Before I get the standard "use the search feature" reply...I've done it and can't find a clear answer...

So anyway, a couple of days ago I've noticed that I hear a whistle type sound (kind of sounds like minor break squeaking) when I put the car in gear (any gear) and hit the throttle...it goes away after I rev it a little, but soon as I switch gears and hit the gas it happens again. I know I didn't hear the sound a few days ago...just started out of nowhere.

I've read posts about this and everybody seems to say "this is a normal noise for a rotary"...but if it was normal why did it only start a few days ago? It kind of reminds me of those really old crappy cars that drive by you and all you hear is this loud squeeling come out of the engines.

My next oil change is not for about 2k miles...I wasn't planning on taking the car to the dealership until then, maybe I should take it in to have it looked at just incase tho'.

 

belt squeal?

 

lol thanks...obviously I'm no mechanic.

 

just an idea- not definite

 

Hey another noise diagnosis problem! The more information you can provide, the better the chance that someone can provide an answer for you. There are a lot of things you can do yourself to help narrow the list of possibilities. From what I gather, it is only occurring when the car is in gear, but you haven't provided any other information.

Is the car stationary when this occurs, i.e. do you have the clutch disengaged when you start to "rev it a little bit"?

Does the pitch (frequency) of the noise track with engine speed or vehicle speed? If you're not sure, switch to a higher gear when the noise is occurring while maintaining constant vehicle speed. If the frequency of the noise is lower, then it is tracking with engine/driveline speed. If it remains constant, it is tracking with vehicle speed. Are you sure that the noise never occurs when you rev the engine while in neutral?

Try producing the noise with A/C on AND with A/C off (make sure the compressor is cycling for A/C on test). Try varying the electrical load as well by turning on rear defrost, stereo, heated seats (if you have them), press up on window switch to engage motor, etc. Let us know what you learn.

 

I get a noise like that at high RPM's

 

It seems to happen only at lower rpms, like below 3k. It happens sometimes at a little over 3k in higher gears but not as often (I'll pay more attention to it tommorow on the way to work). It ONLY happens in gear and when I hit the gas. If I'm in gear and my foot's off the gas, I get no noise...soon as I hit the gas I get the squeeky noise up until 3k RPM or so. I rev it in neutral or with clutch disengaged...in first gear when taking off I actually hear the noise starting soon as the clutch starts to engage...

I know it happens regarldless of the radio being on or off, I don't remember if it happened with the a/c on, definetly when off tho'.

Tommorow on my way to work I'll try to get even more details.

Thanks!

Edit: Oh yea...I don't think the pitch changes with speed either...I'll pay attention to that tommorow too

 

Sounds like mine-started doing this after having 9.5k miles on her:

I thought about attaching this to the most recent whistle thread, but my symptoms are slightly different. I have had a light whistle noise that started within the last month (around 9.5K) and have had no luck figuring out what it is. It seems to be slightly load dependent, most prevelent at around 2800 in second gear and 3200 in third gear, when just pushing the pedal-almost just curling your toes-it makes a whistle noise very similar to an extremely high pitched brake sqeal or a poorly grounded radio. I took it to the dealer and duplicated it for one of the service managers. (This took awhile because it is easiest to hear bouncing off other objects, and none where available-but he did say he heard it once.) Well, they checked the trans vib. damperner bolts and said they were tight. In fact, they thought everything looked fine. In addition, the tech could not duplicate the noise either, so they gave it back with the old, "If it gets worse bring it back." OOKKKK.... As soon as I pulled out, it did it again. This is not a big deal, but it sure would be nice to have some closure on this. Any thoughts? No, the HVAC settings do not have any impact. Any direction would be welcome. I guess it is time for the REVi intake and RP Cat to make the car loud enough to make this sound go away.

 

Mine has 1.6k...just started a few days ago;/

 

R U sure it isn't just an itnake noise? Does it make the whistle sound at only partial throttle, or all throttle positions?

Also- the RX8 has some intake vacuum valves for emission reasons that can make a whistle resonation sound at like 1-2k rpm.

 

It's the intake or throttle. I've had it happening ever since the typhoon came on.

It happens on slight applications to the throttle. It doesnt seem to harm my car in anyway.

Ive also got the constant ziiinnngggggg sound with the intake when engine heats up and

in idle you can hear it. Not to be worried others have said.

 

If your intake is whistling on throttle application, there is a leak. You should check your installation and make sure everything is tight and sealed. It's nothing to be too worried about, but you should correct this problem especially if the leak is downstream of the air filter, because you don't want your engine breathing unfiltered air.

 

I have the same issue but I think it happens mid-range to higher RPMs. I'll double check this today.

I'm just under 11k miles and it's been happening since 9k or so. I notice more when I'm driving on the highway than city and when I'm on the throttle and always in gear. It stops immediately when I hit neutral.

I still have stock intake...

It doesn't seem to be causing any harm, but like ya'll, I'm wanting some resolution to the issue.

 

Hmmm, your issue sounds more like gear whine (transmission/differential) to me than a leak in the intake. If you have a leak in the intake, you will hear the whistle when you apply throttle regardless of whether the car is in gear or in neutral. The fact that the whine only occurs while in gear and under throttle application suggests to me that it's gear-related. My car sometimes has very bad gear whine from the differential... especially when the ambient temperature is cool. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot that can be done about this. Changing your differential fluid and replacing the diff mounts may help a bit, but sometimes the entire unit needs to be replaced.

 

I've heard that replacing differential fluid to redline (if I'm remembering this correctly) helps with smoother shifting. Is this right?

 

I don't think changing the differential fluid will have much effect on the smoothness of shifts. Changing your transmission fluid may help, however.

 

If it sounds like a belt squeal, it COULD be your engine pinging (pinging sounds like squealing on the rotary).. if you are using lower than 89 octane i'd try higher and see if it goes away.

I had this when I tried one tank of 87 octane.

 

it does sound like belt squeal and only happens while in gear (not in neutral), and only below 3k rpm or so...I always use 93 octane too.

Because of work I can't get to the dealer until next monday...so I have to wait a whole week before having it looked at.

hopefully it won't blow up on me in the meantime.

 

What part of the country are you in? is it really hot? with 93 you shouldnt have a prob tho. Maybe yours is actually the accessory belt. Look to see if it seems loose. In gear the engine/belts have more load so that should be normal to experience only under load.

 

I live in NJ so it's not crazy hot (although last week I saw amb temp. of 100!!)...I'll try to check the accessory belt when I get home...not that I know what that is but I'll just look for belts wherever I can find them near the engine and check them.

But if it was something loose wouldn't it make noise no matter what rpm I was in...or get louder with higher rpms??

 

it may just be loose enough to squeal under load in certain RPM's and when the RPM is higher there is enough momentum to keep it from squealing/slipping. If it were ping, i think it would be mainly at higher RPM's

but im not a mechanic so I may be incorrect

 

your changing the load so at some loads the belt squeals and at others it doesnt. a really bad bad could squeal all the time yes. but it doesnt have to. and we still dotn knwo that it is the belt- these are all just guesses from people who havent looked under your hood. going from past experience etc. i had a honda whos belt would squeal shifting from 2nd to 3rd under heavey throttle if it was damp out. not when it was dry or rainy. and the belt for like a month would squeal right after it started up until i revved it a couple times. a freind a the same year hinda and her belt would squeal until the car warmed up no matter how she revved it.

 

Hi - I have the same noise which I can elaborate on.

It sounds like you put a small washer on a small screw and jiggled it.

Agreed. . . It always happens under load at lower rpms...all gears. It also kind of sounds like the high pitched chirp that a 70's Volkswagen bug used to make...exhaust perhaps?

 

I also have noticed this "whine" or "whistling" sound. It only seems to happen under partial throttle and low to mid rpm. I have the k&n thyphoon II. I'm pretty sure that everything is tight and sealed, and I've done a smoke test to see if air is being pulled in through any seals, and all seems ok.
The noise sounds just like a VW 1.8t blowoff valve.?!?
Not sure what's going on with this.

 

I have the whistling noise as well. Has any resolution come of this issue?