Clicking/ticking under hood
 

Ok i just recently got an Rx8 and i noticed a strange noise coming from under the hood. im just wondering if this is normal or if there might be a very big problem. also my airbag light is flashing and staying on. i really love the car and dont want to give it up so soon. here's a link to hear the noise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ripXKWbxk

yes a got the same here my car sounds like diesel truck hahahahah
the air bag light is the plugs under the seats maybe.... just push the connectors together and check

Maybe one of the belts? I know when I had a small oil leak some of it got on the belts and they sounded like that, although not nearly as loud.

valve or a pushrod. take the heads off and check. okay, maybe not.

can you isolate where it's coming from?

Well the problem seems to be a bad pin in a valve on the intake. Don't know how much it's going to cost yet but at least I know it's not too big of a problem...hopefully

Shouldn't cost you a dime...unless you already have 36k miles on it.

^...................good call jmc...........that's exactly what it sounds like to me. Plug is arching.

what year is your rx-8?

leaking exhaust manifold? could be a loose sparkplugs

you beat me to it :banghead:

Its an 04 A/T with 76k so im far past the 36 mark.
heres a very poor description of what was knocking

ssv actuator i think.did you get fixed?

wow........would've lost money on this one! Sure sounded like spark arching!

lolz it sounds so much like it...

yep !!!it was that :wallbash::wallbash::wallbash: thanks

so did anyone manage to fix this without having to dismantle half the engine bay to remove the ssv? mine is starting to do this too.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-remove-ssv-beta-teaser-video-184663/

i think we need jon316G advice here please

powertrain extension warranty covers the intake and that is part of the intake i will check in the dealer first ok tomorrow monday

I had a sweet ticking/knocking sound and I was sure it was a spark boot loose or something, I checked it a handful of times or more. So I got in there with a stethoscope and found the idler pulley was doing it so I lubed it and it disappeared and no sign of it so far since.

Interesting...
I've heard spark arcing before and that doesn't sound like it (though the sound quality isn't the greatest).
Spark arcing tends to sound like a quick, high tapping sound and in the clip is sounds more like a low, rough clunky sound.
Again... I wouldn't rule out that the spark is arcing, just doesn't sound like it from the clip.

Now the SSV... its possible for it to be a valve (don't forget about the VDI) if the solenoid was bad and just cycling it continuously.
But both the SSV and VDI is visible without removing anything so you'll see it moving if it were the valves.

So two things to get you started:
1) Watch the valves and see if one of them is moving.
2) Verify the ignition wires are secured to the spark plug.
If the wires are secured, you may want to remove them and inspect for any white spots that'll indicate arcing.
Its possible a wire could have been rubbing on something and cut through the insulation.

Good luck and keep up posted.

Don't know why I just thought of this...
With the car sitting idle... have someone rev the engine.
If the ticking sound/rate increases with the RPM, then I would definitely say its spark arcing.

ok is the rod of the ssv ,the ssv is ok it works fine but the dealer wants 300 to replace it
and is not cover under the powertrain warranty i will try to fix it myself this weekend

you can touch it and it stops so i guess is the plastic clip

Umm... no plastic clip... there is an e-clip that secures the rod to the valve.
Your sound could be the bushing.

well i touch it and i move the plastic a little bit and it stop but then again after a 2 min. start again yep is the little plastic and the two metal are hitting and that is the clicking noise

Can you take a pic of what you're referring to and attach it here?

yes a do that saturday