Do FDs always sound like this?
 

I really need to see some local cars to compare mine to. I've never even ridden in another FD and I just bought one...

Anyway, when I give the car more than 30% throttle, the regular engine growl is accompanied by a loud "baseball card in the bicycle wheel" clicking sound.

I'm running stock twins, ported WG, Gotham street port. greddy IC, no emissions. 305whp at 13psi.(although my profec-b is at 10psi until I learn more about these cars.)

Any input appreciated. Thanks!

If I'm imagining the sound you're describing correctly, the car should not be like that.

No, that is not at all normal. You should hear the growl of the exhaust and the turbine-like whine of the turbos.
And that is pretty much it.

exhaust leak?

can you record a short clip w/ a digi camera or something and post it on youtube? it doesn't sound right from how you're describing...

I have the same noise I think. My mechanic said it is normal and he showed me the part that makes this noise. It is some flap inside the exhaust manifold.

if you "flap" inside your exhaust manifold is making a noise like that you probably would have some boost problems....

What kind of 7 do you have?

Only the purr of the engine and the spooling should be heard... unless there's something i dont know about.

That i dont think is normal.

I have a 93 FD. It only makes the sound on deceleration.

I'm local(round rock), bring it by and I'll take a look at it for you.

I've only been in 4 FD's in my life and i know that is nothing compared to others, but none have made that noise.

Plus the "exhaust manifold" is the turbo mani so maybe there is something wrong with it?

Check to make sure none of your spark plugs have worked their way loose and are letting the combusted gas escape around it. That might cause that sort of noise.

YGPM.

Thanks guys. I want to get this sorted. If it isn't some strange exhaust leak issue, I wonder if it could be the larger turbo?

There is a slight clicking sound at idle especially if you have 3mm seals. But you should be hearing the turbo and the exhaust with any type of acceleration.

Well, I DO hear the exhaust and spooling turbos clearly. But I get an additional loud clicking that seems to be related to load. From mid to high load.

If I were to accelerate to redline slowly and not give it much gas, it would never make the noise.

It's an exhaust leak probably. Mine did it for a while. It comes from the passenger foot rest area correct? Check the downpipe to turbo and downpipe to cat converter gaskets for leakage.

Another thing to check:
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/fixed-my-rattle-noise-here-what-169138/

could it be the aftermarkt boost solnoid clicking? mine clicks when im on boost. but its an apexi not a greddy

What do you mean by larger turbo? is it aftermarket?

I'll have to agree its most likely an exhaust leak.

Do you have a boost gauge? My Greddy gauge would make that noise (it had a leak) under boost.

my car has done that straight from pettit racing, it has a large streetport... and i asked them.. they said its fine, absolutely nothing wrong... and so far, everytime i replace a part/fix something its still there.

I don't think its an exhaust leak. I'm familiar enough with those. The sound originates around mid-engine, so it could be near the turbos or anywhere along the long block really.

CArx7 rode in it and he thought it could be the wastegates...

It is definitely boost related. The sound starts quietly at 4 psi and gets louder with boost, it also increases in frequency with RPMS. So it could be some sort of resonance from the wastegates.

If your car did it straight from the shop then I'm comfortable enough to not worry about it, lol..

Thanks for all the input guys. Now I'm gonna worry about something else, like the slipping clutch.

Are you running stock twins? seq or non?

also, why would running 3mm apex seals lead to an audible clicking noise :confused:

stock sequentials

I dont understand, you say "larger turbo" then you say "stock sequential".

I would bet that it is your profec b. Mine sounds just like that too. There was a thread a couple of months back about someone who put some sound deadening material and it made a big improvement. It is the selenoid in the engine bay that is doing it. Check this out before you look at anything else.

Perhaps it's this?

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=169138

larger of the two is what I meant. Since it was happening at higher loads, perhaps it was making the sound..

But I don't think that anymore

This was listed earlier in this thread.

Damien's description of when the rattle was happening is very different. I will check that though.

I think the biggest hint is that it requires boost to make the noise and it gets louder with higher boost.

I'm going to check the boost gauge lines. It could very well be the profec-b solenoid, so I'll check that too.

The build seems to be a standard 300whp set-up done by Gotham:
30k miles on gotham reman
power fc
stock fuel delivery
stock twins with ported WG
profec-b
hks-twin power
greddy ic
removed emissions
boost, water temp, oil temp, A/F & Knock, and egt gauge.

If you have this set-up and don't get any audible ticking under boost, then I'd like to know.

Thanks :)

Both turbo's are the same size, but since its coming in at higher boost, maybe the force of the increased cfm is causing something to rattle in your manifold.

Hehe, shows my noobness. I have been reading up more and looking at the sequential diagrams. What I meant was "Secondary" turbo, not larger.

Anyway, the verdict on the noise is that is the Profec-B Solenoid. It bugs me enough I may switch to a ball & spring MBC.

Ahh good ... I'm glad it's resolved. That was my first thought when I read your problem.

I also have this noise. I too have the Profec B. Just like you said, I hear it right when I start hauling a$$. I can slowly get into boost w.o tho noise but if I push the accelerator down and really get on the gas, right away i hear a BZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Mine is so loud that I can't really hear the spooling of the turbo (gt3574). I will upload a video soon.

FYI - apparently this only happens with the older Profec-B. The newer revision has a much smaller solenoid that is much quieter. Mounting location also can affect the noise level. I'm going to get a new EBC.

Hmm..I bought mine new almost a year ago. The interesting thing is I only heard this noise after my car was tuned.

Since we are talking about loud noises, how do all of these noises affect the knock sensor? I have stiff motor mounts and no restriction on the exhuast. Can these affect how much knock I will read?

Sorry to bring this one back up! Anyone got any videos of this noise?? I've not got a profec. but I've always had a slight noise like that from my boost gauge under boost... a kind of ticking.

Now that I've got an HKS downpipe fitted I can hear that noise outside of the car too... can only hear it with the windows down and especially when going through a built up area with the sound bouncing back to the car... it sounds quite sick to me :( Don't like it at all especially as it's a new sound!

Bump, anyone? It's not a loud sound, but it is noticeable. I could try and record it next time I go out but it probably wont be good quality enough to hear the noise... I'll give it a go if no one can help out with the info I've given!