Noise
 

Here's the thing...
the only noises I ever heard were from the brake squealer <this was fixed on Friday>. I'd say about Saturday night Sunday morning (Hocrest can correct me if I'm wrong), but this strange noise is emminating from the engine bay...sounds like it's more towards the firewall and coming through the vents in the dash. The sound only happens when the gas pedal is pressed. Doesn't have to be a hard push, just as soon as you give it an eeny bit of pressure this noise starts and as you press harder it gets louder. It sounds like I have a tiny woman in my engine bay rolling her Rs.
I have no idea where or what to start looking looking for. Anyone experience this? Anything I should start looking for? Now mind you, I worked on my XT6 most of my Subaru life, so when it comes to this engine you need to treat me like I'm in 2nd grade with ADHD.
This is my daily driver and I would like to nip this asap. Thanks in advance.

edit: Not sure if it means anything, but this noise does not go away by turning on/off anything from heat all the way to the radio.

Is it like a whistling noise?

Nope, a very quiet buzz/vibration type noise, but with no vibration...

It seems to make it under a slight load. I didn't hear it at all while parked.

im gonna break your heart and assume the pinion bearings in your diff... but keep searching, and try to get a better description for us

Tom

I'll try to get a recording of it tomorrow on my cell phone, but no promises.
Another way to describe it is...

Attach a playing card to the spoke of your bicycle and then cruise around town. But not that loud.

I had my Kimi listen to it and she describes it as a baby woodpecker. My Sammi just agreed that she heard it.

Could be a range of things Melis...from as simple as a slight exhaust leak, to a cracked flewplate, to the front diff like Tom said....

Check the exhaust gasakets at teh cats, and were they merge to one pipe...and right at the manifolds...as this will be easy to check...and free.

Then maybe change the front diff grease, to see if it helps it any.

Just the first things off the top of my head...

****.... Young Bill said the same thing about his car... His pinion bearing was failing. BUT don't lose hope and keep checking things out. Huck made some good suggestions. In the mean time, I would suggest finding a phase II 4eat:D

Tom

Melis, don't forget that the loose baffle sound that comes from the resonator comes from the same area, it is relatively harmless and can be fixed.

I just mentioned it because when I had it it always happened under acceleration at low revs. Generally I heard it round 1800-2000 rpm. Then it went away.

Make sure it's not something simple like that before you plan on spending money pulling the car apart.

Joe:)

Okay...today I tried to record the sound, but it didn't work out like I had hoped.
I ran up to my flat spot today (I live on a hill) and checked the FD fluid as per Hocrest's request and it is at the full level. All fluids are at the full level.
I popped the hood and played with the throttle trying to reproduce the sound, but to no avail. It only happens when the car is in drive. I tried it in all the other gears and nothing. I tried it in neutral while going down the road and nothing. It starts around the 1500RPM mark. It does not go away, it just progresses louder.
I plan on heading to Dave's tomorrow after I drop the kids off at school because he has all the cool stuff and I need to change her oil so until then I can not check under the car for anything retarded.
If this was my XT6 I'd have no problem sliding under there and poking around...never thought these cars were this low to the ground.

1 drama free day would make me a happy girl:D

does the sound volume progress with speed??

Tom

Yeah, like Tom said, try driving in 2 range and see if the sound changes in pitch as the revs go up, or if the sound increases in volume as the revs go up when driving. That might give a clue.

Yes..also sound speed increases

I was chit chatting and recalled that a few weeks ago my check engine light came on (hasn't done it since). Pulled a 32 & 23, so I'll have that done along with the oil change, but I don't think that'll do anything about the noise. I'll keep updating this as I tinker,change,poke things.

Big storm coming so nothing else is going to happen tonight.

yay... snow... donuts... ****... trans died in the wagon... boooooo

Tom

update:
Today was a gorgeus 32 degrees and sunny. Perfect for checking things out. Got her to Hocrest's (already had the ramps set...what a man) and I wanted him to hear the sound so it is proof that I'm not just imagining things. He jacked up all corners and had me "drive" the car. I got her to reproduce the sound. Shut the car off, took her off the jacks, drained the FD and on the plug was little shards of metal. Not a pretty sight, but I expect this sort of thing from this particular car. He called someone and handed over Princess keys.
I now know what the sound is before the dreaded diff fail. Anyway, tomorrow is income tax day and Tommy at AWD has a SUS tranny for sale. I have the other 4:44 part needed so it seems like it was meant to be. I'll update as soon as things get moving along.

Happy Valentines Day to those lovers out there
Happy Singles Day to the rest