some minor problems with my p5...

[alexelie]

hi, im new here and i hope you will be able to answer my questions.
-first, when i pass through 1500-2000 rpm there is a kinda annoying sound like buzzing sound and it shakes a little behind the radio. i tried to stop it but its behind so i cant.anyone ever had that sound...why would it do that only in that rpm?
-second, when im on the highway, at like 120 km/h when i accelerate, sometimes it whistle a little and do some weird sound, its not too loud but i would like to know what it is. im pretty sure it comes from my transmission or stg like that because when i put it in neutral, it doesnt do that anymore even if i push the gas. do you think its bad...?
oh and the muffler is not stock...

I painted my mags gunmetal with duplicolor paint for rims.i think it looks pretty cool and i didnt even sanded down the suface.tell with what you think also tell me if you think the exhaust looks cool
last question, i saw some other p5 manual and their shifter were always longer than mine, do you think i have a short shifter? i ask all these questions because i bought it used...

thanks!

 

[Sveivo]

I think you most certainly have a short shifter. That said, your exhaust setup is crazy.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Welcome to the forum! You'll find a ton of good advice here and lots of ideas for modding your P5!

Your rims look nice, though because you didn't sand and prime them, you may have to repaint them sooner than you think. You do have a short shifter, and your exhaust is definitely NOT stock...the previous owner cut a second notch in the rear bumper and made your car a dual exhaust. There's no real performance gain, but it's a different look...some like it, some don't, but if you like it, then enjoy it.

I don't know about the whistling, are you sure it's a tranny issue?

 

[dxaveP5]

WOW DUAL!! HOLY CRAP
reminds me of this

but yea have you popped off the radio trimming? cause i had sound like that but i fixed it, caused by wire's and some other krap hitting against the stuff up in that place.
xept my sound happend thru out all the rpms.

 

[alexelie]

thank you for your comments.
no , i didnt popped off the radio trimming but im probably going to since i want that sound to stop. Is it hard to remove? and for the whistle, i dont know at all but in different gear, it can do weird sound like in second gear there is a little sound and when i go in third, it stops...

 

[SLAMM3D_PRO5]

nice set up on the exhaust but with the shifter

is it really a short shifter...

mines dont look like that, mines looks shorter. but overall trreat this beauty like a queen shes sensitive

 

[alexelie]

i dont know for the shifter...is it possible that he only cut the original shifter?also i was wondering if the exhaust line was sock.

for some mods to my car, is buying a pulley kit going to change the performance a little?

 

[fremast]

First of all, welcome. You’ll notice I don’t post much, but I read the heck out of this forum and can assure you it is an excellent community and an amazing resource. Collectively, these people know it all, and are always willing to help and share.

Now for my 2 cents... Sorry for the novel of a post, I just actually had something to say for once.

Regarding the shifter: If he cut the original, I wouldn't think you'd have enough leverage to even shift through the gears...
A short shifter actually moves the fulcrum point and changes the leverage in the mechanism so you can still shift the transmission with less throw distance between gears...
The shorter height is just a side product of reducing the throw distance (though a beautiful one).
If you removed the center console (to which the shift boot is attached) the shifter would likely have the manufacturer's name stamped all over it... if you care to know who made it.

As far as the buzzing behind the radio goes: I've seen several messed up installs in Protege's and have a couple ideas. Mind you, without seeing the stereo setup or behind your dash it is difficult to do anything but guess.
The stock radio wasn't actually mounted to the support brace behind the deck, but had a post with a rubber piece on it that went through that post/bracket and simply rested there. If the post with the rubber is missing, the deck could be rubbing on the post/bracket, and would likely only make noise at certain resonant frequencies (like particular RPMs) or when being jostled (like driving too fast over a bump). Adding the post with the rubber rest would likely fix it if this is the issue, but security wise it would be better to actually bolt the head unit to this mounting post/bracket...
I've also seen decks in these cars that just barely squeeze in and have points where they contact this same bracket behind the stereo; regardless of whether they are mounted, they rub. You can place a piece of rubber or some other buffer between them to avoid any buzz or squeaking that this could be causing...
The third option, and least desirable in my mind, is to cut out the post/bracket. This is needed to install some after market decks that don’t have appropriate clearance for the stock space in our cars, but that post/bracket can provide excellent support for your head unit. And if you have an aftermarket head, extra support is preferred, and the security of bolting it to a part of the car is great (though I will admit some jackass stole my first aftermarket head from my P5 and simply raunched on the damn thing until he broke the bolt, but I would hope I’m the exception to the rule - this is what prompted my alarm install).
You can always add strapping and whatnot to provide some support, but the post that is already welded in place isn't likely to be beaten by some thin metal strapping...

EDIT: Forgot to mention - getting the stereo trim off is really easy, as is removing the glove box so you can get behind the stereo better without necesarily taking it out... check the how to section, tons of information on all that stuff there.

I must say I agree that painting the wheels without the prep work of sanding will likely cause your finish to fail sooner than you might like, and with those nicely finished wheels you now may want to clean up those brake calipers.

But all said and done, I really like the dual exhaust… you don’t see a lot of them on P5s so they’re pretty unique (which I totally dig), and the gunmetal is a great wheel color (been considering that one myself). It’s a nice version of a great car and I hope you enjoy the heck out of it like most of us on this forum do.

 

[bazooka joe]

clean up and paint the brake calipers

 

[alexelie]

thanks a lot for your advices fremast. i will probably paint my calipers some time. i think painting it red would be the nicest color(or gray maybe)...

 

[fremast]

My pleasure!
Hope it proves helpful.

I'd personally go with the grey, but I'm all about being low profile and all subtle like...
Red's a nice contrast and would probably look great, just not my style.
Totally depends on what you're going for.

 

[SuperProtege5]

I don't really want to start a flame war on the exhaust so I won't. I'll leave my opinion as I'm not in favor of it, but then again it's not my car. For sure though I do wanna mention that in your last picture, do find a better way of securing that exhaust hanger other than a zip tie. I dunno what side that picture was taken on, but a zip tie is not the right way to secure that hanger.

 

[alexelie]

thanks for your advices. superprotege5, i wont feel mad if you dont like my exhaust, you can tell what you really think