Andrew5190

iTrader: (1)

First, hello RX8Club! I've long been a lurker here, but finally posting for the first time.

Second, I've used the search feature and Google searching this site to death for information on this issue and nothing similar comes up, so here goes.

Recently, I swapped out the radiator, thermostat, belts, coils, plugs, and plug wires. on my 8, as well as removed and cleaned up the SSV per the DIYs on these forums (extremely helpful, kudos to the writers of those). After all of this, the car had been running great! Much cooler, as well.

I decided to give the car a great test with all the hard work I'd put in, so I drove it to see my girlfriend in Michigan (530ish miles away). Drove the car there and back without any issues. When I got back home, however, I could not swap to my DD right away, so I had to drive my 8 to work (1 hour commute). Before I left for lunch, I decided it would be a good idea to check the oil, which needed topping off. Did that, got back in the car, started her up, and was greeted by...this.

https://goo.gl/photos/bfBBYB4i3CZipv6q9 (if the link fails, I'll put it on YT)

Without tools, I didn't have a lot of time to troubleshoot, so I drove the car home (the whine came and went depending on RPMs and gear, but never stopped with the clutch depressed, AC on/off, etc) and swapped to my DD. The whole way, the car ran as I'm used to, whine aside.

Background on the car:

05 RX-8, 69,300 miles, original engine. Plugs, wires, and coils were done 4k miles ago, radiator, thermostat, belts, and SSV cleaning 1.5k ago. I got the car with 53k-ish on it and have always kept the oil topped off (Mobil 5W-20 synthetic, if that matters).

Things I've tried:

Checked belts to ensure they're fine (no whine)
Removed fuel pump fuse and alternator belt and turned her over, whined immediately and shut off immediately.
Put those back on, fired her up and checked the SSV. When I opened and closed it manually, the tone of the whine changed somewhat, but never totally went away.

I'm at a loss for what it is and can't find a similar issue. Seeing as I'll be taking it to the stealership soon for the airbag recall, I could see if they can diagnose it but these forums have always been a huge help to me, so I bring it before you guys and gals!

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Common squealing is due to a failing air pump. But that sounds like something in the belts or a pulley.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

So it whines with no belts?...that rules out water pump, alternator, belts..and idler pulley ( did you check with both belts off?)

Does it sound like it's coming from the throttle body?

Unplug the airpump just to check that...plug is by the passenger side strut mount

Other than that there aren't a lot of things that sound like that

Does it change with RPM?

Andrew5190

iTrader: (1)

No air pump. I even added the delete plate to cover the pipe leading down. Forgot to mention that originally. It wasn't even there when I got the car, so good job previous owner.

The sound is more prominent on the passengers side of the engine bay, around where I recorded (just above the thermostat housing).

I did not check with both belts off (lack of time last night). I will do that this weekend and report back, just to rule it out.

Two others I've let listen to that (in no way rotary gearheads, but gearheads regardless) seem to agree it could be a belt issue.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I would figure idler pulley. If you have some silicone spray or even WD40 you can spray the crap out of it to see if it stops the squeal ...if it does I would get another pulley cause the bearing is likely going

Andrew5190

iTrader: (1)

No joy on WD-40 for the pulleys.

However, while I was at it and the car was cold, I manually opened and closed the SSV a few times and the noise changed according to position: high pitched whine when opened, not so high pitched closed. I tested it out hot by reving the engine and the whine went high when the revs picked up, but low at idle (the whine didn't seem to follow the revs, it just changed pitch with them). Possibly the SSV going?

EDIT: Seems like I found the culprit (thanks to some starter fluid) - leak around the upper intake manifold near bolt closest to the front of the car. I hit it a couple of times and the noise stopped entirely. I checked my CEL codes (always have it on thanks to the missing airpump) and P0171 popped up, which seems to confirm that's the issue.

Andrew5190

iTrader: (1)

Slight necro, here.

Replaced all the UIM gaskets, but the whine persists. Fortunately, it doesn't do it at idle now, but anything above that causes the whine.

I've been driving the car all week and there's no power loss or any other hiccups, so I'm convinced it's a vacuum leak...I just don't know where it's coming from. Time for an smoke test?

zoom44

when i ever hear obnoxious whining while im driving I usually just kick her out ...

Andrew5190

iTrader: (1)

Eh, she never whines. She's a big fan of the 8