Test drove a 2006 wrx today, some noises freaked me out...

[keeweechris]

I\'m looking at a 2006 2.5L wrx to buy, and drove it today. Quite good nick, only 2 previous owners, and 100k on the clock, engine bay nice and clean. Drove really well, smooth power delivery, tight gb, firm handling.

A couple of things stressed me out though:

-When key to Acc position (engine off) and all dashboard lights turn on, I heard a constant high pitch whine/squeal from somewhere round the throttle body. Only noticible with hood up. Sounds like from the black plastic thing on side of throttle-body (cruisecontrol module?) Photo attached. Listening closer, it kinda quietly clicked a bit as well. Anyone know whats going on, and if its normal? Does this car have drive by wire or something? Couldn\'t see the usual throttle cable rotating assembly.

-When turning key back off, whine stops but there is a quick flurry of clicks from somewhere in the enginebay. Relays? Prob nothing to worry about, but might be.

-a bit of tappit clicking/ticking, but guess that pretty normal?

Thanks for any help!

[funkytown]

that black this is the Throttle body control.. and yes it is drive by wire. why the noise.. NFI

[DRFVDR]

I would suggest that it is normal for a "modern" electronically controlled car

you should here all the start up noises in our 2012 Merc sprinter

[paulngui]

I would say the first noise is normal, just cos my gt does that too. Second noise I haven\'t noticed, but that\'s not to say it doesn\'t do it. Just haven\'t noticed.

[keeweechris]

OK, thanks guys. Sounds like it might not be a big deal then.

Drive by wire sounds scary... another thing to go wrong :-)

[DRFVDR]

hahahhah just heard yesterday STEER by wire is being released in consumer next year by nissan at least if throttle by wire goes wrong your car will stop, if steer by wire goes wrong who know what will happen ( although remote steering maybe fun)

[loner]

Hasn\'t throttle by wire already killed a few Toyota drivers?

[DRFVDR]

 loner said:

Hasn\'t throttle by wire already killed a few Toyota drivers?

Not at all, the "issue" was in the US and it was caused by a supposedly badly afixed floor mat.

what the real issue was is that alot of the american drivers are dumbarses ( this is from my personal experience spending 6 months driving there and been driven by them) from my experience they like to drive with one foot on the throttle and one on the brake using both in unison and not well.

also those that did crash NEVER tried even the basic emergency options of switching the engine off or changing down the gears to a lower one( this seems to be an issue i see on the Ohakune mt road as well people wont change their autos out of D )

[newsuba]

 We are borg']

hahahhah just heard yesterday STEER by wire is being released in consumer next year by nissan

Already here in modern cars with electric power steering - all that self-parking wankery and adjustable guff.

[quote name='loner said:

Hasn\'t throttle by wire already killed a few Toyota drivers?

More like driver s]stupidity[/s] error.

[DRFVDR]

 newsuba']

hahahhah just heard yesterday STEER by wire is being released in consumer next year by nissan

Already here in modern cars with electric power steering - all that self-parking wankery and adjustable guff.

[quote name='loner said:

Hasn\'t throttle by wire already killed a few Toyota drivers?

/quote]

More like driver stupidity error.

That is electrical power assist there is still a connection between wheel and rack

this is NO physical connection at all

[newsuba]

True robot cars !

;D

BTW if the OP thinks an old 06 WRX makes funny noises try a modern car with direct injection, most of them rattle like an old diesel.