Calling All Mechanics
07-15-2004, 11:04 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Calling All Mechanics
I was wondering if some of you could help me diagnose a strange noise my 2001-RS2.5 has started making and maybe help me get it covered under insurance.
The noise pitch stays with the speed of the car. It sounds like wining gears, like a bad auto trans. No noise when the car is stopped. It becomes audible around 10mph and raises in pitch as the car speeds up. If I take it out of gear you can still hear it, makes no difference. 5speed by the way.
With this noise is another noise. When I'm just cruising at one speed, holding the same throttle position it starts kind of burping or chirping. It sounds almost like high pitch bubble being blown in some liquid. I don't know if anyone ever had one of those whistles you fill up with water and they make a bird sounding noise, it sounds like that.
So far I've changed my oil, it was a little low. I also changed the F/R diff and trans fluid, Red-line, but same sound. My diff and trans fluid looked fine some small particles on the magnet but nothing major.
What I think might be the cause:
I got in a small curb vs. Car fight. I was cut off and just by instinct I swerved and jumped the curb fully. I should have just let him hit me. The rim was dented in about an inch were it first hit. I got everything repaired but they did nothing with the diffs or axel. Just some body work a rim and new tires all around. That was about 1 1/2 years ago. I rotated my tires about a month ago and my left front tire (the corner that was hit hardest) was worn down flat on the inside inch of the tire, outside of it still looked new.
I'm thinking they didn't repair something or do the alignment correctly and it didn't start showing up until now. DiffS can be slowly damaged by missmatch tires or bad alignment, right?
So please give me some suggestions as to what the noises might be and your thoughts on getting this repaired under insurance due to it not being repaired correctly the first time. But how would I prove it and how would they handle it.
Thanks for any help you guys can give me.
Regards,
Ryan.
2001 2.5RS 5-speed
Borla Header Catback and exhuast
Larry's CAI-from the day-W/K&N
Torque Chip
STI shifter bushings and S-Throw shifter
Magnecore wires
NGK plugs
The noise pitch stays with the speed of the car. It sounds like wining gears, like a bad auto trans. No noise when the car is stopped. It becomes audible around 10mph and raises in pitch as the car speeds up. If I take it out of gear you can still hear it, makes no difference. 5speed by the way.
With this noise is another noise. When I'm just cruising at one speed, holding the same throttle position it starts kind of burping or chirping. It sounds almost like high pitch bubble being blown in some liquid. I don't know if anyone ever had one of those whistles you fill up with water and they make a bird sounding noise, it sounds like that.
So far I've changed my oil, it was a little low. I also changed the F/R diff and trans fluid, Red-line, but same sound. My diff and trans fluid looked fine some small particles on the magnet but nothing major.
What I think might be the cause:
I got in a small curb vs. Car fight. I was cut off and just by instinct I swerved and jumped the curb fully. I should have just let him hit me. The rim was dented in about an inch were it first hit. I got everything repaired but they did nothing with the diffs or axel. Just some body work a rim and new tires all around. That was about 1 1/2 years ago. I rotated my tires about a month ago and my left front tire (the corner that was hit hardest) was worn down flat on the inside inch of the tire, outside of it still looked new.
I'm thinking they didn't repair something or do the alignment correctly and it didn't start showing up until now. DiffS can be slowly damaged by missmatch tires or bad alignment, right?
So please give me some suggestions as to what the noises might be and your thoughts on getting this repaired under insurance due to it not being repaired correctly the first time. But how would I prove it and how would they handle it.
Thanks for any help you guys can give me.
Regards,
Ryan.
2001 2.5RS 5-speed
Borla Header Catback and exhuast
Larry's CAI-from the day-W/K&N
Torque Chip
STI shifter bushings and S-Throw shifter
Magnecore wires
NGK plugs
Last edited by Scoober01; 07-15-2004 at 03:15 PM.
07-18-2004, 12:41 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NEW YORK CITY
Posts: 44
Car Info: URBAN GREY 07 STI
tire worn on the inner side means too much negative camber.could be a bent strut, if i was you i would replace the strut the lower control arm the ball joint the wheel hub with new wheel bearings replace the tie rod ,axle also and check the mounts on your rack and pinion to make sure it didnt shift out of place, then when every thing is done get the best wheel alighnment you can get .take it from me i hit the curb with my old car and had to change everything listed above to get everything back to specks otherwise you will allways have lots of problems with premature tire wear and front end noises and handiling problems. costly but the right way of fixing your problems,dont doodle dadle with aa i just need the strut or just the axle.do the job right !!!!!!!!! change everything i listed above good luck.
07-18-2004, 04:12 PM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: nasioc.com
Posts: 313
Car Info: 2000 RS Coupe/1990 Mazda Protege, zoom zoom..
Can you tell what area the noise is comming from? Does it go away when you step on the brakes?
I had a similiar type noise in my 00 RS it was a high pitched whine between 65-75pm. It was the center support bearing on the driveshaft. The entire driveshaft was replaced under warranty.
As stated for the tire wear, have the alignement rechecked. To much toe out will wear that tire out as well and is a more common cause for severe tire wear than excessive camber.
I had a similiar type noise in my 00 RS it was a high pitched whine between 65-75pm. It was the center support bearing on the driveshaft. The entire driveshaft was replaced under warranty.
As stated for the tire wear, have the alignement rechecked. To much toe out will wear that tire out as well and is a more common cause for severe tire wear than excessive camber.
07-18-2004, 05:57 PM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NEW YORK CITY
Posts: 44
Car Info: URBAN GREY 07 STI
wrong about the tire wear , whenever a tire wears completely on the inner tread its because of negative camber or if the wear is on the outer tread only then its too much positive camber . in other words your tire right now is resting on the inner tread in which the tire wears the inner tread only. toe is when the tire is facing too much in or too much out. but you made good point about the center support bearing on the drive shaft. follow the instruction i gave and you will have peace of mind of the out come. been a tech for 16 years so i guess its safe to say i know what i'm talking about. good luck
Last edited by tekfoc; 07-18-2004 at 06:01 PM.
07-19-2004, 03:15 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Over the week end
So, over the weekend I jacked the car up, put it on jack stands to see if I could determine were the sound was comming from. From what I could tell the sound is comming from the front end in the center or maybe both sides. I also noticed a click or nock when letting off the gas or putting it back on like a joint is loose or maybe a bearing. I found out the sound is louder on hot days.
tekfoc and McDade Thanks for the info. I think your right about the bearing and strut, lower control arm "the ball join thing" I don't think it could be much ells.
Do you think I could convince my insurince corp to cover this as missed damage from the 2 year old actcident? I'm going to try. If they do I think it would be a miricle, even though I know for a fact they are responsible. I just need proof I havn't done anthing to the car since the rep. Might be hard. I wish I was rich. hmm thats rich.
Do you guys know of a way I could prove this is the same alingment and condition they gave it to me in back 2 years ago. I still have the setting they set my alingment to.
tekfoc and McDade Thanks for the info. I think your right about the bearing and strut, lower control arm "the ball join thing" I don't think it could be much ells.
Do you think I could convince my insurince corp to cover this as missed damage from the 2 year old actcident? I'm going to try. If they do I think it would be a miricle, even though I know for a fact they are responsible. I just need proof I havn't done anthing to the car since the rep. Might be hard. I wish I was rich. hmm thats rich.
Do you guys know of a way I could prove this is the same alingment and condition they gave it to me in back 2 years ago. I still have the setting they set my alingment to.
07-19-2004, 03:47 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NEW YORK CITY
Posts: 44
Car Info: URBAN GREY 07 STI
a good insurance company should cover it,give it a try. and from what you said ! that axle is shot!!! in which it validates all other parts that i listed for damage are indead damaged!!! a very very good alighnment place can easly ditermine all suspention components that are damaged and write it down on paper so that you have something to show the insurance company for your claim. remember a good alighnment tech is your friend.
07-20-2004, 11:34 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Alright, thanks again tekfoc. I'll be having it checked out later this week. I really hope insurance covers it. I have a few good alignment places to call.
In the mean time, I have no choice but to drive to and from work for another day or two. Worst case what could happen if I drive it like 3 miles a day for 2 more days. Thanks again.
In the mean time, I have no choice but to drive to and from work for another day or two. Worst case what could happen if I drive it like 3 miles a day for 2 more days. Thanks again.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
silver_rex_4eat
New England
32
04-09-2003 05:08 PM