# New car noise

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-noise/59227>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** legacy, noises, subaru, engines\
**Created:** [December 28, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-noise/59227 "2010-12-28T20:15:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mcdanieltm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbce88/32.png) [@mcdanieltm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcdanieltm)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-noise/59227/1 "2010-12-28T20:15:55Z")

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Dear Click and Clack:  
  
 Last week I purchased a new 2011 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium. A day after I drove home from the dealer (at which point the car had approximately 300 miles) I began to hear a little chirping/whistle sound from near the front of the engine (nearest the driver). I took it to the service department; they heard the sound, but said it was normal with CVT transmissions. Have you heard this complaint before? The sound is a bit annoying, and I don’t recall hearing it during the test drive. I love the car otherwise.

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**Author:** ![whoit32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@whoit32](https://community.cartalk.com/u/whoit32)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-noise/59227/2 "2010-12-28T20:20:54Z")

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Get a second opinion and also check with a transmission shop. If they see it as any sort of a problem, get it in writing, and take it back to the dealer. I would also take it to another subaru dealer or at least call them. Then you have all the evidence in the world.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-noise/59227/3 "2010-12-28T23:29:46Z")

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No, it’s not normal.  
No, it’s not the transmission in all likelihood.

However, even if it is the transmission, a CVT is so alien to a transmission shop in the US that I would hesitate to take the trans shop’s word for anything connected with a CVT.

Much more likely than the CVT for the source of this noise is the serpentine belt or a belt tensioner. The transmission is behind the engine, and the belt and tensioners are at the front. Ergo–unlikely to be the transmission.

Also, since the car is under multiple warranties, I would suggest that you avoid taking the car anywhere where you would have to pay for service–and that includes a transmission shop. You should not have to pay for anything with this car other than periodic maintenance.

If this dealership is not forthcoming with a decent response to your complaints, then you need to “kick it up a notch” by contacting Subaru at the corporate level. Contact information can be found in your Owner’s Manual.