Buffalo66

I have a new RX-8 with about 2300 miles on it. I notice an annoying high pitched sound (especially when windows rolled down but can hear it a little bit when they are up too) especially at lower RPMs. Its kind of like a ringing sound I guess. Its most noticable if its below about 3500 rpms. I don't hear it above about 4000 RPMs. Ive noticed it pretty much since after it had maybe 200-300 miles on it (I dont remember it at the very very beginning), but it seems to be a little louder now.

Any ideas what it could be? Or how to fix it? Other people who ride with me dont notice it that much until I point it out, so it doesnt seem like its something obviously wrong with the car, but its really bugging me lately. I dont really like to drive with the windows because it's so annoying. Thanks.

cLLcLe

I hear it too... but I noticed it only makes that sound at a certain EXACT rpm. Like... 3245RPMs.
It's only brief... so I don't mind it too much. It does have soemthign to do with the intake though.

MazdaRich

I notice ringing at about 5500 rpms or so. It's definitely not annoying--it isn't even as loud as the shift buzzer.

Toddz

I have about 1100 miles on my 8. I hear the noise right around 70 mph in 6th gear. It's mildly annoying but I seem to be getting used to it.

Brice-RX8

The rotary has a natural whistle to it at low rpm's, are u talking about this or something more pronounced?

RedLineShinka

~1,700mi and I must report the exact opposite. As soon as I hit about 6500rpm (any gear) I get this very high-pitched (the same effect as a whistling teapot, sort of) for the rest of the rpm scale to 8500rpm.

So far, lots of us have wighed in on this with the newer cars... anyone have an answer?

SlowLude

I LOVE that sound!! It sounds like a jet when I'm coasting... although I wish it could be louder. I've never heard this kind of sound from any piston cars I've driven, so I guess its a rotary thing? If so, another thing to remind you that you don't drive any old car!

Dima26

Does it depende on acceleration? I have slight high-pitch sound at higher RPM (>6000) but only if I accelerate. I do not hear it when windows are open because of too much noise from outside. Actually, I like that sound and attribute it to rotary engine. :D

KYLiquid

i get a high-pitched beep when i hit 8500 rpm and it doesnt go away till I shift.



as for the other, maby a vac. leak? unless its just the normal rotary 'whine' to me it sounds a little like a super-charger. twin-screw type

RedLineShinka

Yes, I'm pretty sure it only happens when I accelerate... I've never cruised at 6k rpm (intentially)....

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

If it's only when you accelerate then I'd say thats normal because you're putting the engine under more load.

Dima26

Yes, I think, it is normal. It happens only under acceleration. It is rather mild, I would say. It starts to appear at smaller RPM, ~4K (under acceleration) but the sound amplifies as you go to higher RPM. If you let go of gas pedal at high RPM, say 6K the sound is not there but when you press it again, it gets back. The sound is more like an electrical motor whine at high speeds. And as I mentioned it is very mild. If you do not mention that sound to the passenger, he will not notice it by himself.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

yup that's the sound of the rotary, enjoy it :D

I liken it to the sound of a jet engine on an airplane during takeoff, quite addictive, really :D

Dima26

I do. That's why I accelerate so often on the interstates without apparent reasons

SlowLude

Wierd, I hear it more when I'm not accelerating... Usually when I let my foot off the gas at 4000.

Buffalo66

Mine isnt the whining type sound, I know that sound and dont mind it at all. This is a sharper (but constant) high pitched sound. I don't think its a very appealing sound, its kind of grating. I hope they can make it go away. I did also hear it on a different RX8 I test drove, but I didnt hear it on the 3 others I test drove before buying.

fullsmoke

From owning 3 RX7s, I believe that the Renesis engine is also a 6 port engine design. In this design, 4 ports are always open to airflow and the remaining 2 are valves that open/close depending on the load on the engine.

When the rotary engine was first produced my Mazda, they came with only 4 ports. When they switched to EFI, they decided to move to a 6 port configuration that allows for more lower-end torque.

The whistle noise you hear is perfectly normal. I hope I have recalled all my facts correctly and I hope this helps!

FS

SFShinka

I usually have my stereo turned up too loud to hear anything else.

missinmahseven

Just throwin' out a thought... it could be gearbox whine. The 8 is a very quiet car when you're just cruisin', ie, not whacking the throttle open.

The Renesis is so quiet I hear the gearbox whine. I like it. Its barely there, but there it is. I also hear what appears to be some kind of fuel transfer pump or something.. an intermittant "whrrrrrrr" from the rear right corner of the car.

With boinger cars, I just hear the clatter of the valvetrain

You want a loud gearbox? Any vintage sports car.. older the better.. Jag e-type gearboxes whistle, and in the old Ferraris, I swear the box is louder than the engine. :D

Niro

I get the same exact problem as the first poster...I think it's pretty annoying, kind of sounds like belt squeeling.

It didn't happen until about 2k miles I think, and it only happens at low RPM (below 3.5k or so) and only when accelerating. I actually hear it when revving during low rpm's in neutral also, but I think it's louder while actually in gear.

MrJynx

I know what your referring to. I think everyone is confusing the regular sound of the rotary with the sound you are hearing

I've done some experimenting on the highway, and it always happes around 100km/h -> 115km/h (not sure the miles). It sounds like it's comming from the back window for some reason, and it's really high pitch ringing sound. Also it happens when I take my foot off the pedal..

I've learned to block it out.. doesn't bother me so much anymore..

cLLcLe

I hope people dont start selling their 8's cuz of this... hahaa

greenslinky

well im a huge nerd so the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that a rotary engine involves a sort of circle and as the engine spins you get frequency and certain frequencies equal a whine to the human ear.

chances are this has nothing to do with it...but it kind sounds smart, maybe.

marcj1

Is the a recall for this out yet...I didn't see anything on Rosenthal?----just kidding, relax.

I don't know if it's the same sound but I swear I hear the secondary and tertiary ports opening at 4250 and 6x00...there's an awesome post that someone wrote a while back, I think it was an article that the author reposted here--it got resurrected during the early mileage rants explaining how and when these ports open...anyway what I am referring to is a short-term whining metallic sound, exactly what you would expect a mechanical opening to sound like.

anomalousRX8

I have an automatic 2004 RX8 and since I first got it It would make a clattering noise when I would get onto the freeway. I would take it in and ofcourse they wouldnt hear it. So about a month ago I was hearing that clattering by just driving around until my car stopped on my way to Mazda. Then I was able to turn my car back on and park somewhere. Then it was taken to Mazda where they said it was prolly some gas thing blah blah. So then they replace that and it still made the sound when they drove it. So they end up calling me to tell me that ill be getting me a new engine! So I was in a rental car for a month and a week! Isnt that crazy?