I have a 2003 facelift model with 16000 miles on the clock, the car has been lowered by fitting Toyota supplied springs but nothing else modified.
Over the last few months the background noise in the car has become irritating and I am convinced that it now louder than when I bought the car.
The noise which is best described as a howl comes from the rear of the car, increases as the road speed increases and is not related to engine revs. It does not change when driving on different road surfaces so this I think eliminates tyre noise, so it is possibly down to the gearbox/drive arrangement.
Is this typical, I intend to take the car back to the dealer for investigation but I am worried that they will say that it is a mechanical problem created due to the car being lowered.
Has anyone experienced a similar problem and found the cause.
Thanks
Some owners, have had gearbox output bearings die in service... My 2001 car did the same thing. Howled like a banshee in the end. A new gearbox was fitted by my dealer.
m http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic. ... x+bearings (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1208&highlight=gearbox+bearings) m
m http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic. ... x+bearings (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3795&highlight=gearbox+bearings) m
In order to prevent the usual wave of panic that seesm to accompany a problem on this board though, as well as the quite hysterical claims of plummeting second hand values and poor reliability, I will point out, that along with all the other niggles people have experienced, this is a very rare occurance. And your car is still one of the most reliable cars currently made.
If you're in London then PM me and I'll lend you an experienced ear...
Quote from: "GSB"In order to prevent the usual wave of panic that seesm to accompany a problem on this board though, as well as the quite hysterical claims of plummeting second hand values and poor reliability, I will point out, that along with all the other niggles people have experienced, this is a very rare occurance. And your car is still one of the most reliable cars currently made.
Sorry to change the subject, but I felt I just had to say well said Grant s8) 8) s8)
Quote from: "Mr 2"Quote from: "GSB"In order to prevent the usual wave of panic that seesm to accompany a problem on this board though, as well as the quite hysterical claims of plummeting second hand values and poor reliability, I will point out, that along with all the other niggles people have experienced, this is a very rare occurance. And your car is still one of the most reliable cars currently made.
Sorry to change the subject, but I felt I just had to say well said Grant s8) 8) s8)
Thank you. Also, not only is the car reliable, In my experience it also holds its value remarkably well. I was that impressed by both of these factors that I bought another one...
Quote from: "GSB"Some owners, have had gearbox output bearings die in service... My 2001 car did the same thing. Howled like a banshee in the end. A new gearbox was fitted by my dealer.
m http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic. ... x+bearings (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1208&highlight=gearbox+bearings) m
m http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic. ... x+bearings (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3795&highlight=gearbox+bearings) m
In order to prevent the usual wave of panic that seesm to accompany a problem on this board though, as well as the quite hysterical claims of plummeting second hand values and poor reliability, I will point out, that along with all the other niggles people have experienced, this is a very rare occurance. And your car is still one of the most reliable cars currently made.
If you're in London then PM me and I'll lend you an experienced ear...
would that be teh throw out bearing?
Quote from: "markiii"would that be the throw out bearing?
As in the Clutch Releaser Bearing? No. They only tend to make a noise when they have no load on them, i.e. when the cluch is engaged and the bearing is restling idly on the pressure plate. I did have one fail once, on a Peugeot of all things, the bearing collapsed and started wearing away the fingers of the diaphragm spring on the pressure plate. No noise was heard, and performance eas unnafected until one night on the way to get some beer, the clutch pedal went to the floor and stayed there. Sadly without disconnecting drive. Thankfully I didnt hit anything, so the jpourney for beer resumed... An interesting point, I had to take the car from East London to Dartford to fit the new clutch, and managed to drive all the way there, in the rush hour, including several stops at traffic lights, withhout any problem whatsoever. Clutchless gearchanges should be part of the driving test, they really can be useful!
The failure on my car was in the internal bearings. There are 2 shafts within the box, which each have a bearing at either end, plus there are 2 main beaings within the differential unit. 6 main bearings in all, not counting those within the diff unit itself, which depond upon weather its an open or ltd slip unit. I beloeve that the bearing at the outboard side of the Output shaft had mailed in my case.
Thanks GSB for the info, I will take it in and see what the Dealer has to say.
Just been for a 160 mile ride around some of the best roads in the North with my son chaising me in his Cooper S, great ride but I think the noise is getting worse, so best be a bit careful until it is sorted.........
I will let you know what they say
Cheers
Well the noise has been eliminated it turned to be shot wheel bearings on the back off side wheel. It is a pleasure to listen to the engine again. Also complained that the wheels were blistering and that the hubs were rusty while I was at it, four week delay on getting the alloys replaced, will not sort out the hubs though so I will have to get the paint out.
Its good to have it back on the road, I missed it something rotten....
Nice easy fix then, didn't think wheel bearing went on modern cars, replaced one myself a few years back but that was on an old heap.
You can get back to properly outrunning the Cooper S now s:lol: :lol: s:lol: