Strange Sound

[lions]

I hope this is nothing but my elise has started making a strange noise. It's very intermitant and it sounds like a 10p being washed in a washing machine (a sort of clanking sound like a cement mixer) It's loud enough to hear in the car but outside you can't hear it. It does not seem to make any difference to the engine power and I can only hear the noise when the engine is idle. Any idea's?

[ste cal]

if you cant hear it outside, its more than likely stones behind your seats that havent come out, or have you dropped coins that you havent retrieved?

i know this seems lame-but it happens to me all the time-you thinks its something major but it turns out to be gravel/stones or coins.

hope this helps

[cuzza]

It could be that the engine is idling because you're still. You move to adjust your seating position and a coin falls out of your pocket onto the ally tub.

Can't think of anything that could sound like that especially if the car is stationary.

[lions]

It's definitly not coins on the floor or anywhere else. It comes from the engine, it was loud enough for me and Mrs Lions to look worried at each other. It's a strange sort of ratling sound, i can only liken it to a nut or screw being thrown around inside an empty can. It only happens when the car is running but stationary and I have only heard it after the car has been driving for an while. I have only heard it twice but I had an elise last year and had so many problems with it i dumped it after 4 months of agro. Now my friends and family think i need a check up from the neck up for buying another one!

[cuzza]

Not the exhaust vibrating is it??

That can sound a bit like that - mine used to do it particularly when cold - I'd have thought the S2 would have a so-called 'tizz-plate' on it so tsort that out though.

[steff]

Checked the oil level?

sticky tapet?

[DanH]

Can you influence the sound with the throttle, or being in/out of gear, or applying the clutch etc? Give us a clue.

Could be exhaust rattling on undertray perhaps, or if you have an aftermarket airbox its fixing may have come lose and be vibrating more freely.

[steff]

Did you have beans for breakfast?

[zebedee]

something in exhaust silencer box - a piece of the 'honeycomb' mesh from a disintegrating cat for example?

[lions]

Some good answers here but it is nothing to do with beans!!

I think i may know what the sound is but dont know why its making it. Yesterday i went to start the car and before turning the engine over i heard the noise! I turned the ignition off and on again and there it was. Could this be the fuel pump i am hearing? It may be that i can hear air in the pump? I have heard something like this when my central heating boiler pump got air locked.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[S Works]

lions said:

Some good answers here but it is nothing to do with beans!! I think i may know what the sound is but dont know why its making it. Yesterday i went to start the car and before turning the engine over i heard the noise! I turned the ignition off and on again and there it was. Could this be the fuel pump i am hearing? It may be that i can hear air in the pump? I have heard something like this when my central heating boiler pump got air locked. Any ideas? Thanks

Hmm sounds like the fuel pump indeed. When you first turn the key (I think position 1 in the barrel) the lights come on and the fuel pump primes, next stop is where you actually fire it up right?

If so, looks like a trip to the doctor is in order... although someone cleverer than me will prb come along in a mo' and tell you what's wrong now and you can fix it with a set of tweezers and a paperclip or something

[lions]

I sure hope its a simple fix. I don't want to give away any of my hard earned easily!

You are right that it only happens when the key is in pos 1 and the ignition lights are on. The thing is it does not always happen, I could understand it if it was everytime i started it up.

[zebedee]

if it was air though then it would be an intermittent problem I think. Also, under throttle the increased fuel pressure maybe forces the air out. Big question is surely how is air getting in? You don't really want your fuel system ventilating itself - it gets mighty hot back there!

[DanH]

www.elise-faq.info/content/noises/index.php