about it.

[bayareakhiladi]

Man.... I read the entire thread and I have to say this really sucks. Fellow FR-S/BR-Z owners, sorry to hear about the cars! I've been wanting to get my hands on a FR-S but hearing this news gets me bitter. Hopefully there's an official fix soon!

So everyone describes this issue occurs when the car is in idle. How about when driving? When coming to a stop or waiting at a stop light? Does the chirping still occur?

[xcelir8brz]

Regardless of the chirp, installing the Perrin Pulley today on my 6AT.

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

Gonna post this in all the idle chirp threads I can. Just got back from the dealership where a Subaru corporate rep was taking a look at my car due to front bumper fitment issues, and I asked him about the chirping noise.

He says they've been holding classes for techs on the new motors, and their demo cars are all doing it. As of right now, it's a known "issue" and it's been logged that people are complaining about it. This is what he had to say about it.

"The issue has been classified as a normal noise to the Direct Injection high-pressure release valves when operating under normal conditions. It's intermittent in that the DI/PI systems work in tandem, and it will only generate noise when operating under specific circumstances which are most likely at engine idle. Every single car (Scion, Toyota, and Subaru) will emit this noise at some point in it's life. There is no current plan to investigate a fix unless enough people whine about it."

More or less a direct quote. Yes, he said whine.

They logged a report on the issue saying that I found the noise detrimental. Cars are noisy and I'm not gonna get my panties in a bunch over it, but FOR YOU GUYS I told him that I "didn't mind either way, but I guess I would prefer if it didn't make the noise."

So you're saying we should all whine to Subaru about this?! Sounds like a plan!! I hate having my car sound like an old beater with a loose belt.

[Fenrir]

Originally Posted by bayareakhiladi

Man.... I read the entire thread and I have to say this really sucks. Fellow FR-S/BR-Z owners, sorry to hear about the cars! I've been wanting to get my hands on a FR-S but hearing this news gets me bitter. Hopefully there's an official fix soon!

So everyone describes this issue occurs when the car is in idle. How about when driving? When coming to a stop or waiting at a stop light? Does the chirping still occur?

PREFACE: No offense meant to anyone in this thread.

The issue isn't the chirping, it's people posting about it and complaining like it's the end of the world. It has absolutely no detrimental effects on the motor, and will not affect driving in any way. It's only an issue because people are making it one. Subaru AND Toyota/Scion have said it's a normal noise, yet people still refuse to believe it and demand that they fix something that isn't broken.

[bayareakhiladi]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

PREFACE: No offense meant to anyone in this thread.

The issue isn't the chirping, it's people posting about it and complaining like it's the end of the world. It has absolutely no detrimental effects on the motor, and will not affect driving in any way. It's only an issue because people are making it one. Subaru AND Toyota/Scion have said it's a normal noise, yet people still refuse to believe it and demand that they fix something that isn't broken.

I don't see it as complaining. I see it as awareness of the vehicle, spreading news between the community of this matter. Also, finding the reason behind.

The only issue I find is if Subaru/Toyota says its a normal noise, why does it occur after the car went thru several miles? Is it apart of breaking in the car, that this noise will begin?

I understand the motor will still perform the same, but as the owner of the vehicle wouldn't you be troubled when you car started making the noise which wasn't there when you first bought the car (based on what owners have been saying)? This is the 1st generation of the vehicle, no one exactly knows the ins & outs.

[R8]

Originally Posted by bayareakhiladi

The only issue I find is if Subaru/Toyota says its a normal noise, why does it occur after the car went thru several miles?

Right, and why do only some cars and not others have the noise?

EDIT: If it's "normal," maybe people who don't have the noise should be complaining that they should

[Fenrir]

Originally Posted by bayareakhiladi

I don't see it as complaining. I see it as awareness of the vehicle, spreading news between the community of this matter. Also, finding the reason behind.

The only issue I find is if Subaru/Toyota says its a normal noise, why does it occur after the car went thru several miles? Is it apart of breaking in the car, that this noise will begin?

I understand the motor will still perform the same, but as the owner of the vehicle wouldn't you be troubled when you car started making the noise which wasn't there when you first bought the car (based on what owners have been saying)? This is the 1st generation of the vehicle, no one exactly knows the ins & outs.

No, I wouldn't be troubled. And I wasn't when mine started doing it. There's a big difference in awareness of the vehicle, and demanding (as several users here have) that something be done to address this "problem." Especially after several people said they heard back from dealers on how the noise was considered normal and completely ignored it and said "NOPE CAN'T BE NORMAL I DON'T LIKE IT MUST BE A PROBLEM FIX IT NOW."

But, whatever. Don't really effect me I spose, no sense in worrying about it. I have my car, it runs fine, and a little chirping isn't going to ruin my day

EDIT:

Originally Posted by R8

Right, and why do only some cars and not others have the noise?

EDIT: If it's "normal," maybe people who don't have the noise should be complaining that they should

They all do it. Every single one will, at some point, make this noise. It doesn't do it in the first few hundred miles presumable a) because people weren't listening for it, and it's really not that loud or b) because the valves hadn't gone through enough heat cycles to settle in. It's also intermittent, and only seems to crop up after the car has been idling for 5~ or so minutes. People have different driving habits, and due to the nature of the DI/PI hybrid system, it's not really a stretch that some people will hit conditions that cause the noise more often than others. I've even seen quite a few people who said they don't have the sound, come back a few days later and say "Now that I was listening for it, I can hear it."

Also, just for clarification: NORMAL doesn't mean INTENTIONAL.

[dsgerbc]

I can see how people who value the fact that, according to some random lookers, "the car looks much more expensive that it is". So to them a noise similar to that of a worn-out belt on old beaters might be an annoyance, depriving them of the value the car would otherwise provide. They are welcome to complain to Subaru; might result in a re-worked pump, or smth.

Personally, I don't care, as long as it doesn't affect reliability.

[Dave-ROR]

Mine does it. The pulley moves too. The rpms drop/stumble too. It shakes too. None of this bothers me and it drives just fine. Doubt it'll be visiting the dealer for any of that unless it's there for something else already.

[spiller]

I noticed on a demo this morning that had done about 1200 miles that the noise was present. Kind of ticking noise. I couldnt believe that was all people are making a commotion about, ive heard plenty of newer cars make similar noises.

Internet Hype at its best, for sure.

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Mine does it. The pulley moves too. The rpms drop/stumble too. It shakes too. None of this bothers me and it drives just fine. Doubt it'll be visiting the dealer for any of that unless it's there for something else already.

The "rpms drop/stumble" and "it shakes too," but it "drives just fine." Sorry. I don't get that.



















(Unless the comapny is paying you to say these things. )

[fistpoint]

Originally Posted by Marrk

The "rpms drop/stumble" and "it shakes too," but it "drives just fine." Sorry. I don't get that.

I think you'll get it when you understand those people most likely won't even own the car 3 years from now. Whether they trade up to a new version of the same car doesn't matter, they won't have THIS one.

The complainers(like me), intend to keep the car 7 years or more. Having a car that every shade tree mechanic on planet Earth would instinctively assume has a bad/worn belt isn't something I want for 7+ years...especially if they consider it "normal".

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Marrk

The "rpms drop/stumble" and "it shakes too," but it "drives just fine." Sorry. I don't get that.

Or I'm used to hard motor mounts, much more raw cars, etc. The stumble only happens at idle (at least for me, maybe thats not The case with others?) so it doesnt affect *driving* therefore it does drive just fine.

And subarus payment still hasn't shown up yet!!! Lol