ByeByeSaturn

I get a very high-pitched sound, almost like a dentist's tool, when I press the throttle. I did some searches on it and came up with explanations from the intake to the tranny to that's just the Renesis to you're up s!&# creek. It definitely sounds like air rushing through a very small slit - i.e., the same principle as a whistle. Since it is associated with throttle and not engine speed, it's prob. not an engine thing.

Anyone?

Edit: I should mention that it's not at all a loud sound, and it is hard to tell exactly where it's coming from., but doesn't sound like from right below me (i.e., tranny)

Morgan

Yup! I deffinatly have that on mine too....but then again...i got a POS rx8 and everything is broken....

ByeByeSaturn

Yeah I saw your sig the other day so I did a search to see what was plaguing your 8 and all I could come up with was your e-brake.

Do you have tranny problems too?

JohnO

I hear it on mine too... It seems to diminish at full throttle and at no throttle.

It is hard to hear and I've only noticed it on Hwy17 in the fast lane climbing the mountain. I think I'm hearing the sounds bouncing off the center divider. I couldn't find any hoses loose (vacuum leak). I'm only at 4k miles and I was going to get the geniuses to take a look at it when I take it in for service.

Mr M

I noticed this sound on a new 8 the other day, it seems to come from the center console, almost like a radio frequency whine (but I can't remember if I had the radio on or not). Those of you who have this problem, does turning the radio off make a difference?

The only other area that comes to mind is the air bleed system for the oil nozzles. But I really don't suggest you play around with the oiling system yourself, get a technician to look at it.

SlowLude

That's wierd cuz I noticed that just 2 days ago during a test drive! I asked my girlfriend what that noise was, but we couldn't figure it out. I only heard it at open throttle doing about 80km/hr. It's kind of annoying. Like a broken monitor. Does this problem exist on all RX-8s?

ByeByeSaturn

It's probably some sort of resonance thing with the wind and the intake - I hope.

Rotary Titus

it happens on mine when I'm up a slight hill at low rpms or when I'm one gear too tall and I try to accelerate the car from low rpms... but yea doesn't happen at high rpms or when the ground is flat.... only when the engine's under load....
but all in all I feel no negative effects, I actually kinda like it..... sounds like a turbine engine spooling up =)

Meowloud

Hmmm, I've noticed the sound more on mine at around 6k rpms on all grades of road.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Seems to be the tranny input shaft.
I hear that sound on ALL RX-8 M/Ts.

zoom44

OMG! it's a noise! it's a common noise amongst all rx-8's. some hear it some dont depending on if their radio is turned up or their windows are open etc etc. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM! you cant hear it at WOT because your too busy listening to the ROTARY! it is just different than a piston noise. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM!

ByeByeSaturn

lol, thanks Zoom. I wasn't trying to raise alarm bells - I was just making sure it wasn't just me hearing it - seeing the answers to my post has been very reassuring.

I'll try to pay more attention to the speeds, gears, slope gradients, etc next time I hear it.

So MazdaManiac - are you saying the autos don't do this?

zoom44

not you Bye, Slowlude. what's with the name slowlude anyway? is that a slam against long time forum member Quicklude? there used to be a troll here that baited Quick alot. i hope this is not the same person.

EstonRX

I've noticed quite a few whistling sounds when I'm parked in a parking lot - usually when people are walking by the car slowly and staring at it :D

ByeByeSaturn

LOL

good one

avakiannl

iTrader: (1)

I get the whistle sound on part throttle (barely open), idle to 5,000 rpms, typically when creeping allong in in traffic.

Has anyone found a fix?

SlowLude

Hey!! I just realized you made a comment on my login name (after so many months!!) I don't know about QuickLude, but I registered quite a while ago and my old car, 98 Prelude was pretty slow. Actually, I'm just a slow driver. Anyway, now that I own the car, I understand that the whistling noise is natural and oh so cool. Man, you guys are pretty sensitive with login names!

MintyFresh

i get a sort-of-turbo-whistling sound when i am WOT after 5k rpm, but only when COLD. None of you guys mentioned whether your engines had reached operating temps or not.

So i guess (hope) its another one of those warm-me-up-please-first rx8 idiosincracies

I also get the low-speed whine that sounds like electical interfearance on the radio (this one doesnt bother me though)

SD-8

I get it too, it doesn't bother me though, it reminds me of an old Saab 900 turbo I used to drive.

jaguargod

I have that too. It sounds like a less intense version of brakes squeaking and it goes away somewhere between 2nd and 3rd gear. I told my dealership about it when the replaced my brakes but they find anything, so I assume it is normal.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

i thought this is about Bubb Rubb.... wooo wooooooo

blue beach

Like everything about this car, there are about 100 answers to every problem. But I need to dispel one of them.

While the whistle might not be a "problem" in the sense that it may not mean anything is broken or not working properly on the car it is most definitely not "normal" and "just part of the car."

I've had my 8 for a year now and the sound began only about 3 months ago. So something has most definitely changed. It simply wasn't there before. Its new, its annoying ... you've got to give me that much.

It's also not something that ALL 8s have. So, while the issue might not necessitate warning bells, it ain't right.

bb

guy321

Is it a whistle or a squeal? Squealing under throtle could be predetonation. I got this before in the summer months when running 87 octane (once).

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Thats exactly how I would describe my whistling sound too. Just took my car into the dealer (for Brake TSB work), drove with the Service Super. and of course, no sound. Might be only when the car is cold. Hmmm....

marcj1

Any chance the sounds are ports opening as RMPs increase?