Knocking noise

[zircom]

Hi ive only had my elise over a week and ive noticed a knocking noise coming from the back end after about 15-20 mins of driving.

Its a sept 01, 22k miles. It sounds like an exhaust knocking on something, is this usual trait of the elise or should i be taking it back to the garage. It must be a heat thing, just wondered if certain things expand. Its hard to replicate the noise, when u get and out try to shake the car, the exhaust from the back seems solid.??

Any ideas? many thanks

[fergusd]

Rear toe link inned balljoints . . . they knock on many cars when they get hot . . . it's just the grease in the balljoint getting thin with the heat, usually nothing to worry about . . . presuming that's what it is . . . won't do it when the car is cold, or in winter probably . . .

Fd

[zircom]

Thanks for replying and the advice, one question though would the noise seem as bad on the outside as it does on the inside. Dont want to be embarrased of me new liddle car. I managed to shake it this morning and it made the noise for a split second, sounds like the right hand side, but i could be wrong. I guess noises are more apparant on this car, with you being so close to everything.

But i do luv it !

[Geoff_33]

Unfortunately, people can hear it on the outside. Had an 52'plate car and the knocking from the joint started after only 8,000 miles. Known problem but only happens on a small number of cars apparently.

[zircom]

Would this be a recall issue, something under the guarantee?

[DanH]

Don't think so. Wear and tear, although you might be able to get a heat shield for it?

[zircom]

Sounds like a good idea (heat shield), do you know of any links to show me what im looking - the ball joint and maybe the heat shield?

[zircom]

Hi again ! (everyone moans)

I found this link

www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/thecar/suspension/index.html

Its got a pic of the suspension anyone point me to maybe which bit could be banging, i cant make it do it when i get out the car. Also on the left toe control link bar there is a heat shield but not on the right, i also noticed its more forware and back motion that makes the most noise as opposed to up and down. The the loudness of the clanking im wondering if its a different part than the toe link? Timing it now its roughly 15 mins from cold start

[chrisjl]

zircom said:

Its got a pic of the suspension anyone point me to maybe which bit could be banging, i cant make it do it when i get out the car.

I'm suffering the same problem, and a search on PH led me to this very page (which exactly matches the symptoms I'm getting).

On your picture, the offending joint (for me at least) is the one between the words 'rear subframe' and 'lower wishbone' (i.e. the chassis end of the toe link). Might be both sides, might only be one.

[albutch]

I had a knocking on my 2002 S2, only happened when warm. Turned out to be the ally pipe which carries water to the rad. Its inside the longditudinal chassis sections and is held in place at the front with a grommet and at the back with a foam block. After a while the block goes a bit floppy (oo-er!) and allows the pipe to clatter against the chassis when you go over a bump. Only the RHS was affected on my car.
I just squirted a small amount of expanding poly foam into the rear end of the chassis section and that fixed it.

HTH
Alan

[zircom]

Managed to get this sorted out, had grease injected in the toe link ends, they said it drys out. Knocked when i took it home, but i imagine it had to work in. Since then its been fine. If you get it heated up enough to start knocking then get a mate to push the back up and down you can hear it while you feel the grind on the toe link bar as the car is being pushed.

hope that helps

[scary]

Hiya. Just a thought, mine's a Sep 01 and I had this after about 8,000 miles, too. Luckily that was in the first year so they fixed it under warranty. The dealer told me the Elise S2 has only one heat shield on the side where the exhaust goes so they fitted a second one to mine to stop it happening again it might be worth your while sticking a second one on....

Cheers


>> Edited by scary on Monday 16th August 15:32