flight of the bumblebee!!!!

[doddze]

the exhaaust on the S has developed a really annoying buzzing noise at ariound 4000 to 4500 revs which sounds like a mettalic bumble bee. The noise then fades away once the revs keep going.....

I am fairly sure exhaust isn't holed as it passed the MOT during the week.

I have tightened the two bolts either side of the back box but no joy.

tommorrow I will tighten all the rest.....

It almost sounds like something is oscilating inside the exhaust...

Knowing nowt about exhausts is there anything that could have come loose inside it??

The noise started after I had slowed down for a slip road off a major A road after a good run ie red line all the way and top end of lets just say nothing overtook me!!!!

For those of you hoping to hear the classic peice if music here is the link www.wdell.com/music/Flight%20of%20the%20Bumblebee.mid



>> Edited by doddze on Saturday 14th May 21:06

[s3_david]

Mine has developed the same thing at around 3500 revs. Having spent the afternoon changing gearbox oil I found a slight crack on a 90 degree weld on the stainless box just behind the manifold pipes. I think that this may be the problem with the flat metal just vibrating at a certain pitch.

[doddze]

plan to get under mine tommorrow. Did you jack it up or manage to get it on ramps?

[s3_david]

Drove the front wheels onto ramps then trolley jacked onto axle stands at the rear. Pumped out the gear oil replaced it with nice clean red then had a nose round whilst lying down. I think that I've got a leak somewhere near the rear diff as a lot of oil sprayed up above. Couldn't find the cause so gave up and adjusted the bonnet (again). Then, just in the interests of ensuring all was OK, quick blast around the Northants roads. Not convinced so may have to go out tomorrow!

[doddze]

did it drive onto the ramps ok without scraping the front or the back?

[s3_david]

To be honest I don't trust metal ramps so a couple of longish lengths of old floor joist onto two bits of railway sleeper. This gets the front up by four to five inches and with the Halfwits axle stands at the rear gives enough room to work reasonably comfortably underneath. You wouldn't want to repaint the chassis like this but fine for a bit of routine poking around.

[bugsy]

doddze said:

did it drive onto the ramps ok without scraping the front or the back?

I bet it did because I wound up the ride height on this car when I owned it. Hi David

[s3_david]

Hi Derek,
The bumblebee noise is really probably due to over zealous use of those speed humps in WGC.

[doddze]

so are there any bafles or the such like in the exhaust that could have come loose to make this noise??

It is probably a small crack or hole which I need to try and find....

as the car passed the MOT which suggests "small" and also suggests a b***er to find!.

Better have another vodka and coke .... only for the use of the tin can to make repairs tommorrow of course

>> Edited by doddze on Saturday 14th May 23:02

[bugsy]

s3_david said:

Hi Derek, The bumblebee noise is really probably due to over zealous use of those speed humps in WGC.

I only caught the downpipes a few times,not the main box.
Its probably something in the engine, they did say it would only last for a few more miles

[mycroft]

s3_david said:

Hi Derek, The bumblebee noise is really probably due to over zealous use of those speed humps in WGC.

Hi David
If you bought bugsy`s S are you in Kettering?
have been looking out for another S around.
Hope to bump into you at some stage

>> Edited by mycroft on Saturday 14th May 23:30

[s3_david]

Hi Dale. Yes I'm in Kettering on the Leisure Village and despite Derek's remarks the old thing is still going well. Around 900 miles in around two months. Are you nearby? I see that you've got a blue S - its not you that rumbles up to the golf course every Sunday morning. Though sounds more like a V8S.

[mycroft]

Yes thats me
Don`t tell anybody though ,I think your meant to have a Chim if you play golf

[doddze]

found one split on the back box weld and repaired it and while it sounds better, I am still getting a bit of a rasping sound. This is either another hole or it does appear that the exhaust is touching the bottom of the gearbox so maybe at certain revs it is just vibrating...