Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras - View Single Post

JoelK · 2004-01-26, 01:50 PM

I have a 2004 4EAT WRX in Minden. It's got 8k miles on it, and I just started modding it (couldn't deal with the lag/offboost power).

I took it to Golden Nugget Automotive in Gardnerville to get the turbo/uppipe swap dne (deadbolt p&p). They apparently thought they needed to "drop the frame" to get the turbo out. Because I was nervous about their workmanship after discovering that, I bought a turboback and had the guys at S-Squared install that and look at what was already done. Nate thought everything looked ok.

After I got the car back from Golden Nugget, I noticed the alignment was a little different even though they claimed it wouldn't be affected.

When we got that snow a week ago, I went for a little drive in it, and I noticed a clunk when I pressed the accelerator decently (not WOT, but more than a gentle start) from a stop. There was some wheelspin and then one or two clunks in the front center part of the car. It happened one other time just after that, and then it didn't happen again.

Then everything was fine until last night taking it easy (25mph speed limits, ugh) I heard some clunking sounds over my music and exhaust just under the accelerator area. I turned down the music and discovered that it happened every time I reached a total stop (not just braking -- I had to stop) and every time I accelerated out of a stop, even if it was extremely gentle. The harder I braked/accelerated the louder and more pronounced it was. I tested it this morning, and I could hear it the same. It sounds like something might be a little loose.

Any ideas or suggestions? I haven't done anything to the car other than what I described above. I'll drive it up to Reno to get it looked at if I have to, assuming it's safe to take it that far.

I also still have a CEL from my exhaust to figure out. The turboback's previous owner didn't have a problem with it, and didn't use a CEL fix. (It was a 420)

2004-01-26, 01:50 PM	#1
JoelK EJ22 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minden, NV Posts: 144	My car has issues. Help needed. I have a 2004 4EAT WRX in Minden. It's got 8k miles on it, and I just started modding it (couldn't deal with the lag/offboost power). I took it to Golden Nugget Automotive in Gardnerville to get the turbo/uppipe swap dne (deadbolt p&p). They apparently thought they needed to "drop the frame" to get the turbo out. Because I was nervous about their workmanship after discovering that, I bought a turboback and had the guys at S-Squared install that and look at what was already done. Nate thought everything looked ok. After I got the car back from Golden Nugget, I noticed the alignment was a little different even though they claimed it wouldn't be affected. When we got that snow a week ago, I went for a little drive in it, and I noticed a clunk when I pressed the accelerator decently (not WOT, but more than a gentle start) from a stop. There was some wheelspin and then one or two clunks in the front center part of the car. It happened one other time just after that, and then it didn't happen again. Then everything was fine until last night taking it easy (25mph speed limits, ugh) I heard some clunking sounds over my music and exhaust just under the accelerator area. I turned down the music and discovered that it happened every time I reached a total stop (not just braking -- I had to stop) and every time I accelerated out of a stop, even if it was extremely gentle. The harder I braked/accelerated the louder and more pronounced it was. I tested it this morning, and I could hear it the same. It sounds like something might be a little loose. Any ideas or suggestions? I haven't done anything to the car other than what I described above. I'll drive it up to Reno to get it looked at if I have to, assuming it's safe to take it that far. I also still have a CEL from my exhaust to figure out. The turboback's previous owner didn't have a problem with it, and didn't use a CEL fix. (It was a 420)