Question - 'chirping' noise on idle - '02 WRX

Hi, all.

I'm not so much looking for a solution to this, but looking to see if
it's common.

I have an 02 WRX wagon. Standard.

If I sit down in neutral, and tap the gas pedal to bring the revs up
just slightly and for a moment, as the revs slow down to idle again
(right around the 1000 mark), I can hear a 'chirp' noise which sounds
like a small belt that might not be quite tight enough. Very quiet,
very brief - but audible, and kind of weird.

I had this in to a dealer some time ago during a service, and the
mechanic could definitely hear it. I'd have to go digging through my
invoice to see if I could find what he said it _was_. He indicated to
me that he'd dealt with it, and for all indications, he had. Apparently
it was a bit of a pain for him to get just the right tension on the
belt.

But now, about a year later, the same symptom occurs. I'm wondering if
this (whatever it is) is endemic to the model or the year.

I can go digging to see if I can see what belt it was that he adjusted,
but I'm hoping that other Impreza owners will go 'yep, been there done
that', and can give me some insight...

Thanks!!

BD wrote:

> Hi, all.
>
> I'm not so much looking for a solution to this, but looking to see if
> it's common.
>
> I have an 02 WRX wagon. Standard.
>
> If I sit down in neutral, and tap the gas pedal to bring the revs up
> just slightly and for a moment, as the revs slow down to idle again
> (right around the 1000 mark), I can hear a 'chirp' noise which sounds
> like a small belt that might not be quite tight enough. Very quiet,
> very brief - but audible, and kind of weird.
>
> I had this in to a dealer some time ago during a service, and the
> mechanic could definitely hear it. I'd have to go digging through my
> invoice to see if I could find what he said it _was_. He indicated to
> me that he'd dealt with it, and for all indications, he had. Apparently
> it was a bit of a pain for him to get just the right tension on the
> belt.
>
> But now, about a year later, the same symptom occurs. I'm wondering if
> this (whatever it is) is endemic to the model or the year.
>
> I can go digging to see if I can see what belt it was that he adjusted,
> but I'm hoping that other Impreza owners will go 'yep, been there done
> that', and can give me some insight...

Most likely a loose exhaust pipe cover.
Really a pita to find which one. Easier
just to live with it if you can.