popping sound when starting

[Josh]

Hi again, I am asking what a popping sound could be on start up but not on my car, my buddy’s girlfriends subaru form 97 has a hard time starting up, the battery light come’s on and stay’s on. I already know that means the altenator has kicked the bucket. but my real question is that i am hearing a popping sound when she or my buddy goes to start it up, sounds like exhaust popping…any ideas? I don’t want her to throw her money at somthing and it turns out not to be the case, I have yet to get a good look at the exhaust manifold to see how that is attached and if that’s leaking…I really hope it’s not a valve cause then she will have to sell the car off because I don’t have the proper tools to fix somthing like that. So any help will be much apprechiated!

Topic

[college man]

With the battery and charging system not being
sufficient. That means your ignition system won’t
be 100%. Which means your spark will be weak causing
all the fuel to not be burned. I would get the battery
and charging system working correctly first. see if the
popping goes away. You could check your timing with a light.

[Josh]

Thanks college man! I forgot about that. well I don’t have a timing light. The under the hood sticker says timing is not adjustible. My buddy and his girlfriend are the one’s paying for the part, I think I will hit up harbor freight and pick up a cheap volt meter to find out how the battery really is and the altenator. Utilizing Eric’s video’s as a refrence. They have to come up with the money, I am just the one playing Eric and installing the part. I will keep you guys posted on how this plays out and use what ever advice you give me!

[angel]

I’m not sure what Pop sound means but I want to tell u. I’ve took my car to a trade school/ community college before they fix my car & only charge me for parts. I have a mercury 1994 marquis that needs upper & lower ball joints, they are going fix for me, all I have do is bring them parts. An instructor
watch over the students & they fix car to gain experience. Is a good way fix ur car if u don’t have tools to do it ur self. Good luck. I wonder if the poping ur hearing is a back fire, spark wire mess up, or a serpine belt breaking or peeling on something.

[dave]

I’m not sure what Pop sound means but I want to tell u. I’ve took my car to a trade school/ community college before they fix my car & only charge me for parts. I have a mercury 1994 marquis that needs upper & lower ball joints, they are going fix for me, all I have do is bring them parts. An instructor
watch over the students & they fix car to gain experience. Is a good way fix ur car if u don’t have tools to do it ur self. Good luck. I wonder if the poping ur hearing is a back fire, spark wire mess up, or a serpine belt breaking or peeling on something.

I’ve actually done this last semester… did service floor work free of charge for a short 1/2 semester. Good recommendation 🙂

Q: Does the popping sound in your vehicle make you want to perform this dance..?

[Josh]

popping sound as in when you have heard a car go down the road and they are shifting at red line. That’s what I am talking about. but for her car, it’s doing it on start up. I know already the battery is vary week as when my buddy started it up it had a hard time cranking. I know from my own car that a weak battery will have a harder time starting the engine. But her’s does crank after about 15 seconds or so. I bought a cheap volt meter and when I go there next I will run some tests, but today she told me that the car started and then died…Battery is now officially dead. When I do install the part I will give her car a jump just to get it going. My buddy and her will also be buying a new battery for it. I will keep you guys posted!

Oh and her belts are fine…I checked those, but I did find a second air filter leading to somthing under the aftermarket air intake..I will get my buddy to snap a picture of it and then I can post it on here….her car is interesting, two years newer then mine, but it’s an impreza, while mine is a legacy wagon.

[Josh]

I am acctually going to my local community college to become a tech in a racing pit crew, Can’t wait to dive in; but first I have to pass the dumb pre-requisites…I am not sure what the exhaust popping is from, but first we need to get the electrical system healthy and go from there…keep this thread going till it’s resolved..been learning a lot here. Oh and welcome to the forum!

[Author]

Replies