Strange Squeaking Noise

[mshriver]

Hi everyone. I just noticed a squeaking noise coming from under the hood today. I at first thought it was a belt but after removing the belts it still persists. It does not sound like its coming from the heads. It sounds like its coming from the center rear of the engine. The car is automatic.... I dont know anything about automatic trannys... could the torque converter or something else in there be causing a squeak? The only issue I have with the car is that it sometimes shifts rough from first to second and vibrates a little while stopped.

The car is a 98 Legacy gt with a ej25d. 4eat tranny

Oil is full and recently changed. Engine seems to have all its power. Squeak comes and goes. Any ideas? Anyone heard this before? Thanks in advance


Warning video makes the sound of the engine running very loud, but you can still clearly hear the squeaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RkUXz8j ... ture=g-upl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RkUXz8jRiU&feature=g-upl)

[phi11]

I'm really sure my motor sounded like that when my car overheated.
I had a bent rod, a bad head gasket and I think I spun a bearing.
(StatGSR was with too, he can verify the sound)

that's the sound of metal on metal.

Caution: i'm not a trained professional engine expert.
Please see a mechanic ASAP

[mshriver]

Im worried it could be a spun bearing but the sound comes and goes. and the car does not feel down on power.

The headgasket has been done and it has not overheated so I dont know what would cause an engine issue all of a sudden.

The engine would be the best case scenario, because I have a spare I was about to sell out of my impreza.

[1839cc]

Could be a water pump maybe. Sometimes they squeak when they wear.

[mshriver]

It could be.... a friend of mine said the timing belt pulleys will squeak when they are going bad, which I hadnt thought of. Im going to pull the timing belt cover off and check those. Ill take a listen to the water pump too while Im in there.

It made no noise on the way to work this morning so the fact that it comes and goes has me confused

[wankless]

I know it sounds very weird but my car was doing this.. Where the 2 breather hose meet together for the valve covers, pull them apart and see if the noise stays or goes away..

[mshriver]

Where they meet together on the intake tube? were they rubbing together?

[wankless]

Where they meet together on the intake tube? were they rubbing together?

yea..No they weren't rubbing together.

[mshriver]

Ok guys... I bought an automotive stethoscope, took a listen and my best guess now is either water pump is going or a timing belt pulley. It sounded loudest near the water pump. I took a couple of better videos. Whats everyone think? Water pump sound like this when it goes bad?

Here its not very noticeable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjHVHUpvE4

Then it gets louder the longer the car runs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZhXSPi5hM

[mshriver]

Ive narrowed it down to either the water pump or timing belt pulleys. Getting it fixed next week. Thanks for your ideas everyone!

[1839cc]

Glad you found it before it broke.