Please help diagnose a noise

[Spook]

As I was pulling out of work this morning I heard almost two different noises.
The first seemed like it was a turkey sound. When I would accelerate leaving a stop light there was a sort of cracking sound repeated three times or so.

The second problem was when I was going 70-80 miles per hour, it sounded as if my left rear wheel was flat, a whub, whub, whub noise. This was constant at high speeds.

My back tires are pretty worn and really do need to be replaced. Any help on what these noises might be would be great.

 

[Kansei]

the tire noise could be a wheel/tire that isn't balanced, either because it never was properly balanced or a weight fell off or something.

The turkey noise.. yeah that's normal. Welcome to the site.

 

[Spook]

the tire noise could be a wheel/tire that isn't balanced, either because it never was properly balanced or a weight fell off or something.

The turkey noise.. yeah that's normal. Welcome to the site.

Thanks for the welcome, it is just interesting that they both started today and at the same time.

My alignment was a bit off, and I do need to get it fixed, I wonder if the other problem is causing the second.

 

[Spook]

Now it is really bad. Instead of just when I am starting from a stop, it is almost constant.

The sound seems to be coming from the exhaust, and if I have the clutch down and give it gas, it comes out loud and harsh.

It might be coming from the engine compartment.

Is this the Turkey?

 

[Rush]

.. The 'quality' of the turkey sound on MSPs varies with what mods you have done. Stock, it isn't overly loud. Mine became VERY distinct as soon as I put on my intake. It would help if you would list what mods -- if any -- you have on your car.

From your most recent post, I seriously doubt that the noise you're hearing is the fabled turkey. That's usually only heard between shifts, and it's louder the more you're jumping on the gas. It has to do with the turbo and air flow and blahblah.

More details are needed of exactly what you're doing when you hear the noise. Does it do it while you're moving AND while you're at a stop? Does it only do it when you're giving the car gas, or does it happen constantly? Does the clutch have to be in for the noise to happen?

EDIT: Your alignment and the turkey sound have nothing to do with each other. Alignment is suspension. Turkey is engine. One should not be causing the other, unless you have some REALLY funky stuff going on!

 

[Spook]

It started pretty slow this morning when I was leaving the parking garage.

When I pulled away from a red light I heard a crunching/cracking sort of noise. I thought it was the car next to me, until I pulled away from the next light. It was only happening when I was at the lights, even slowing down and then trying to accelate hard wouldn't get anything.

Then when I was on the highway, going about 0-80 I was hearing a repetetive soft thumping noise. Sort of how like a off balance washing machine.

When I drove this afternoon - it was really bad and almost always there no matter what I was doing. Idling, or driving.

I haven't done any mods, the only thing that I know was done is the previous owner lowered it.

edit: perhaps my exhaust is falling off. I will jack the car up and look, but I have little to no car knowledge.

 

[yashooa]

My Turkey has BAWLS OF STEEL!
He is a 15PSI turkey of VENGEANCE!

 

[Rush]

Definitely jack the car up, and take a look. But what you're experiencing is NOT the turkey.

I want to say it has something to do with your tires -- you did say you know your alignment is off, and that the tires are going bald, right? Except that if you're hearing the thumping even when the car is stopped, that makes no sense.

See if there's anyway you can get the car to make the noise while you're at a stop. If you can, pull the e-brake and get out FAST, then tune in your ears to locate exactly where the sound is coming from.

 

[Spook]

it is definitely coming from the exhaust.

At first there was nothing, but after warming up (I am in las vegas, so my car was already warmed up this afternoon in the sun) it came back. It was coming from the exhaust, and it looked fine inside. So noone put anything in there.

When I touched the end of the tail pipe with a little bit of force, the noise stopped.

 

[Rush]

Aha. I know what it might be. It happened to me when I installed my Megan Racing short shifter.

Check your exhaust heat shield -- the one that sits directly below your shifter, but over your exhaust piping. I had to bend mine a bit to adjust for the new lower shifter position -- and at first, I didn't bend it quite right. So once the car got warmed up and whatnot, that heat shield would start to vibrate and then thump against things and make an awful racket.

But something in your exhaust definitely isn't sitting right. Get the car jacked up.

 

[Spook]

Ok, I will continue to look at it later, but my dinner is just done cooking.
Would the heat shield go by itself?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Spook]

OK, so I jacked it up, and tried figuring more out about the noises I hear.

It seems to be that there is something engine related that makes a pressure change that comes out the exhaust. If I am working the car in different ways, the noise seems to change based on what is happening. It changes when I accelerate and shift, and when I slow down - and it is just a bit louder when I drive at a constant speed than I remember the exhaust being.

I will try taking it by mazda tomorrow, but I am no longer under warranty.

Does this make sense? What might it be.

 

[PlatinumMSP]

if your under 50000 miles, take it to dealer and have them fix that s*** for you, I presonally think that its part of your exhaust knocking against something

 

[speed_addict]

I would think the tire noise is coming from not rotating them as was needed during the life of the tires.

 

[msp35]

I had the same issue a few weeks back. It turns out I had 1 lug loose on a front wheel. Don't know how since I hadn't touched them in weeks prior, but after torqueing it down, the vibes, and *womp* *womp* *womp* sounds at speeds was gone.

 

[PlatinumMSP]

any update on the situation?

 

[Spook]

I went to the dealer friday and they said to come back today. But I haven't heard the noise at all, so I am about to take it out for a spin, and if it comes back drop it off at the dealership.