RidgeRunner

I'm "resurecting" this old thread with some new info. I've definately traced the offending "buzz" down to the heat shrouds about in the middle of the car. I've been under the car numerous times trying to find the exact problem but to no avail. I've checked all the mounting bolts and banged on everything in sight and nothing seems to be loose or touching anything it shouldn't or damaged from hitting something. The noise has definitely gotten worse and now I can sit in my garage and rev it up in park to about 2200 rpm and it start buzzing like crazy. It happens more often when driving now but still comes and goes. Any ideas what might be a fix for this? The dealer might run into this often but that's a last resort. Thanks in advance for your help. Mick

Thanks much Alias and Northguy. I appreciate both of your efforts. Yesterday, I put the car on jackstands in the garage and tried to duplicate the sound. No luck. I did check all the heat shields (there's a bunch) and didn't find anything loose. Although while tapping on heat shields I almost think the sound is a harmonic/vibration buzzing sound possibly eminating from one of them, then the sound goes away as they warm up. Since the sound goes away so quickly and I'm not as concerned about a major problem, I think I'll just adopt the old 'wait and see' approach and see what happens. Next weekend I may do the belt check drill Alias prescribed. Good advice. Thanks again.:santa: Mick

Thanks Northguy. No it doesn't get as cold here (mostly rain) as it does up north. I thought about the tach cable but I can hear the sound clearly from outside the vehicle as she drives away. Mick

Hi guys and gals. I bought a new 98 Legacy GT that now has 43,000 miles and an automatic tranny. Just recently we've noticed a noise that seemingly comes from the drivers side front just after the car first starts moving forward when it's cold only. It goes away within a block or so and doesn't reoccur at the next stop. It's a metallic somewhat grinding sound and my wife did a test this morning on her way to work and emailed me with the results: "I put the car into "neutral" without any gas. The engine slowed with no sound. Then I tried it again driving up towards the stop sign and putting the car into "neutral" with a little gas. The sound became louder in Neutral with gas, the more gas the louder the sound????" This has me stumped. That seems to eliminate brakes or suspension and may center the problem in the engine or possibly the transmission. Anyone have any ideas? Mick