Hey. Got my 2005 RX-8 yesterday. It's a great car and I don't regret a second that I bought it but I've been hearing some strange noises since I got it. They disappeared for a while but now it's starting to get worse. It sounds kinda like a cicada. Most of the sound disappears when I press in the clutch or get on high RPM. It's worse when I'm idling. No it's not the engine sound lol. I don't know fully how to explain in English but I hope someone can help a new RX-8 owner.

 

I had to google cicada to even know what you are talking about.


My car makes WAY more noise with the clutch out than in.
While sitting at a stop, when you take your foot off the clutch, you can hear the _______ (I need an expert to insert the correct part here)



OMG!!!!!!
The cicada (wings) sound like the brap brap of a bridgy!!! This bug is bad ***!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy5O4...eature=related

 

Is it the sound of whining from the tranny? If so, that's normal. otherwise, no clue what a cicada is.

 

It's the clutch release bearing letting you know it's there. The noise is normal.

A cicada is a bug that looks like a fat grasshopper. We have 2 different types. The annual cicada's and the ones that only come around every 17 years.

 

Cicada is a locust/grasshopper isn't it?

Edit: just saw your post rglbegl.

 

Holy sh$# that DOES sound just like a bridgy at idle!

 

Another name for the cicada is a Semi. They are large bugs that can be found in Japan and make a really loud screeching noise. Here is an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuwANo6LFho

Does it sound like that?

 

lol.. i had to google cicada!

 

Once the rx8 engine starts to operate sub-optimally, it will fail to cover up the cicada noises. And the cicada noises will become more and more apparent.

I had to install new ignition coils to get the engine back to normal idle sound, covering up cicada noies.

 

Hm it's not quite actually that sound either when I think about it. It's like the same noise when you hear some old cars start up and start driving. A lot of squealing sound. Definitely not normal.

 

I had this exact same problem with my 04 about a year ago.

I took it into the dealer about 3 times for the same thing, each time they'd just flash it and say it's gewd. Unfortunately it would be okay for about a week or so then just as soon as its gone it would be back.

Finally I took a recording of the sound using my phone and showed them that on the third time, they said they'd look at it. Sounded like the same old same old, but about two days later they called me back and said I was getting my engine replaced.

Got to drive around in an econo rental car for about a month while the engine was shipped/installed and to this day I haven't had any problems. When I went to pick the car up and asked what was wrong they avoided the question and scooted me out the door.

So sorry I can't really tell you exactly what it is, but I can tell you if you're about as unlucky as I am, then at least now you know where you're headed.

 

Whoa that doesn't sound good. Well I'm heading over for my Mazda dealer on monday. Let's see if they know what it might be :/

 

Trivia: Cicadas come out singing in the summertime. North American cicadas sound quite different from the Korean/Japanese versions.

North American cicadas: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqys8...eature=related)
Korean/Japanese cicadas: wow wow wow waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez7bP...eature=related)

 

your car is gonna blow.....

 

This pic needs a phrase added to it.
It is too early for my mind to be creative, so I need the RX8clubs help
"I am here for your engine" ?
"Can you hear me" ?

 

Well drove to the mazda dealer today and made them listen to the sound. They told me it's probably the transmission or clutch-something. They're gonna look at it tomorrow or on monday. I'll post when they call me back. Been two days since I got my car... Great :/

 

ummm, i was going to start a similar thread, but ... i think i have this problem. i had my engine replaced over the summer, only a couple thousand or less miles on the reman. '04. never had the sound on the original engine. maybe i can post a sound bite. it sounds kinda like that youtube video, in the middle, it's constant, not that high/low part. the sound is mostly in 1st and 2nd gear at low rpms - it goes away in higher gears and maybe in higher rpms (i say maybe b/c it could just be the engine covering the sound at higher rpms, not sure). anyway, to me it sounds more like a wind-up toy or something ... god i can't think of what it reminds me of for the life of me...

when you were kids, did you put baseball cards on your bicycle spokes or right above your back tire's tread ... to make it sound like a dirt bike??? haha, random, i know ... but it kinda sounds like that, only not as deep. i'll keep thinking of an analogy. anyway, i hope it's not a bad sign!! altho we do have the extended warranty now.............

 

oh, and i don't think i hear anything at idle, it's only once the car is in gear and moving -- in low rpms as soon as i start accelerating in gear -- i don't have my car with me otherwise i'd go check -- but does that mean it could just be clutch related?? stock clutch, 52k...

 

is it the throwout bearing noise like everyone's cars???

 

umm sure, could be! haha, i have no idea what do you mean "everyone's car" -- is it a common problem that i just hadn't heard of?? i have no idea what that would sound like though...

 

here is a thread i found ... i'm still reading it to see if it relates to my/this issue...

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...rowout+bearing

 

freakin' pic above crapped me out. they have it at S.Korea too i think. i used to catch those and tie em up to a string and let em cry while driving. sounds freakin' awesome but not on the 8

i hear something like that on my 8 every night. like coming from the front right side. belt?

 

If you're referring to the north america-clicking type of cicada, mine made a noise like that for a while. It got faster as I gave the engine gas, and was always present. I found out eventually that my spark plug wire was loose and that noise was the spark arcing from the wire to the plug

 

interesting!! that sounds like mine. def gets louder/worse as the rpms climb, don't here a thing at idle. is that something you checked yourself or did a mechanic notice it? maybe i'll go check it out today...

 

GGGGHHHHHAAAAAAAaa they deleted my free post! ... your noise is common my friend...EVERYONE has this so called "problem", it just means your car is better than all other cars on the street