Clicks on hard acceleration...?

Apr 18, 2011 | 06:10 PM

fullsmoke

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From: CT

Clicks on hard acceleration...?

Tried to do a search but nothing.

When I accelerate hard from a standstill/crawl in 1st gear, ~40% of the time I'll hear a metallic/mechanical click from what seems to be underneath the car. Sometimes it's multiple random clicks as you accelerate hard.

It does not seem to be from the engine itself as the engine pulls normally and is smooth as silk. No CELs have been triggered either.

What could possibly be causing this click to happen when I accelerate hard?

Thanks,
FS

Apr 18, 2011 | 07:12 PM

RX8Soldier

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check your tires and the wells. Maybe something is rubbing?
Can you maybe get a video/ sound clip?

Apr 18, 2011 | 07:46 PM

fullsmoke

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Anatomy of a corner...

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From: CT

Quote:

Originally Posted by RX8Soldier

check your tires and the wells. Maybe something is rubbing?
Can you maybe get a video/ sound clip?

Nothing in wheel wells. Tires are fine. Cruising around causes no clicks or noises--it's only under hard acceleration in 1st gear.

Apr 18, 2011 | 08:18 PM

fullsmoke

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Anatomy of a corner...

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From: CT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill

If it is from the rear of the car it is likely one of your CV joints on the rear axles.
Even more likely if you have a vibration from the rear that appears above 70 MPH. As time goes by this vibration will appear at lower and lower speeds.

I can't tell if it's from the front or rear of the car, unfortunately. I can cruise at speeds >70mph and detect no odd vibrations. I will try to check the joints. Any other ideas?

Apr 18, 2011 | 08:55 PM

fullsmoke

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Anatomy of a corner...

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From: CT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill

If you have had any clutch or transmission work done recently the PPF may be clicking from misalignment or improper torquing sequence, or it may be the pressure plate clicking from improper installation.
If you have had the rear wheels off the car recently, the lugnuts may be undertorqued.
Does this noise change depending on whether the engine is fully warm or not? If so, it may be the catalyst making noise as it gets fully hot in a short period of time.

I've had zero work done to my transmission since I've owned the car. I have already re-torqued the rear wheels but still experience the click noise. The noise definitely happens when the car is warm--but I have not tried when the car is cold because I usually let it warm up before I hit the accelerator hard.

Could it be my U joints on the drive shaft?

Apr 19, 2011 | 12:54 PM

fullsmoke

Thread Starter

Anatomy of a corner...

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From: CT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill

It is possible but highly unlikely as u-joints don't tend to audibly "click" when they go bad. When u-joints go bad you will feel a driveline vibration with little/no noise and, since the driveshaft turns 4.44 times as fast as the rear axles, the vibration will be more evident than it would be if it is a problem with the rear axles.

This is so frustrating because it is puzzling to me. Could it possibly be from the engine--maybe a solenoid of some sort? (Because I am WOT accelerating in 1st gear?)

Apr 20, 2011 | 03:46 PM

fullsmoke

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Anatomy of a corner...

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From: CT

My buddy is a master tech at Mazda, he thinks it is one of my intake manifold tuning valves and not a drivetrain issue. He messed with the valves and said one feels a little gummy--carbon deposits could be making it stick. What do you think?