# 06 Subaru Impreza

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/06-subaru-impreza/92877>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 29, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/06-subaru-impreza/92877 "2016-03-29T18:48:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sloepoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sloepoke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sloepoke)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/06-subaru-impreza/92877/1 "2016-03-29T18:48:06Z")

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My son recently bought a 2006 Subaru Impreza with a manual transmission . He has driven it a few thousand miles & it seems to run fine with no obvious problems . Ever so often he hears a brief pssst . I haven’t heard it but from his description it sounds like a brief release of pressure . It does it at idle & also while driving down the road . As far as he can tell there is no rhyme or reason to it . Anyone have any idea what it might be ?

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**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/06-subaru-impreza/92877/2 "2016-03-30T02:16:39Z")

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Either you or your son should join this forum.

> **[1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX](http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/forum/44-1990-to-present-legacy-impreza-outback-forester-baja-wrxwrxsti-svx/)**
>
> 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX: Includes Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX
> For XT, Loyale and Justy Series go to the Older Generation of Subarus.

Off hand, this sounds like the AC system, but check with these guys.

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**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 6:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/06-subaru-impreza/92877/3 "2016-03-30T06:42:23Z")

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I was just about to say what @keith just said… sounds like the A/C compressor is cycling. Tell the young lad to make sure he doesn’t have the A/C button pushed to ON…or…if he has the Air duct dial on Defrost…I don’t think the A/C button illuminates when you are in defrost mode but the A/C compressor will cycle on and off to help clear the windshield. Sounds just like what you describe…

So…in essence…what @keith said… ha

Blackbird

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 6:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/06-subaru-impreza/92877/4 "2016-03-30T06:59:29Z")

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Small exhaust leaks can make that sound. A failing exhaust manifold gasket for example. Usually it would be periodic though, in bursts. But the bursts can come and go intermittently.