Strange sound coming from 03 LX

[farmurr]

(I realize this is within the msp section, but the engines are similar, minus turbo obv.)

(This is also posted in the 3rd gen section, but I haven't gotten any help yet...someone help me please! (sad2))

So I noticed a strange sound coming from my 03 lx today on the highway - the sound Only happens when I reach 55mph and continues to get quicker, but not much louder up to about 75mph. I didn't want to try it any fast in case something bad happened and I didn't feel like being stranded in the cold today!

The sound is like a flapping / ticking sound, almost like when you put a baseball card in the spokes of a bicycle. It's very consistent in sound, but does speed up when I push down on the gas.

I don't see anything loose on the exterior so I'm assuming this is timing belt related (car has ~74K miles on it), but any other suggestions would be appreciated.

ps - I converted all my kmh to mph for you guys down South - hope that makes things easier haha.

-Farmurr

 

[bgibb68]

have you checked all the heat shields?? is there any change in driving??

 

[Captain KRM P5]

is it internal to the engine?

 

[Nutari]

auto or standard?

 

[farmurr]

It's an auto and there isn't any change in driving (I'm not sure if you mean driveability or my driving pattern...either is a "no"). It's hard to tell if it's internal Ken - all I can tell is the sound is coming from in front of me when I'm driving.

I'll have to check the heat shields again tomorrow, but on a quick scan today I didn't notice anything noticeably loose.

 

[Nutari]

Hm.. does the car shift hard?

 

[StealthWyvern]

Can you reproduce the sound by reving the car in park at the same rpms when doign 55-75mph? If not then its more then likely suspension, trans related, or something else all together.

 

[farmurr]

The only difference in the (auto) shifting, is sometimes there's a bit of a delay. I can hear that the trans should shift but it delays for 1 second the goes (usually only happens when it isn't fully warmed up). Brrrr damn you Canadian winters!

And yah I thought to rev it up as well, but I went up to 7,000 RPM and no sound....I also held it at ~3200 for about 20 seconds (where it usually is at 75mph) and got no sound.

 

[StealthWyvern]

The only difference in the (auto) shifting, is sometimes there's a bit of a delay. I can hear that the trans should shift but it delays for 1 second the goes (usually only happens when it isn't fully warmed up). Brrrr damn you Canadian winters!

And yah I thought to rev it up as well, but I went up to 7,000 RPM and no sound....I also held it at ~3200 for about 20 seconds (where it usually is at 75mph) and got no sound.

Has the trans fluid ever been changed? Has their ever been any lucas non-slip crap put in the trans?

 

[Nutari]

Has the trans fluid ever been changed? Has their ever been any lucas non-slip crap put in the trans?

I was going to suggest that. I changed mine around 50~k because it was burnt.

 

[farmurr]

Has the trans fluid ever been changed? Has their ever been any lucas non-slip crap put in the trans?

During my last oil change (4,000km ago in October), dealer found a bunch of fluids that needed to be flushed/changed. This included trans, brake, probably rad etc. Not sure what they replaced it with though :S

 

[farmurr]

Ok I had my buddy in the car today to try to help me isolate the sound, and he said it sounds like it was coming from the back left (driver) side. I told him he was crazy, but we switched and I let him drive while I sat in the back, and it is coming from the back. I checked the fuel cap/door, wheel and well, trunk, taillight etc. and can't see anything loose back there either.

Is it possible that it's the tire? The pressure is normal and there aren't any vibrations so I don't think it needs balancing either (Brand new Blizzak LM-25's btw).