Annoying Rattling Noise When Car is Warm

[Toomanyloti]

If any of the very few Auto guys are listening in do they have the same/similar noise???

 

[Eagle7]

Hi, Thats an Interesting thought, that makes a lot of sense to check for sure. Is it easy to check do you know and can I do it or has it got to be done by a garage? Thanks

You'd just need access under the car. If the dealer isn't too far away, it's easier to just go there or an oil change place that has a lift and can check.

 

[CliveB]

ok thanks

 

[TomE]

Further to my transmission gearbox noise that I’m getting, I took my car into Lotus Silverstone this morning for them to listen to the noise that I am experiencing and to confirm if it was ok or whether it’s was something that I should be concerned with. I took one of the sales technicians out for a drive who was helpful only for him to quickly confirm that this was a normal characteristic noise and was nothing to be concerned with. However, he then kindly took me out in their demo car just to prove this noise was in their car as well and although the noise was still heard at certain points the demo car was no way near as loud or noticeable as mine in fact it was hardly noticeable in my opinion. I said to the dealer if my car was the same as their one I would be happy but mine is just so loud and noticeable that it just spoils the experience in my view.
I fully understand that this noise I’m experiencing may be a characteristic but who or how do you determine whether the noise is deemed to be within an acceptable tolerance? I’m not happy with it and have contacted lotus customer services to see what they say.

I'm not surprised they gave you the "They All Do That Sir" response (TADTS is common in Lotus circles).

I had a similar issue with my first Evora. The gearbox was much more noisy than other Evoras. After 6 months and two inspections by the dealer they got a Lotus Field Service engineer to review it, who wrote a long report that said yes it was slightly noisier than average but "within acceptable limits". Lotus said if it got worse then they would look at it again. I changed the gearbox oil to a higher spec, had various things adjusted but it was still noisy and Lotus wouldn't do anything more about it.

It's disappointing to hear there is still noticeable variation between cars after a further 14 years of Lotus building and developing these cars. It's partly due to the combination of transmission components being bolted together that weren't originally designed as a single overall system - V6 2GR-FE petrol engine mated to an Avensis diesel gearbox with some Lotus-specific bits in between.

Sadly I think you'll get a similar response of TADTS and "within acceptable limits" from Lotus and they are the final decision maker on warranty issues. Your other option might be to reject the car (or threaten to) under distance selling regulations, if you're still within the time limit.

 

[TomE]

If any of the very few Auto guys are listening in do they have the same/similar noise???

The noise is a characteristic of the manual gearbox and clutch plus the adaptor Lotus use to mate it with the V6. Very unlikely the auto has a similar noise (auto Evoras didn't) and if it did it would be a different source as it's a different gearbox.

 

[CliveB]

I'm not surprised they gave you the "They All Do That Sir" response (TADTS is common in Lotus circles).

I had a similar issue with my first Evora. The gearbox was much more noisy than other Evoras. After 6 months and two inspections by the dealer they got a Lotus Field Service engineer to review it, who wrote a long report that said yes it was slightly noisier than average but "within acceptable limits". Lotus said if it got worse then they would look at it again. I changed the gearbox oil to a higher spec, had various things adjusted but it was still noisy and Lotus wouldn't do anything more about it.

It's disappointing to hear there is still noticeable variation between cars after a further 14 years of Lotus building and developing these cars. It's partly due to the combination of transmission components being bolted together that weren't originally designed as a single overall system - V6 2GR-FE petrol engine mated to an Avensis diesel gearbox with some Lotus-specific bits in between.

Sadly I think you'll get a similar response of TADTS and "within acceptable limits" from Lotus and they are the final decision maker on warranty issues. Your other option might be to reject the car (or threaten to) under distance selling regulations, if you're still within the time limit.

Hi sadly I think you might be right. I think I’m going to spend a lot of time and get nowhere. I think I’m going to end up just having to get use to the noise and put up with the fact that mine just happens to be exceptionally noticeable. If that does end up being the case I fear I won’t be keeping it that long. .

Also on a different note I ordered and paid for the Homelink feature, it turns out the car hasn’t actually got it installed even though it’s on the spec, no wonder I was struggling to work out how to use it

 

[Pugwash]

You may find you can drive around it. The noise appears at a certain rev/torque combination and once you are used to what makes it appear you can just accelerate through it to minimize the noise. I have driven three Emira and they all did it to one extent or another.

 

[Wonza]

The only slight rattle I can hear is when say you’re in a higher gear and you’re going too slow for that gear. Ie turning a 90 degree uphill junction in 2nd gear, It makes a rattle and sounds like a chain not being taught because you’re in the wrong gear. Does this sound like yours?

 

[CliveB]

I don’t think that is the noise I’m experiencing, mine is transmission noise in low gears and when under load.

 

[Wonza]

I don’t think that is the noise I’m experiencing, mine is transmission noise in low gears and when under load.

Then I would advise to go back to the dealer and request a field tech to come out to the dealer to investigate.

 

[Eagle7]

I don’t think that is the noise I’m experiencing, mine is transmission noise in low gears and when under load.

I wonder if it's the throwout bearing. Check these two links to see if this is the sound you're hearing:

This link describes what a throwout bearing does and what sound it makes if it's bad



This link is what it sounds like in a car that's running

 

[CliveB]

Then I would advise to go back to the dealer and request a field tech to come out to the dealer to investigate.

I have requested that so interested to hear what they say.

 

[danmessy]

I have requested that so interested to hear what they say.

Any update on this one?

The only slight rattle I can hear is when say you’re in a higher gear and you’re going too slow for that gear. Ie turning a 90 degree uphill junction in 2nd gear, It makes a rattle and sounds like a chain not being taught because you’re in the wrong gear. Does this sound like yours?

I have a similar situation to this, I can accelerate through it (~1500-1900 RPM), once I hit high 1000's into the 2's, the sound is gone.

Would be nice not to have it (not end of the world). Spoke to the dealer, did not seem a concern. I said i'd monitor if it got worse and show them following run-in etc, if still an issue.

Also, it can't be heard if music is on which is 95% of my drive haha

 

[frazzer]

Any update on this one?

I have a similar situation to this, I can accelerate through it (~1500-1900 RPM), once I hit high 1000's into the 2's, the sound is gone.

Would be nice not to have it (not end of the world). Spoke to the dealer, did not seem a concern. I said i'd monitor if it got worse and show them following run-in etc, if still an issue.

Also, it can't be heard if music is on which is 95% of my drive haha

Mine got better as the engine was run in, either that or I'm zoning it out

 

[CliveB]

Any update on this one?

I have a similar situation to this, I can accelerate through it (~1500-1900 RPM), once I hit high 1000's into the 2's, the sound is gone.

Would be nice not to have it (not end of the world). Spoke to the dealer, did not seem a concern. I said i'd monitor if it got worse and show them following run-in etc, if still an issue.

Also, it can't be heard if music is on which is 95% of my drive haha

Hi. the noise is still exactly the same even though I have nearly covered the running in period mileage. I find because I live in London where I seem to queue a lot of the time to get anywhere these days, I obviously hear the noise much more because its when you start to move off in 1st gear is when its most apparent. I have been to two dealers now and both say although mine is noisy it is a characteristic of the car. What is slightly annoying is that having been in several Emira's now mine happens to be a very noisy one which for me does spoil the experience somewhat. I do love the car and when driving out of London at higher revs the noise is overshadowed by the singing of the supercharger which is just amazing. The car is booked for more tests and work shortly and I will keep you posted.

 

[Simon]

Hi Clive. I picked up my new Emira from Hethel yesterday (what a great experience that is, by the way!) and I have exactly the same noise you are describing. I didn't really notice it as I first left (I also never noticed it on Lotus's demo cars on test drives) but it became quite prominent and hard to ignore as I went along. I asked the question of the Hethel team and was given the same explanation as you - this is normal for the car.
Based on everything in the thread above, I will let it settle in during the running in period and may well upgrade the oil choice if it doesn't improve but keen to hear if you notice improvements as time goes by. I'm not that far from you either - maybe at some point it'd be good to compare!

 

[DDK]

In case helpful - mine had the same issue but the noise reduced greatly after I had the transmission oil changed at the break-in service. Also, like someone else mentioned, you can avoid the noise by finessing the revs/gear changes/speed.

 

[Simon]

In case helpful - mine had the same issue but the noise reduced greatly after I had the transmission oil changed at the break-in service. Also, like someone else mentioned, you can avoid the noise by finessing the revs/gear changes/speed.

Thanks for that, it's reassuring to hear. I've covered 400 miles now and it is already fading a little (and I'm learning how to avoid it). I'd planned to change the transmission oil also, so hopefully that sees it off altogether.

 

[DDK]

Thanks for that, it's reassuring to hear. I've covered 400 miles now and it is already fading a little (and I'm learning how to avoid it). I'd planned to change the transmission oil also, so hopefully that sees it off altogether.

Good luck mate. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Tobiasz17azs]

Hey just discovered when my car is warm I have small rattling vibrating noise. It is kinda enjoying . Anyone else ? Experiencing something like this