[Arbysauce]

I've got a 2012 2.5 premium with about 2500 miles on it.

I've noticed that there's a noise that consistently happens on a cold start (could be that it's just quietest in the morning) after I've driven about 50 - 100 feet in drive. It almost sounds like a car that, when in drive, automatically locks the doors after some forward motion. But my doors don't lock automatically. At least, when the noise happens, the locks don't flip. It sounds like it's in the passenger side, maybe even in the forward part of the door.

I will feel like a moron if the car has automatic locks and I've done something to disable them. But I've felt like a moron before and I'm guessing I'll feel like one again, too. I just flat don't know what that noise could be.

I've got a handful of issues I'm tracking for a trip to the dealer, and this will be on the list. Many thanks for your help and responses.

 

[mpnret]

Sounds like the ABS self test which happens when first starting out.

 

[AWDFTW]

No auto locks.

Sound is likely the ABS self test.

 

[Arbysauce]

Thanks!

So I'll file that under P for "partial moron".

Thank you for the quick answer.

 

[Novablue]

I don't think it was a "partial moron." I wondered about that too. I've always felt I'm smarted than the average bear. And I'm quite humble about it!

 

[sbpark]

haha! well, if you're a partial moron, than I am as well, because i was wondering what that sound was as well. happens every morning right after i pull out of the driveway and turn the corner and there's a little clunk. gues that's what it is.

 

[MadDad]

Getting hard of hearing, but I haven't heard this on the Subi, but our Eclips makes that sound and I don't have any trouble hearing it.

 

[wnx1999us]

2013 Outback Sound in Door

You are not alone. Happened to mine after 500 miles. Right passenger side, distinctly from inside the cabin. Randomly happen now and then though. I thought it was the auto lock trying to engage but heh, no auto lock! The sound is like a bottle hitting the panel, once or twice at times.

 

[RocCityOutback]

This is an awesome thread! I have been wondering what that noise was since day one with the car. I hear it every morning after driving about 100 feet just after turning out of my driveway. Passenger side front, to me it sounds like behind the dash or near the front passenger wheel. Good to know that the ABS does a self test and that might be the sound.

 

[hallux]

Information on this noise is in page 7-25 of the 2011 owner's manual.

 

[subiesailor]

2.5 Hamsters hitting it hard before they get warmed up? LOL

ABS check - even back in the late 90's Saturn actually had customer parties and BBq's and the very first thing the top tech from the shop would talk about is the very loud and some what cheap sounding clank when you first start driving the car was the ABS system check.

The second thing he would tell them is NEVER EVER run your car till the fuel light comes on given they would be getting towed to the shop for a new fuel pump! We saw on average about 10 cars a week for fuel pumps. GM probably made more money selling fuel pumps than it did selling those early Saturns.

Also I know for a fact that the one Price no Dicker Saturn gimic was just that given the dealer I worked at negotiated sale price with savy buyers all the time. However they absolutely loved the buyers who simply paid sticker price HA HA.