srm858

I've owned my RX8 for almost a year. When I go over 75mph, I get a flapping metallic noise coming from the passenger side, near the front. It was very noticeable yesterday, but my wife couldn't hear it (this is typical). It sounds like a thin piece of metal flapping in the breeze. I've looked the car over and can see nothing loose. I figured it would eventually go away, but it seems to be getting worse.

Has anyone else experienced this noise? I find it very annoying when I am in the car alone, going fast, and no radio on. I would have the dealer check it out, but I don't think I will get much of a result.. However, since I just discovered my power outlet in the console doesn't work, I may have them check the noise when I have them fix the outlet.

mysql101

Never heard of that, but I have a whistling noise from the drivers side door area at high speeds. It's like the window is slightly open or something. I've heard from other RX-8 owners with that sound...

f1michel

I have the same noise, seems to be coming from the front end at 75 mph and above or with a very hard wind in the face. I saw it as a plastic piece that's flapping just enough to be annoying but i cannot find anything that could do this...

guy321

Hey, I have a similar noise but it's because a dog hit me and the plastic wheel well cover is ripped open.. check to see maybe yours is loose.

Jump120MPH

Yes I have had it too. It right around the fender somewhere. I thought it might be the vent on the right side being alittle loose or the wheel well plastic.

srm858

I've checked the wheel well and found nothing loose. I wonder if the front vent has something in it that is flapping, maybe I will take it off and check. Will let you know if I find something.

8's enough

does it only happen when the windows are down?

Napboy

I have the same issue, but I could've sworn it's coming from the driver side front end.

Meowloud

Your title: High Speed Flapping Noise reminds me of a certain friend in the car while riding down the interstate :p

On a serious note, I had this to occur in my previous vehicle and it turned out to be the wheel well plastic. Easy fix :D

Mr M

I presume the sound appears to be coming from outside the vehicle.
Have a look at the harness going to the wheel speed sensors, and any other harnesses you can find attached to the inner fender (plastic). It is possible one of these wires has become unclipped. They are fairly thin wires and would probably make the noise you describe if they weren't clipped in properly.

f1michel

i hear it with the windows UP, too much noise with them down at 80mph

r8ped8

I also get a bad flapping sound from the passenger side at speeds above 75 mph.
First I tried flowers but ultimately duct tape stopped her flapping............ :p
Gary

vegas RX8

Ok...I've been getting a different type of "flapping". Granted the RX8 is the first rotary i've owned but the sound still doesn't seem right. Maybe it's normal but here's what happens: I hear it when i'm stepping on the accel. at around 5000 rpm in 5th gear and 6th gear, it's usually above 100 degrees outside and i have the ac blasting. When I come to a stop and rev the engine it backfires a little. Is it something w/ the hot temp. that causes this? It also feels weak when I shift into gear after this flapping occurs. One thought that came across it that I'm introducing more gas than it can burn? I don't know, I'd appreciate any thoughts ideas you guys might have. Thanks.

Bankotsu

I hear it too when I floor it.

Old Rotor

It sounds like the rotary ping to me yes Detonatetion....

beachdog

For those of you that think that the noise is coming from the wheel wells, there was a TSB.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...09-004-04.html

red_rx8_red_int

lol

Racer X-8

I had a flapping sound at around 75-80 mph. I realized that I forgot to replace my engine cover after checking the oil. I dunno what was flapping, but it went away as soon as I replaced the engine cover.

Napboy

I don't think this is it. The sound distinctly comes from the front and my car (which flaps) does not fall in the vin range specified in the tsb.

Chrisbert

Check to see if it occurs at 4700 to 5200 RPM. If so, I have it too, and I think its sumpin wrong in the SDAIS

texlaw

Last October, about a month after I got my 8 I noticed the same type of flapping noise from the passenger side front that started just above 75 mph. I was on a trip to Austin from Dallas with my wife and the sound just about drove me nuts. I got out several times to see if I could find it. I did notice that the plastice wheel well liner for the passenger front tire appeared loose at about the 10:00 position on the wheel well. I stopped at a local Wal-Mart and got some duct tape and did my best to tape it down. The flapping sound disappeared. I took it to the dealer soon thereafter and they replaced the entire liner under warranty. No problem with it since that time.

Hope this helps.

srm858

Texlaw,

I just checked my liner and it seems OK, but at the 10 o'clock position, there is a fastener and the liner is "puckered up" around that fastener. I can see vents at the front of the liner and I assume air enters there and exits thru the vent on the fender. The air may be rushing through there at high speeds and some of the air is escaping around that puckered up area and causing it to vibrate.

I am going to wedge some cardboard under that area and see if it stops the noise. If it does, then I will ask the dealer for a new fender liner. They can fix my non-functioning power outlet in the console at the same time.

I love this car, but I've never been to the dealer so many times. We've had our VW Passat for 5 years and only to the dealer 3 times for warranty. This car has been so many times, I can't count them. Will the bugs never end? My old Fiat is looking like a paragon of reliability.

texlaw

My liner was missing that fastener at the 10:00 position and that was what was loose and flapping at high speeds. Hope you can isolate the cause of your noise. As for the numerous trips to the dealer, I know what you mean although its not a bad as it could be for a brand new model of car. I still love getting in it every time I get to drive it. Not bad for 17k miles and 11 months.

srm858

Yesterday I stuck a couple of pieces of cardboard behind the liner where it is buckled above the fastener. I then took the car for a high speed run and there was no flapping. This seems to be the cause of the problem. I'm going to remove the cardboard and put a little black caulking in place of the cardboard. All of you with this problem, give the cardboard test a try. Just look at the inside edge of liner at the 10 o'clock position and see if the liner is buckled. Get something thick enough to wedge in there and take the car for a spin.