Hello all!, new user here. Just imported a evo 8 and already have full bolt-ons. It's winter here in Canada land so I don't drive it, went to start it the other day and it made that clunk on the startup. Not sure where it's coming from but I think it may be the A/C clutch or perhaps the starter retracting? Any tips or info would be greatly appreciated!

 

More info would help, or a video even. Are there any other effects like does it idle okay or is it just startup? It can get so cold up here sometimes after humid weather and water freezes if you don't start the car for a period of time its hard on any moving parts and they can "unseize" making these noises. Our cars are very raw and don't have much for insulation or sound deadening so noises seem louder.

 

Check to see if the starter bolts are loose.

 

I haven't driven it since I bought it in October of last year, the previous owner never drove even after importing it. I've since flush and filled everything with new fluids, changed all important gaskets. I've finished up installing all the new mods and started it, idles perfectly fine and has a nice rumble to it, it's just the loud snap-like sound at start up is odd. I got my dad to start the car while I was under the car and it seems it's coming from the A/C unit, once the warm weather is here and it's on the road I think it might dwindle away.

 

Checked over everything under the car and have started it multiple times while under the car listening, Can't upload a video as it's not working. It sounds like snapping a treebranch, only a single snap/pop noise coming from around the transmission area, thoughts? Still occurs on everystartup regardless of cold/hot.

 

What, like an arc jumping kinda snap? Or a belt getting tight kinda snap? Or metal on metal kinda snap?
I don't know much, just tryna help isolate issue.

 

I honestly think the car just needs to be driven, I'll have to wait for the spring but thanks everyone!

 

Take off the serp belt and wiggle the AC Pully in, out andside to side is there any play. Mine completely locked up not allowing me to start the car as the AC pulley was cocked a bit sideways, took the belt off and the AC pulley fell right off

Ordered a belt for a non AC RS EVO and it’s been that way for two+ years now with AC bypassed, will replace the AC Compressor and Drier someday so the car has AC again.

I don’t think they like 8600 rpm too much

 

I was thinking the same thing. With the belt off give each of the accessories and idlers a spin by hand.

Several years ago I did a timing belt job on my wife's Subaru. One of the pulleys I replaced (the sprocket next to the water pump) spun freely when I removed it from the engine. A couple of days later, when I picked it up to fool with it, I found it locked. I figure it was dry of lubricant and decided at that point to rust solid. Weird. If it were still on the engine like that it might break free at start and make a noise.

Another possibility is you have a tooth missing on the flywheel.