Spooky noises, and other strange phenomena

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:55 am

Might as well list the lot whilst I'm here; some clearly less serious than others:

1. After a long run at good speed (e.g. on the mway for an hour @ 80) when I come back onto urban roads, I'm intermittently losing accelerration in 2nd/3rd, e.g. off the mway, stop at a juntion, then when pulling away and pressing on the gas, there are occasional 'blips' where power is lost - the car will jump a little, but if I keep on the gas it kicks right back in.
If the car is left overnight, the problem clears, but if it's only left for around 3 hrs, the problem still exists when I drive away again.

2. Squeaking coming from nearside-front suspension (may have occurred after the car was bounced over the central reserve of a dual carriageway!) noticeable when driving on urban roads. Have checked for bounce at all corners - wouldn't say this corner has any more movement than the opposite side.

3. 'Bassy' vibration from rear (left[?] of engine bay) when passing through 1500 rpm - noticeable when both accelerating and slowing. Thought perhaps loose undertrays, but seem to be secure.

4. 'Rasping' noise from engine/exhaust when accelerating hard through 3500rpm.

5. High pitched noise, similar to what you might get from a duff telly before it has a chance to heat up. Pitch changes when electrics are triggered, e.g. if sitting at lights with indicator on, noise goes (tiny high-piched voice) "wee-woo-wee-woo-wee-woo"

6. 'Tinkling' metallic noise noticeable from nearside when engine noise is low. Wouldn't be suprised if a loose washer.

7. When coming to a halt at lights, and sticking it into first, occasionaly hear a tinny/plasticky 'clunk' or perhaps more a 'click'

Ok, I know, I'm getting really pedantic with the last couple, but if anyone's had anything similar, I'd appreciate their thoughts.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:07 am

Its a proper Lotus then

Some of the other chaps will be able to advise you far far better on K-series glitches.

Good luck with it

Post by **Shug** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:39 am

scottydog wrote:Might as well list the lot whilst I'm here; some clearly less serious than others:

1. After a long run at good speed (e.g. on the mway for an hour @ 80) when I come back onto urban roads, I'm intermittently losing accelerration in 2nd/3rd, e.g. off the mway, stop at a juntion, then when pulling away and pressing on the gas, there are occasional 'blips' where power is lost - the car will jump a little, but if I keep on the gas it kicks right back in.
If the car is left overnight, the problem clears, but if it's only left for around 3 hrs, the problem still exists when I drive away again.

This sounds weird - almost like a hot misfire?

2. Squeaking coming from nearside-front suspension (may have occurred after the car was bounced over the central reserve of a dual carriageway!) noticeable when driving on urban roads. Have checked for bounce at all corners - wouldn't say this corner has any more movement than the opposite side.

I've you've bounced over the central reservation, get the geometry checked immediately - you will have knocked it out (mine usually tracks straight for about 3 weeks, before the potholes start to tweak it) As for the squeaking - could be dampers or wishbone bushes. Bushes could have been banged about on your off piste excursion - get it checked though.

3. 'Bassy' vibration from rear (left[?] of engine bay) when passing through 1500 rpm - noticeable when both accelerating and slowing. Thought perhaps loose undertrays, but seem to be secure.

May just be a resonance in a tray, could be under the seats (really.) If it bothers you, first try whacking some old carpet/dynamat under the seats and see if that kills it. The whole car is a resonating chamber, so noises can be hard to pinpoint (and can be transmitted to misleading places)

4. 'Rasping' noise from engine/exhaust when accelerating hard through 3500rpm.

This is a problem? Seriously, is it a standard exhaust? May be a resonant tizz from it, or if it's actually coming out of the zorst, may be a loose baffle, but folks pay good money for raspy exhausts!

5. High pitched noise, similar to what you might get from a duff telly before it has a chance to heat up. Pitch changes when electrics are triggered, e.g. if sitting at lights with indicator on, noise goes (tiny high-piched voice) "wee-woo-wee-woo-wee-woo"

Your hearing is too good.... Can't see it being a problem - put a proper exhaust on it and a loud filter and you'll never notice Oh, betcha it's just the speaker cabling routed too close to a power feed and it's not damped - not an issue, I'll bet

6. 'Tinkling' metallic noise noticeable from nearside when engine noise is low. Wouldn't be suprised if a loose washer.

Worse when cold? Probably just the K series rattle - the hydraulic tappets can be a bit noisy at idle and you notice it, because the top end of the engine is a foot from your ears. TADTS*

7. When coming to a halt at lights, and sticking it into first, occasionaly hear a tinny/plasticky 'clunk' or perhaps more a 'click'

The PG1 gearbox isn't the quietest - exacerbated by the lack of sound deadening in the Elise - don't worry, mine can really clunk it's way in and sounds like a bucket of bolts in a spin dryer when idling. TADTS*

Ok, I know, I'm getting really pedantic with the last couple, but if anyone's had anything similar, I'd appreciate their thoughts.

Hope that clears a few things. Important that you check out your geo after the central reservation incident - might also have done something more serious like blown the seal on a damper.

* They All Do That Sir (standard Lotus dealer phrase)

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:16 am

Those are not problems, they are features of the car...

Seriously though do check under the seats for loose change / boiled sweets (M&Ms in my case) / rocks anything like that can rattle like a git.

Check all the undertray bolts, they work loose occasionally.

Check the handbrake cable isn't drumming on the undertray.

Noisy tappets? Listen to shugs! Mine is a little tappety now but that is due to 270 cams. Get used to it probably. May calm down with fresh oil but it will take a looooog time as the tappet oil down't move around much.

Change the oil in the gearbox (good luck!) it will quieten down for about 6-9 months.

Mine jingles over rough surfaces, I have had most of the back of the car to bits but no idea. Just get used to them or turn up the radio! I you will find you become attuned to your car and will know if something changes...then sh!t your self and thing it's the worst...

Elises Owners, TADTS!

Rich

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:33 am

Shug, I'll get the suspension checked out ASAP.

The rasping noise is a sound over and above the nice roary exhaust noise [Janspeed fitted] and occurs only at a particular point in the revs when accellerating hard.
I've had the seats out, so there's nothing loose under them any more (29p and 7 French cents richer!)
Anyroad, I can live with all the noises, just hope they don't turn into anything serious.

Anyone any thoughts on the first problem? It's due a service, so I will be getting it checked out, but was wondering what to brace myself for.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:36 am

What do the revs do I take it they drop in unison. Does it do it out of gear or only under load?

Check the sparkplugs out see what colour they are. Could be a mixture problem after running lean/cruise on M-Way? Lamda sensor?

Post by **Shug** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:38 am

scottydog wrote:Shug, I'll get the suspension checked out ASAP.

The rasping noise is a sound over and above the nice roary exhaust noise [Janspeed fitted] and occurs only at a particular point in the revs when accellerating hard.
I've had the seats out, so there's nothing loose under them any more (29p and 7 French cents richer!)
Anyroad, I can live with all the noises, just hope they don't turn into anything serious.

Anyone any thoughts on the first problem? It's due a service, so I will be getting it checked out, but was wondering what to brace myself for.

The rasp is likely just to be a resonance in the Janspeed backbox - mine started to rasp at about 3.5k. Pretty sure it's meant to do that - one of the 'features' of the JS box.

The stutter is odd - especially as it's when the car is hot. Might be somthing like a coil pack on it's way out and the heatsoak not helping. Sounds electrical anyway.

Post by **Shug** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:40 am

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:What do the revs do I take it they drop in unison. Does it do it out of gear or only under load?

Check the sparkplugs out see what colour they are. Could be a mixture problem after running lean/cruise on M-Way? Lamda sensor?

The way I'm reading it, it sounds more 'misfirey' Obviously can't tell unless we see it first hand....

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:27 pm

Had the car serviced by Dan Jude yesterday; excellent - free tea, taxi service, and car wash - I've never used MMC so can't comment on them, but from what I've read we need more specialist independants up here - there's only so many times you can walk around the Metro Centre!

Suspension geo checked out all OK, so the 'Lizes must be fairly robust regarding knocks 'n' bumps.
No cause was found for the squeaking from one corner of the suspension - all components seemed OK upon inspection, so will keep an eye on it.

ECU showed no faults, so unable to explain loss of acceleration. However, when I got back up the road, the problem didn't happen (it had occurred when I went down there that morning.)
Fingers crossed it's now resolved, and presumably due to change of plugs as part of service.

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:56 pm

scottydog wrote: - there's only so many times you can walk around the Metro Centre!

Go to the pictures

Okay you look a bit of a sado going on your own, but at £1.95 for a couple of hours it's a reasonbly cheap way of being entertained in the Metro.

Post by **Shug** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:17 pm

MacK wrote:
scottydog wrote: - there's only so many times you can walk around the Metro Centre!
Go to the pictures

Okay you look a bit of a sado going on your own, but at £1.95 for a couple of hours it's a reasonbly cheap way of being entertained in the Metro.

Well that and taking cameraphone spyshots of young ladies in short skirts to show your mates later....

That's borderline creepy dude! You sure she was legal...?

/twitchy moderator hat on

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:26 pm

Defo, I'll remove it. She was in her 20's...

Post by **Shug** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:31 pm

MacK wrote:Defo, She was in her 20's...

Fair enough then

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:14 pm

Can you mount a bullet cam in your shoe...

Post by **simon** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:44 pm

That one works for me

Shug wrote:
scottydog wrote:3. 'Bassy' vibration from rear (left[?] of engine bay) when passing through 1500 rpm - noticeable when both accelerating and slowing. Thought perhaps loose undertrays, but seem to be secure.
May just be a resonance in a tray, could be under the seats (really.) If it bothers you, first try whacking some old carpet/dynamat under the seats and see if that kills it. The whole car is a resonating chamber, so noises can be hard to pinpoint (and can be transmitted to misleading places)

Scottish Elises

Spooky noises, and other strange phenomena

Spooky noises, and other strange phenomena

Re: Spooky noises, and other strange phenomena

Re: Spooky noises, and other strange phenomena