MS3 cold weather changes?

[Silver Ecstasy]

What all have you guys noticed happens differently with your MS3 as the cold temps roll in?

-My cowl rattles like crazy
I went to the dealer and they had to order the new padded cowl clips per the TSB. I haven't gotten a phone call yet.

-Horn sounds weak!
Everytime I like my doors and it honks, the temperature seems to have weakened it to just a short muffled wimpy honk. It was wimpy before, now it's muffled.

-Clutch chattering
I guess this is normal, but after my car has warmed up, as I let out the clutch in neutral, it chatters quite a bit. It goes away as I clutch in, and comes back inconsistently when I clutch out in neutral. Also when I cold start in the morning with the clutch in, i'll let it out after a few seconds of it starting, and the rpms will stutter once as I let the clutch back out in neutral.

It's my first cold/winter season with the car, so i'm just now noticing these things versus the warmer summer weather. Anything else you guys notice?

 

[flyrevs]

"the new padded cowl clips per the TSB" please point me to this TSB !!!!!!

thanks man!

 

[cosic]

I got a call today from a local dealership about my TSB cowl clips. Going to see them tomorrow. This will be the second time getting them installed, because the first time, THEY DIDN'T DO s***. So I ordered from a different dealership.

-Winter gearbox
What the fuckkkkkkkkkkkk? Is all I can really say about how much the cold effects it.

-Passenger door rattles
Both with music, and without.

-Tires
Can't stay gripped. Lol, but that's a given..

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

"the new padded cowl clips per the TSB" please point me to this TSB !!!!!!

thanks man!

Damn man, I JUST closed that window. Someone had posted it in the MANY threads titled "cowl rattle".

Basically, there are reinforcing clips they can install. Some have had good luck with it fixing the problem, some have had it done, only to have to have it done again. I'm almost debating whether or not I want those tools touching my car then if it won't help the problem.

What do you guys think of the clutch chattering? Weird? Cause for concern?

 

[Bravnik]

My glove box rattles in cold weather. I use to get more stutter in colder weather as well, but with the changes I have made over the summer I hope this is gone.

 

[cosic]

My glove box rattles in cold weather. I use to get more stutter in colder weather as well, but with the changes I have made over the summer I hope this is gone.

The glove box rattle is unbearable. I took care of that with many peices of this wash mit below. I cut each strand off and taped it inside where the glovebox clips in. I used maybe like 8 strands. Worked like a charm! And with the black tape, it isn't the least bit noticeable even when you are looking right at it.

 

[hilmar2k]

Those windshield pads don't do s***. Having the dealer add them is a waste of time.

As for the horn, just add a low tone horn. It's cheap and easy. Go to Autozone and pick up the low tone horn for $13. Then add it to the existing bracket for the stock horn and splice into the stock horn's power. You have to remove the bumper, but even doing that, the whole job is 30-40 minutes. Then you can honk sans embarrassment.

 

[Moultese]

I've noticed more creaks and rattles in the interior. It actually pisses me off. My Focus never had any interior noises in the winter. Also, the clutch feels a bit different in the cold. But so far nothing major. My biggest complaint is that the metal ring on the shift knob, lol. I touch it and I'm like "WHOA." Hopefully we don't have a cold winter here in Kentucky.

 

[lunchbox16]

ya i'm noticing more rattles.
the glovebox, the stereo, and lately the cup holders. when ever i move it squeeks.
has anyone noticed their tire pressure sensor going off? mine has been on for a few days. all my tires are fine. it only goes off at night. the car starts with the light on. it was under 30 tonight here.
chris

 

[CWPspeed3]

My tire pressure sensors havent gone off ever, I'm running 35psi all around at the moment though, could be the mm, spings, and cold weather but my car rattles like hell now, glad i just got my sub installed so i dont have to listen to the rattle.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I haven't had any TPMS go off, but then again, I checked my tires when it was 50* and they were all at 30 psi. So I upped them to 36/35 again, and now we're back down to 35-45* weather. So i'm probably back down to 32 lol.

 

[iredremix]

my passenger door rattles with music in any damn season.

 

[opt_ms3]

my passenger door rattles with music in any damn season.

try changing the balance. I thought it was my passenger door too, but after phasing it to the rear and to the left, it is definitely coming from the sub underneath the passenger seat.

 

[Alexsered]

man, i avoid bumps as much as possible, not that we shouldn't do that in warm weather too, but last winter, at some points, the suspension felt like it either bottomed out in the front or something. I took it to the dealership and they replaced some simple bushings or something, but I that wasn't the issue. Do our struts react to cold weather bad somehow? It was loud and I swore my engine fell out or something. Only happened when it was really really cold.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Well, things are just getting more brittle as the temps decrease. So your suspension, as hard as it is, is bound to sound nastier. I'm sure nothing is wrong. Just the nature of the beast.

 

[tiagotiago]

I've had the clutch chatter issue with my car since I brought it home, and that was in the middle of the summer with temps +120F, so I don't think it depends on outside temperature.

But that's about it, in my case save for the fear of a freak snowstorm (it hasn't snowed in 40 years here) I'm looking forward to winter

 

[badmotorfinger]

Yeah, I've noticed the "rattle" sound with clutch out and in neutral. I just figured it was a loud throw out bearing.

 

[CWPspeed3]

Yeah, I've noticed the "rattle" sound with clutch out and in neutral. I just figured it was a loud throw out bearing.

Thats exactly what it is. The sound of mine didnt change any when it got cold though it was always there.

 

[Fat_Dave]

As for the horn, just add a low tone horn. It's cheap and easy. Go to Autozone and pick up the low tone horn for $13. Then add it to the existing bracket for the stock horn and splice into the stock horn's power. You have to remove the bumper, but even doing that, the whole job is 30-40 minutes. Then you can honk sans embarrassment.

or you can go all out and get some hella supertones 118db of horn honking goodness you can get them here http://jnjassociates.biz/hella/hella-horns/85115/i-221988.aspx for $65... not sure if that includes shipping

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I may see if I can find a horn from a Subaru STI. Total identity crisis lol.