ticking/slapping sound while in gear only, please help!
 

Ok guys, here we go again. I just did all my ignition replacements and my slow starts are no more, car is noticably healthier, at least the motor.

After putting in new coil packs today, i took the car for a spin,

Now i am hearing a very pronounced ticking sound, mostly noticable in 1st and second gear only while gears are engaged and under load. As soon as i press in clutch the noise goes away.

It can't be related to sparks or ignition because they are all brand new, and if i rev the car in neutral it sounds perfect.

If i roll up the windows, it sounds like its coming from the tranny, if i roll down the windows and roll through Neighborhoods Or areas where sound reverbs, it is VERY noticable.

It sounds like when a kid puts a playing card in his bike spokes, but a bit subdued, if that makes sense. It increases with speed and decreases with deceleration, and again only while in gear and under load.


There is one thing... while installing the innermost coil, my damn 10mm socket fell through the engine bay. But not through to the ground... could it have gotten lodged somewhere near the drivetrain components or a belt and pulley that is causing this sort of noise?? It has never made it until today and all i did was change to new coils.


I cannot find the damn socket anywhere?? Anyone have advice where to look or how to trouble shoot this??? One thing after another.... :(

ticking/slapping sound while in gear only, please help!
 

Just because they are new, that doesn't mean that they work correctly.
But I think you just need to double check your connections. Did the plug wires make an audible "click" when installing?

^^ yes, everything is nice and snug. and the car is starting and performing noticeably better. which definitely makes me think it can't be any of the stuff I just installed.

it does not do this while revving out of gear or while idling, only with everything engaged and under load, and immediately stops when I press in the clutch, which makes me think flywheel/tranny/clutch sort of issue.


Here is where the socket fell through. :/


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...15caa313ce.jpg

anyone have any ideas where this thing could have fallen? it sounded like it landed on some sort of metal tray. I am going to get under there tomorrow and feel around. Maybe on the subframe brace? I can't see much from the top view so I'm just gonna be sticking my hands in weird areas underneath the car Q-Q

The only things I can remember being below that area are the control arm, the crossmember and maybe the sub frame. A 10mm socket is not large enough to produce the sound you describe over all those other engine noises. My throw out bearing has always made noise when the clutch is not engaged. Does it sound like a bunch of rocks in a can rolling around until you press the pedal in?

Don't know if this is resolved at this point, but by your description of the socket making a sound as if it landed on a metal tray, sounds like it's sitting on that metal (aluminum) tray that covers your oil pan. It's held in place with about eight 13mm (I think) bolts.

And as for your noise while in gear and under load, it's not the socket that you dropped. Guessing something to do with the clutch.