Daughter just called me from on her way to school in the 8. She said she is hearing a noise that sounds like when you put a playing card in the spokes of your bicycle. When she started the car and up to about 30mph, everything is normal, but above 30mph she hears the noise and it gets faster as she accelerates and slower when she decelarates, just like riding a bike with a card in the spokes. I'm going to go out later and have a look and listen but not sure what to look for or what this might be. Any thoughts?

 

Did she say if the sound was coming from the wheels or the engine? Can she pinpoint that?

 

She said she doesn't believe it was coming from the engine at all. I just came back from going to get the car and it has never ridden or sounded better. Not sure what was going on but I wonder if she had something stuck in a wheel. I had to reverse it out of a parking space and maybe that kicked whatever it was out. I just drove it all around town and threw in some highway speed driving as well and no signs of this noise. Strange but I'm relieved.

 

Maybe the 8 just doesn't like anyone but you driving her? haha

 

Don't wanna thread jack but since the op solved their Problem and I don't want to start a new thread.... I'm also experiencing a rattle sound I can not locate. It's a tapping noise, only happens when driving, sounds like it's coming from one of the passenger doors but when I get out the car and shake the doors I can not reproduce the sound. I've even have gone as far as removing the door panels and looking but no luck. Any Ideas?

-Shawn

 

It could have been something stuck in the tire. Sometimes a large pebble gets caught in the tread and you hear a ticking sound more noticeable at faster speeds. Maybe it finally got unstuck.
Glad to hear no problems for you.

 

1,3 did you check your mirrors?
I hate trying to pinpoint rattles...

 

I don't think it's the mirror, my drivers Side mirror rattles so I know that sound. It sounds like a cd case or something would be in the door storage area bouncing back and forth.

 

Glad it's not a major problem like car won't start, de-flooding, etc. It's probably something got stuck underneath the car.

 

Did you try driving around with the door panels off and still hear it? Any louder?
Another idea would be to have someone else drive while you poke your ear around there.

What year is you car? There was an old TSB about ticking sounds from the wheels on the 2004s, and they increased the wheel lug torque or something. I cant remember but you could probably do a search for it.

 

Update: We had gotten to the wear bars on the tires, so I've been thinking new tires for a while now. When I went and got the car, I never heard the noise, but one of the places I drove it to was my local tire shop, where they agreed it was time for new tires, although they also agreed the tires were not at a critical point yet. Ordered the tires and drove away, still not hearing the noise. On the way to get the tires installed yesterday, it started making the noise again. Got a tech to ride with me so he could hear it, and he did. Pulled it straight in and put it on the lift and found that a piece of one of the rear tires was hanging off on the inside of the tire. Mystery solved and very timely purchase and install of new tires. And wow what a difference 4 new "feel goods" makes on the ride and handling!