Annoying Vibrating Noise!
Discussion
Hi Folks,
Now I realise you've been asked this question a million times but I do need some help.
I have rcently fitted my Larini Club Sport on my S2 a few weeks ago and recently the rear end has developed a really annoying vibrating sound (not particularly loud but very annoying) like the rear grill is loose or the undertray is loose and vibrating but I have looked and I can't find anything like this??
This vibrating noise only really starts after 10 mins or so (or so it seems) and it's only when I open up the throttle or rev the car. I know it's getting worse and it's now actually starting to ruin my drive as I bl**dy listen for it now...but I can't find it!!
Can anyone please suggest a cause or where I might need to look. Could it possibly be a baffle in the exhaust or would it vibrate all the time if it was this? Is this very likely.
Let me know any ideas please.
Thankyou.
Regards,
Mac
Now I realise you've been asked this question a million times but I do need some help.
I have rcently fitted my Larini Club Sport on my S2 a few weeks ago and recently the rear end has developed a really annoying vibrating sound (not particularly loud but very annoying) like the rear grill is loose or the undertray is loose and vibrating but I have looked and I can't find anything like this??
This vibrating noise only really starts after 10 mins or so (or so it seems) and it's only when I open up the throttle or rev the car. I know it's getting worse and it's now actually starting to ruin my drive as I bl**dy listen for it now...but I can't find it!!
Can anyone please suggest a cause or where I might need to look. Could it possibly be a baffle in the exhaust or would it vibrate all the time if it was this? Is this very likely.
Let me know any ideas please.
Thankyou.
Regards,
Mac
Crikey, sounds like mine. I've just fitted a Larini, well, about 1 month ago. I have a funny vibration at idle sometimes (might just be the alternator heat sheild, but also a kind of 'tizzy' noise on full throttle. It started doing it a couple of weeks ago. Took it to Miles at Fibreglass Services today, he says it's just resonance and that the exhaust is gas tight. I've got no idea either.
If I rev it at standstill, I can hear the noise, like something is resonating somewhere. Does yours sound similar to this?
If I rev it at standstill, I can hear the noise, like something is resonating somewhere. Does yours sound similar to this?
On mine when at idle when warmed up, ie at 800 rpm or intially when reving the engine, the left tail pipe (where it curves up over the main pipe before it splits) was hitting the back bolt from the left rubber mount and making an anoying vibrating noise. However mine didn't fit perfectly so im not sure if this will be the same on yours but maybee worth checking the clearance between the pipe and the bolt, if its only a few mm that may be it.
Yep...It is almost a resonating noise but I don't believe it's "just resonance and that the exhaust is gas tight". It's not loud, but it is when when the engine is warm and it's very annoying. If I thought for one moment that it was the exhaust and it was normal I would'nt have brought it. However I have never heard anyone say anything bad about the sound of the Larini, but there is obviously something wrong? Does this mean i'm going to have to have her on ramps again and have the rear undertray off??...geeezzz.
Is there anything else it could be?
Regards,
Mac
>> Edited by Mac1967 on Wednesday 9th November 22:46
Is there anything else it could be?
Regards,
Mac
>> Edited by Mac1967 on Wednesday 9th November 22:46
Given the nature of the Elise, it's entirely possible that when the exhaust was done, when the undertrays were put back on, they're either contacting something or are close to contacting something… the usual offenders are the flexi and/or the downpipe of the exhaust although handbrake cables, gearshift cables etc can also be a problem. I had a long-term rattle on my Elise, this turned out to be one of the two gearshift cables rattling against the undertray in first and second when it was cold… a little bit of self-adhesive foam between it and the undertray where I thought the contact was cleared it right up….. Unfortunately there's no real way to find out what's going on unless you take the trays off and have a look for yourself… easiest way is to take the trays off and go for a drive, see if the noise remains, tackle it as a process of elimination from there. 
Hope you get it sorted
Hope you get it sorted Mac can I share some personal experience and suggest 1 of four things as I have had and remedied a similar sounding annoyance on several occasions now all in last 12 months all turning out to be a different source but same symptoms (2002 model Sports Tourer owned since new):
1. Thought vibrating noise signalled imminent catastrophic failure - turned out one of the fixing screws on the undertray was loose (rear undertray where it joins the middle undertray and sort of overlaps) ad the washer was rattling between screw head and undertray at certain revs - souded horrible but was a 5 second fix. Embarassingly this has happened on two separate occasions now ad secod time big mechannic friend pissed imself as I was so sure it was fatal...again!
2. Thought grilles were loose or baffle had gone on exhaust - turned out to be the rear number plate vibrating against the rear fixing plate for (black plastic bit its attached to). Getting a mate to push agaist the number plate kileld it straight away so popped some extra sticky back plastic on it and touch wood has never returned
3. Final straw was a real metallic sound coming from within my Janspeed - more pronounced once warm and loudest as the revs peaked and dropped on a gear change - souded awful outside car - turned out I had blown the exhaust - cant believe this is the case with a new part so suggest checkig the first two
4. Finally not me but am sure if you check the archives you will find reports of mint humbugs under the passenger seat causig a resonace in the cabin at certain revs - might be worth a spring clean under the seats before considerig more intrusive investigations!
Must admit when I had the Janspeed and flexi decat fitted 2 years ago I spent the next 18 months relatively trouble free motoring just with a plethora of new rattles due to the changed frequency of the resonace through the car from the new set up convinced of the worst every time!
Plus, remember you are in an aluminium tub with relatively little sound proofing, a fibreglass body and sit much closer to all the moving parts than you may be used to!
P.S Must confess most embarassing panic was in first 6 months of ownership - used to commute to Frankfurt every Monday returning on a Friday night leaving the car at airport or at home on drive under a cover - usually left very hot following a late night blat before leaving for the week! Got back one week and the first salt trucks had been out the week before. Basically the pads had wleded to the discs - 500 yds down the road and braked to be greeted by a ungodly noise - contemplated complete brake failure withi first 2000 miles and swiftly despatched the liz on an AA flatbed in the early hours to Sinclaires using the free recovery service. Got a call first thig to inform me there was just a small amout of corrosio on the surface that some spirited braking would have remedied......nothing wrong at all!!!!!! Sure I'm not the only one however!!!!
1. Thought vibrating noise signalled imminent catastrophic failure - turned out one of the fixing screws on the undertray was loose (rear undertray where it joins the middle undertray and sort of overlaps) ad the washer was rattling between screw head and undertray at certain revs - souded horrible but was a 5 second fix. Embarassingly this has happened on two separate occasions now ad secod time big mechannic friend pissed imself as I was so sure it was fatal...again!
2. Thought grilles were loose or baffle had gone on exhaust - turned out to be the rear number plate vibrating against the rear fixing plate for (black plastic bit its attached to). Getting a mate to push agaist the number plate kileld it straight away so popped some extra sticky back plastic on it and touch wood has never returned
3. Final straw was a real metallic sound coming from within my Janspeed - more pronounced once warm and loudest as the revs peaked and dropped on a gear change - souded awful outside car - turned out I had blown the exhaust - cant believe this is the case with a new part so suggest checkig the first two
4. Finally not me but am sure if you check the archives you will find reports of mint humbugs under the passenger seat causig a resonace in the cabin at certain revs - might be worth a spring clean under the seats before considerig more intrusive investigations!
Must admit when I had the Janspeed and flexi decat fitted 2 years ago I spent the next 18 months relatively trouble free motoring just with a plethora of new rattles due to the changed frequency of the resonace through the car from the new set up convinced of the worst every time!
Plus, remember you are in an aluminium tub with relatively little sound proofing, a fibreglass body and sit much closer to all the moving parts than you may be used to!
P.S Must confess most embarassing panic was in first 6 months of ownership - used to commute to Frankfurt every Monday returning on a Friday night leaving the car at airport or at home on drive under a cover - usually left very hot following a late night blat before leaving for the week! Got back one week and the first salt trucks had been out the week before. Basically the pads had wleded to the discs - 500 yds down the road and braked to be greeted by a ungodly noise - contemplated complete brake failure withi first 2000 miles and swiftly despatched the liz on an AA flatbed in the early hours to Sinclaires using the free recovery service. Got a call first thig to inform me there was just a small amout of corrosio on the surface that some spirited braking would have remedied......nothing wrong at all!!!!!! Sure I'm not the only one however!!!!
Mac1967 said:
Good idea Esprit...thanks, but would that explain the vibrating noise only when the engine is warmed up?
Things expand as they heat... one of my noises used to be a bit of exhaust contact when cold (went away when warm)... you may have the inverse problem. An exhaust may shift about a bit when warmed up.
As I said, with these things it's always a process of elimination... removing the undertrays and going for a drive is an hour's work to remove them and put them back on... it'll tell you if it's them or if it's not... given that it commonly IS them, it'll give you an idea of where to start closer searching... if nothing else
Thanks gents for the input. Yes I have to say, it's most likely going to be the simplest of things but probably hard to locate. I will take all of your advice and systematically try to eliminate as I go. I'll let you know how I get on.
One point...I was wrong about it only being when it heats up, I noticed it from the off when cold this morning.
And yes abz, I take your point, there are lots of rattles etc. but you do get to know you're own car's noises...but can't they be frustrating...lol.
Any other ideas would be appreciated.
Regards,
Mac
One point...I was wrong about it only being when it heats up, I noticed it from the off when cold this morning.
And yes abz, I take your point, there are lots of rattles etc. but you do get to know you're own car's noises...but can't they be frustrating...lol.
Any other ideas would be appreciated.
Regards,
Mac
Yes, let us know. It does sound like my noise. Sounds half like a rattly washer and half like a hiss. if I drive alongside a wall, you can hear the 'fffssssssss' noise aaaghhhhh! Annoying, spoils the sound of the Larini.
I haven't really got the space to be arsing around underneath the car, particularly as I just paid someone to look at it. It does it from cold too. I'm more in-line with thinking it's not the undertray, it's been on and off 3 times. Perhaps something actually in the engine bay maybe
I haven't really got the space to be arsing around underneath the car, particularly as I just paid someone to look at it. It does it from cold too. I'm more in-line with thinking it's not the undertray, it's been on and off 3 times. Perhaps something actually in the engine bay maybe
I have just had mine resolved, I had a Janspeed exhaust and decat fitted which was fine but after i had the cap and rotor arm replaced it developed the vibration which drove me mad and it went straight back into Westover to get sorted.
It turned out the exhaust was touching the floor pan and resonated between 2-3.5k revs.
easy way to tell is if you reach behind your seat and push down whilst you can hear it and see if it stops. If it does you need to remove undertray and reposition exhaust away from the floor pan and the undertray.
hope that helps.
andy
It turned out the exhaust was touching the floor pan and resonated between 2-3.5k revs.
easy way to tell is if you reach behind your seat and push down whilst you can hear it and see if it stops. If it does you need to remove undertray and reposition exhaust away from the floor pan and the undertray.
hope that helps.
andy
Sorry enjy, I don't know...
Well I had my untray off too today and went for a drive without it and still the vibrating noise persists. I can't see anything in the engine bay. The heatshield behind the cat isn't vibrating and all the nuts and bolts are tight. The pipes arn't catching on the grills either...
WHAT THE HELL NOW!
I just don't know what to look for next?
Any more ideas guys??
Regards,
Mac
>> Edited by Mac1967 on Saturday 12th November 14:47
Well I had my untray off too today and went for a drive without it and still the vibrating noise persists. I can't see anything in the engine bay. The heatshield behind the cat isn't vibrating and all the nuts and bolts are tight. The pipes arn't catching on the grills either...
WHAT THE HELL NOW!
I just don't know what to look for next?
Any more ideas guys??
Regards,
Mac
>> Edited by Mac1967 on Saturday 12th November 14:47
Mac
Mine is definately the flexi on the downpipe. Apparently the mild steel (standard) welds go. I started off taking the undertray off, then hit the Larini. It harldy moves but causes a vibration down in the flexi. This sounds like the noise I was hearing. Nothing else makes a noise, apart from the heatshield at thew back of the engine.
I think I need a new flexi in this case a Stainless one. This is a case of fitting something non-standard which then has a knock-on effect with other components of the car.
Wondering how much of a job this is, seems to be down to whether you can get access to the bolts from the manifold to the downpipe...
Did you hit your flexi to see if it made a noise?
Mine is definately the flexi on the downpipe. Apparently the mild steel (standard) welds go. I started off taking the undertray off, then hit the Larini. It harldy moves but causes a vibration down in the flexi. This sounds like the noise I was hearing. Nothing else makes a noise, apart from the heatshield at thew back of the engine.
I think I need a new flexi in this case a Stainless one. This is a case of fitting something non-standard which then has a knock-on effect with other components of the car.
Wondering how much of a job this is, seems to be down to whether you can get access to the bolts from the manifold to the downpipe...
Did you hit your flexi to see if it made a noise?
It is yes. You can just hit it with the side of your fist, just jack it up, you don't even need to take the undertray off. If it sounds like a box of smarties then I would guess it's on it's way out, like mine.
I can live with it for now, but I should think it'll only get worse. Maybe fitting the Larini just introduces more resonance on a maybe already buggered flex pipe???
Will this have an effect on my MOT emmisions reading?
Could I wrap the thing in exhaust bandage or heat bandage?!
I can live with it for now, but I should think it'll only get worse. Maybe fitting the Larini just introduces more resonance on a maybe already buggered flex pipe???
Will this have an effect on my MOT emmisions reading?
Could I wrap the thing in exhaust bandage or heat bandage?!
Hmmmm...? I don't know. I'll have to have a look myself. I'll let you know. It is strange because I only had this vibration since fitting my Larini?? I had the tray off at the weekend and checked every nut and bolt back there???
Regards,
Martin
>> Edited by Mac1967 on Monday 14th November 13:33
Regards,
Martin
>> Edited by Mac1967 on Monday 14th November 13:33
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