nowhereboy Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 (edited) So after treating the Z to a good wash and drive out yesterday I started noticing a new noise coming from the front of the car, ie - engine bay Actually it's made the noise for a little while but I always just assumed it was a rattle coming from the dash somewhere as it was very quiet and only at a certain point in the rev range, roughly 3k rpm. Yesterday it got noticeably louder, it's audible to passengers now and definitely getting worse. The noise increases throughout the rev range and under load, it's not very loud, but it's noticeable and doesn't sound healthy. It can best be described as a kind of fluttering/ rattling sound, almost as if something is loose somewhere. The car is not using oil and it's not tapping or knocking, at idle the engine sounds normal. It has struggled to start once or twice recently but I put that down to the cold weather and lightweight flywheel, it starts fine, it just needs rev's to keep it ticking over every now and again. It was a frosty morning today and it started up no problem. I know it's really hard to diagnose something like this without actually hearing it but does anyone have any ideas? I'm hoping it's just something daft like a loose bolt somewhere or an exhaust issue but my gut is telling me it's more than that. I'll get it checked out asap but it's a bit difficult as I'm working all week. Edited February 16, 2016 by nowhereboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Possibly this?: http://www.350z-uk.c...showtopic=36450 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Can you not get someone to record the noise so we can hear it ? Just upload it to youtube or dropbox etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I had the same issue on the way to a car meet the other week, turn'd out the small centre engine under tray was loose and flapping around. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyZ Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I was thinking about posting similar about mine actually. It makes a kind of ticking noise, sounds like it's coming from the dash, only at around 4k revs and disappears after about 20 minutes of driving. Be interesting to see what you find (I need to have a proper dig around my engine bay too). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Mine does share some similarities with the one in that thread but I don't have all the symptoms he did. I did notice this morning the noise seemed to get worse once the engine was warmed up. Thanks Davey. Here's to hoping it's a loose engine tray I'll have a proper good poke around the car today when I get home from graft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Just checked the video out on that link ebized posted, couldn't view it at work. It sounds nothing like like, thats a distinct noise, mine is much quieter. I can try getting a video up but I don't think it will be loud enough to hear over the engine noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisS Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Just a shot in the dark,maybe have a read of a couple of threads like below. http://www.350z-uk.c...__+fuel +damper 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Thanks Chris, again it doesn't really seem to be that either. I'm totally stumped at the minute. I'm cautious about taking it to a garage as I know it's the type of problem I could throw loads of money at replacing things that don't even need to be replaced etc. I feel like it needs to go to a specialist now. After driving it again this afternoon I've noticed the noise gets quieter when the clutch is down, it appears to make the noise occasionally even when the cars got no revs on and free rolling. It also seem's the noise isn't there when just reving the engine alone. I've took a video but you can't hear anything over the road noise. I'll get a video of the engine ticking over to show people just in case that helps, if anything to put my mind at rest a little. I've already come to terms with the fact that I may need a new motor or a re build but holding onto hope it's something daft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Quick video of the car at idle and giving it a little rev, it's hard to here anything over the flywheel chatter really. This doesn't really capture the noise I'm trying to describe but maybe you can help tell me if anything doesn't sound right? Maybe it sounds a little tappety? I'm not sure. Looking through the history I realize the belts haven't been changed as far as I can tell, not sure if this would cause anything, I have the belts sat here too waiting to be fitted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ3d9hBQDMc&ab_channel=richiecrozier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Timing chain rattle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Update! After more careful listening and messing around I started to think the problem may be with the gearbox. After a quick search online for gearbox bearing failure I found this video..... Listen to the car accelerating at about the 50 second mark, that noise as I described as a fluttering is apparently called "oscillation", it's faint in this video as it is in my car but it's EXACTLY the same noise. So the good new's it's it's unlikely the engine, bad new's is I suspect this is still a pretty expensive job. So can anyone help me out? Is it new gearbox time or can it be rebuilt/fixed? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock_Steady Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Update! After more careful listening and messing around I started to think the problem may be with the gearbox. After a quick search online for gearbox bearing failure I found this video..... Listen to the car accelerating at about the 50 second mark, that noise as I described as a fluttering is apparently called "oscillation", it's faint in this video as it is in my car but it's EXACTLY the same noise. So the good new's it's it's unlikely the engine, bad new's is I suspect this is still a pretty expensive job. So can anyone help me out? Is it new gearbox time or can it be rebuilt/fixed? thanks for the update! Very helpful. Hopefully someone can help you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 (edited) Well it's been to numerous garages since this topic, had the oil changed and all belts replaced and it's still there, getting worse infact. Mechanics have stated they highly doubt it's the gearbox. I've checked heat shields and exhaust, the exhaust is somewhat corroded I wouldn't have thought it's related but I guess it's possible. It's now officially driving me bonkers, nobody can diagnose it. It's still hard to capture on video, tried again today. https://www.youtube....l=richiecrozier You can only really hear it about 28 seconds in, under heavier acceleration. It seem's to be coming from the front of the car but not really from the motor, it's only happening when the car is moving and under load, it's much quieter once the clutch gets dipped. Someone must have heard this before and know what it is? :bang: It needs to go to a specialist really, I just haven't got the time right now to travel. Edited April 13, 2016 by nowhereboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Bradders- Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 You sure its not just normal clutch noise? Have you got a lightened flywheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 Pretty sure dude, I had the clutch and fly replaced about a year ago, the noise has only started to get loud now, it's not the same noise as a light flywheel, similar but not the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 Starting to think I might just ignore it until something inevitably breaks Unless someone can pin point it I'm not sure what else I can do really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2000 Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 (edited) So after treating the Z to a good wash and drive out yesterday I started noticing a new noise coming from the front of the car, ie - engine bay Actually it's made the noise for a little while but I always just assumed it was a rattle coming from the dash somewhere as it was very quiet and only at a certain point in the rev range, roughly 3k rpm. Yesterday it got noticeably louder, it's audible to passengers now and definitely getting worse. The noise increases throughout the rev range and under load, it's not very loud, but it's noticeable and doesn't sound healthy. It can best be described as a kind of fluttering/ rattling sound, almost as if something is loose somewhere. The car is not using oil and it's not tapping or knocking, at idle the engine sounds normal. It has struggled to start once or twice recently but I put that down to the cold weather and lightweight flywheel, it starts fine, it just needs rev's to keep it ticking over every now and again. It was a frosty morning today and it started up no problem. I know it's really hard to diagnose something like this without actually hearing it but does anyone have any ideas? I'm hoping it's just something daft like a loose bolt somewhere or an exhaust issue but my gut is telling me it's more than that. I'll get it checked out asap but it's a bit difficult as I'm working all week. Mine has done this twice in my 3 years of ownership. I don't know when they both started, or stopped, but one day the noise was there, and then stayed for a few days, then it just went with absolutely no warning. I checked all the suspects and never did find what it was. Not much help, but my Z is still hapilly plodding along... Mine didn't sound like the gold video you linked to, there was no metallic noise, but almost like a paddle moving through water, like an old fashioned steamboat type thing, only without the water noises, but that kind of flutter. Edited April 13, 2016 by cs2000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 Thanks for the input! Mine is showing no signs of going away unfortunately. Just found another video of someone else's Z on youtube making exactly the same noise.... You can hear it more clearly in his video, mines not as bad as this but it's the same noise for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 That is a strange noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 Isn't it just. It's not normal that's for sure. Almost sounds as if something is just loose somewhere and need's tightened. At the same time it's got me worrying something is about to go very badly wrong The engine tick's over perfectly, sounds healthy as can be on idle, I'm stumped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Sounds a bit like something spinning has something flapping /catching against it. Bit like when I used to put a bit of card to flap against the rear spokes of my bmx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 In his one I can hear something like wheel bearings, which are worth checking properly - and I mean on axle stands, wheels and discs off. With yours, I'd just drop it off at a decent Z garage, use a rental for a week whilst they sort it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rook Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 That's a similar noise to what the oil pump makes, but it shouldn't be that loud unless it's starved and you had oil pressure so I'd be surprised if that were the case. Fuel pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Bradders- Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Sounds exhaust related to me!? Sounds odd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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