[jimmuller]

I'm just curious. I hear mechanical noises from my just-behind-my-head engine. I can't identify all of them. I'm not talking about the audio enhancement thingy. I've taken plenty of engines and gearboxes apart but never this one. So I don't know what it could be doing to make noise.

For example, I can hear a swishing sound which stops when I turn off the AC. Okay, that's the AC. When under power I hear the lovely baritone growl of cylinders firing. I can hear the PDK shift sometimes.

The most puzzling sound is a rapid tapping, especially when cruising between 2500 and 3000rpm. In any other engine I'd say it was a loose valve but my service guy says there is no valve lash adjustment on these cars. (I wouldn't expect any valve adjustment anyway.) He did say you can hear the fuel injectors ticking. Hmm. I would describe it as tapping but words are just words. Is there a turbo waste gate or air valve or something that could make a rapid tapping sound? This sound has been there since day 1.

Give me a minute and I'll think of some other things I hear...

 

[roundtail]

Fuel injector ticking is there, for sure. Some liken it to the sound of the old air-cooled models. I like it. It keeps things sounding mechanical in nature.

In the cold, sometimes for the first several miles I can hear what sounds like a tensioning spring in the clutch linkage. Doesn't last long though. Can definitely hear the gearbox cycle when I shift at a stoplight. I like that, too. Nice and old-school, like me.

 

[CaymanMatt]

My understanding is the "valve tappet" sound is the injectors doing their magic.
What surprises me the most is the lack of turbo whine. I think all the other mechanical sounds overwhelms it.

 

[jimmuller]

Thanks for the replies. When "the man" asks I'll tell him I have it on good authority that it's the injectors.

What surprises me the most is the lack of turbo whine. I think all the other mechanical sounds overwhelms it.

Well, I would hope there is no whine per se becaue that might suggest bad bearings. What I do hear is a LOT of air moving.

 

[CaymanMatt]

Thanks for the replies. When "the man" asks I'll tell him I have it on good authority that it's the injectors.


Well, I would hope there is no whine per se becaue that might suggest bad bearings. What I do hear is a LOT of air moving.

Maybe I should have called it whistle! The high pitched sound a turbo makes while spinning at ridiculous rpms!

 

[MikePhDPE]

Mine goes VROOOM VROOOM!!! Since i installed the BMC air filter I hear the turbo whine more which is something I really enjoy.

 

[MLJJ]

I'm starting to hear more trans noise at low speeds (5K miles). I assume this is just all of the parts sorting themselves out. A bit more play/noise when feathering the throttle at low speed and more rolling when I put it in neutral to park. The injectors, or whatever that tapping noise is, is sporadic and not tied to ambient temperature, although most of that noise is diminished once the engine warms a bit. Earlier, someone suggested the lifters take time to lubricate/fill. IDK, but I've three more years of warranty for any of that to result in failure if it does. In the Cayman, with windows down, the turbo is obvious to me when it kicks in - I'd call it a whine. In my PDK, the klunk downshifting from second to first gets noticeably louder after some spirited driving.

 

[piran]

Parked up in the garage I hear an intermittent short noise that sounds like a pheasant call or bark: "errrrRKKK". In my childhood I was used to hearing this while staying over with my grandparents. My ears have always been much better than most (even now at my ancient age) so I would immediately run around outside flailing my arms around shouting "shoo" ...fearing that my grandfather would get out his shotgun to bag the wild fowl. He never caught on, presumably thinking it was just what small children did I can barely stop myself even now ...thinking that a pheasant might've wandered into our village and was now under my GTS. Reading elsewhere there's a suggestion that it's the Sports exhaust solenoid valve linkage but I can't see why this should need to activate or deactivate whilst parked up and with the engine stone cold.

 

[Nosmo]

@piran - I know what you hear and I always thought it came from the rear brakes - almost as if they are tightening up. When I clean the car and am low down it comes from that genral direction. Maybe someone with more engineering knowledge actually knows what it is. The sound, to me is almost identical to the sound the handbrake makes when turned on.

 

[jimmuller]

In my PDK, the klunk downshifting from second to first gets noticeably louder after some spirited driving.

That's not a surprise when the tranny oil is warmer. But that's probably not shifting from 2nd to 1st. It is more likely the disengaged odd-numbered-gear secondary shaft shifting from 3rd to 1st.n Watch the gear indicator and I suspect you'll see it stay at 2 when that clunk happens. The shift from any odd (or even) gear to an adjacent even (or odd) gear doesn't involve a shift per se, just a clutch operation.

 

[piran]

@Nosmo - Not really. The handbrake activation sound is more of a easily recognisable winding/whirring and, yes, I hear that from the rear axle. It also triggers if I get out too eagerly without requisite care (the car puts the handbrake on).

No, this sound is more central both along the car and central in the vertical plane... if push came to a shove more left side of the car (passenger side here in the UK). Another description would be a short squawk or chirrup type of sound like you used to be able to hear on poor signal strength radio transmissions. Perhaps I should try to get the smartphone to record it.

BTW and FWIW the handbrake was on, the car hasn't been started in days (Covid-19), was stone cold with the ignition off... For some reason I'd left the thing unlocked, saw the mirrors still extended and just tried the door (to check locking). Shut the door and continued working either by the car or further out on the driveway. Heard the pheasant call at least twice before walking into the house to get the car key to lock it.

I have always heard the noise (since delivery)... though generally the clearest within the garage and before getting in and actually starting the engine. So, it's not hot exhaust stuff cooling. Something that needs or wants to be done prior to starting for instance?

Again, if it's this Sports exhaust vane actuator why on earth does it need or want to be toggled or whatever with the ignition off but with the car 'aware' of my presence (think KIT car).

I did not option touchless entry but do have and use the remote unlocking key buttons (aka FOB). The example above relates to events non-FOB related, non-ignition related, non-heat related.

Unless some one else has the knowledge I envisage that I must try to wedge my not exactly petite carcass under the car and have my wife open the door to try and awake the pheasant within...

PostEdit: added different sound likeness

 

[GregW]

The car has many sensors, and does a variety of things as doors open and close, as it cools down, and as it locks or unlocks (and probably more I haven't cataloged yet). These 'things' can also differ if the car is warm or cold.

As long as nothing fails or really bothers me, I just let it do it's thing. ?

 

[piran]

@GregW Agreed in full ...it's just my scientific curiosity is piqued.

In the garage I am unable to easily reach the left side of the car which remains stone cold and quiescent (due to Covid-19 non-essential travel measures). Standing at its left rear haunch my ears suggest the noise emanates lower down, midway along the length of the car but pretty much on the left. Perhaps under the floor (hips or bottom area of the passenger's seat - UK/left side) or perhaps the general volume close behind the passenger's lower back and backwards into what I think is the air intake stuff or turbo region. Certainly WELL below the general height of the engine cover.

FWIW I personally removed the SoundAktor fuse - under the bemused view of the entire Porsche showroom sales team and assorted techs - during handover ...but you probably guessed that.

To rule it out, roughly where is the often-mentioned elsewhere Sports Exhaust valve/vane actuator mechanism physically located on my 718 Cayman GTS (2019 UK spec)?

I have no convenient access to a ramp, hoist or handy inspection pit. May consider sliding my smartphone underneath in video mode.

 

[piran]

Found the exhaust butterfly/valve... near rear bumper, vaguely righthand side. Nothing to do with the pheasant sound, nor electric brakes and SoundAktor fuse was removed long ago.

PostEdit: Listening from inside the cockpit the noise is MUCH quieter (more damped). Whatever causes it is definitely located outside the cockpit - my guess is it's in the engine bay or on the engine near to the physical volume that includes the turbo. I just can't get in there to see it. Am trying to resolve the conundrum by observation and deduction

Now have a voice recording Hopefully the conversion
from the original M4A/ALAC file to lossy/MP3 is OK for you,
it's about a third of the size in upload terms. However...

• Your code does not allow me to upload an MP3 file extension...
• Your code does not allow a non-extension file...
• Your code does not allow a .RAR extension file...
• Your code does not allow a .ZIP extension file...

PostEdit: your code 'allows' .TXT .PDF & .PNG attachments, so attached is the .MP3 file temporarily renamed as a 'pdf' with a size of about 486KB ...obviously to play the sound file just trim off the .pdf faux extension to leave the base .mp3 sound file extension. Basic smoke 'n mirrors;-)

Have asked Vodafone/Porsche Assistance to get a technical person to call me tomorrow about the tracker stuff. This pheasant noise is always and ONLY on entry or exit variously. Other normal car driving conditions 'seem' to be irrelevant... I think.

 

[GregW]

Interesting noise.?
To me it has a metallic edge that reminds me of a spring squeak.

 

[piran]

Interesting noise.?
To me it has a metallic edge that reminds me of a spring squeak.

Agreed on both counts ...a sort of something winding up ...but it isn't the electric operation of the rear brakes.

Running with the 'winding up spring' vector... After hitting the locking button there is a much longer delay before the pheasant call sound. At first sight (sound) it seems the same in that it is not the reverse sound ...of a spring UNwinding. In case 'things' needed a door opening event I did just that and then hit the locking button. Much longer interval, as I said above, but the same wasn't 'the reverse' it was similar. So, what does Porsche DO after an unlocking event, for what is it preparing? And, indeed, why? I have heard it occur at least twice * - again while the car is stone cold and not operating anything. Why the apparent necessity to 'prepare' TWICE. For what is the car waiting?

Porsche Assistance tech called me back just now. Mystified too. He seemed sure that it wasn't anything to do with the tracker - nothing on it to make a noise. Offered to 'send somebody down to check it out' but I declined his offer (not an essential journey by anyone's rules). He thought that the car's underpan would likely obstruct my attempt at viewing with a video recording smartphone slid underneath - were I to get the car out at some point.

So, back to wondering just what it is that Porsche have installed in the engine bay or on the engine that (consistently) makes a pheasant call sound some 14 seconds after ONLY triggering the unlock button on a stone cold 718 Cayman GTS ( 2019 UK spec).

PostEdit:

• WAS - I have heard it occur at least twice
• NOW - I have heard it occur at least twice or thrice in any given (unlocking) episode

 

[Nosmo]

It sounds more like the spring from the exhaust valve opening - which is weird in itself as it shouldn't just do that. It's very metallic though. Have you looked into your exhaust pipe to see if it's the valve opening?

 

[piran]

It sounds more like the spring from the exhaust valve opening - which is weird in itself as it shouldn't just do that. It's very metallic though. Have you looked into your exhaust pipe to see if it's the valve opening?

Yes, I have . It's not. Nowhere near the Sports exhaust butterfly. Have instigated the unlock/lock button on the key remote activity (that results in the pheasant sound) while laid down under the rear bumper and staring hard at the butterfly valve. It does not move in the slightest nor is the ball & joint coupling assembly loose. I've tried gently pushing the rod in and out manually, it's smooth and relatively quiet in operation given that its only purpose is to increase the overall sound level. Politely paraphrasing that old Monty Python ("dead parrot") sketch ...it's not the exhaust valve. It's 'underneath' the passenger seat (UK/left side) on the outside of the cockpit shell or slightly in front of the volume that includes the turbo or nearby all of the above.

My smartphone voice recording clip is decently clear. One of our local regional commercial radio stations regularly runs a 'guess this sound' competition that asks people to phone in with their guesses for what is usually a really peculiar sound... Don't know from where they source it but my goodness this would likely fox most - if not everyone (so far). AFAIK there is only a feature prize for the correct guess - not for the supply of a recording that nobody can guess.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Found the exhaust butterfly/valve... near rear bumper, vaguely righthand side. Nothing to do with the pheasant sound, nor electric brakes and SoundAktor fuse was removed long ago.

PostEdit: Listening from inside the cockpit the noise is MUCH quieter (more damped). Whatever causes it is definitely located outside the cockpit - my guess is it's in the engine bay or on the engine near to the physical volume that includes the turbo. I just can't get in there to see it. Am trying to resolve the conundrum by observation and deduction

Now have a voice recording Hopefully the conversion
from the original M4A/ALAC file to lossy/MP3 is OK for you,
it's about a third of the size in upload terms. However...

• Your code does not allow me to upload an MP3 file extension...
• Your code does not allow a non-extension file...
• Your code does not allow a .RAR extension file...
• Your code does not allow a .ZIP extension file...

PostEdit: your code 'allows' .TXT .PDF & .PNG attachments, so attached is the .MP3 file temporarily renamed as a 'pdf' with a size of about 486KB ...obviously to play the sound file just trim off the .pdf faux extension to leave the base .mp3 sound file extension. Basic smoke 'n mirrors;-)

Have asked Vodafone/Porsche Assistance to get a technical person to call me tomorrow about the tracker stuff. This pheasant noise is always and ONLY on entry or exit variously. Other normal car driving conditions 'seem' to be irrelevant... I think.

Now that I finally figured out how to listen to the clip... I think that's the fuel door unlocking.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Here is my Tap tap tap that I get after the car has sat for awhile... I've asked the dealer about it and was told it's completely normal. Once the oils up to temp its gone. But after the car has sat for an extended period without being started, its there again.