Yesterday I started hearing an interesting noise that I haven't heard before. I just pulled into a parking lot and was listening to the end of the sports update on the radio when I heard it. In describing it, the first thing that comes to mind is the sound of water dripping into a tin can, although it is very precise (mechanical). I also want to add that it "sounded" like it was dropping horizontally, not vertically (sounds crazy, i know). Anyway it seemed to be coming from the front driver side of the car. It was happening while the car was off and while it was on. I wasn't running the A/C, but it didn't make a difference when I tried. By coincidence, yesterday was the first time I heard the fan stay on after turning off the engine. Connection?

I didn't hear it during the ride to work this morning. Ideas?

6sp, 500 miles.

chris

Its hard to say with the description you gave. I think by the sounds of it, it may be a simple heat expansion sound that exhaust components make went they go through a heat/cool cycle.
SO......nothing to worry about in that case. Maybe it always exsisted and you never noticed.
The fan thing is not related and not a concern. I noticed my "after shutdoen" fan when my car was new, but havent heard it in a while. It has a mind (thermostat) of its own;)

Does it sound like water is running from about the middle of the dash to passenger side of the dash? Because I hear that all the time on cold starts. I don't know what it is, I just thought it had something to do with the A/C.

Hey Norcal..

I think you are describing a "metallic pinging". This is after shutting the car down after parking, right? I've heard this myself once or twice with my 8, Gyro's explanation sounds about right.

The sound is definitely focused in the front driver side of the car. "Metal pinging" could describe it, but I was hearing it while driving also. I haven't heard it today, so it is probably nothing to worry about. Maybe it is just one of those "breaking it in" noises. Thanks for ideas.

chris

I believe I know what you're talking about and have not heard it on my RX-8, but have heard it on my mother's '91 Accord. It started making that sound just after she'd had the exhaust system worked on. So, I bet it DOES have something to do with the exhaust, as Gyro indicated.

If it is "metallic pinging" after you turn the car off then it's just the exhaust cooling off.. My car does the exact same thing, quite loud too.