Gang,

Anybody experience a tapping sound (sounds like putting a playing card in the spokes of a bike wheel, you know, when we were kids) above 3000 rpm under mild or heavy acceleration? I didn't recall this when I first bought the car. Thought I noticed it after my control computer went out and was replaced by the dealer. Any thoughts? Almost sounds like valve tapping, but I only hear it above 3000 rpm and under mild to heavy acceleration. Thanks everyone. :smile:

 

I would get to your mechanic right away. It could be a valve like you say. It could also be as bad as a loose rod.

Better safe than sorry.

 

Could it be bad knocking/pinging? Bad tank of gas??

 

>>Could it be bad knocking/pinging? Bad tank of gas??

No. I only run 93 Octane and it's been consistent through many, many tanks of gas. I only go to one station and have never had a problem in 8 years. Let me clarify though. You have to turn everything off and listen, it's not extremely loud, but if you roll down the passenger window you can definitely here it. You have to turn off the radio and the environmental controls. My wife even noticed it and she usually never hears anything. This car is my daily driver and I don't run it hard, so at 5400 miles I'm surprised.

 

(I love diagnosing noises :smile: )

Couple of additional questions:

- Does the noise exist when the car's not moving, or only when it's under way?
- If the latter, does it go away when you depress the clutch? (you don't say you have a CVT)
- If the former, is it louder outside the car or inside?
- Is the noise constant, or does it vary with RPM?
- Have you checked your oil to make sure you aren't running very low?



_________________

Bring Out the Scoops!

 

whas a rod?? i know a fair deal about cars and their componenets, but not tons about their engines...

 

Try this site:

How Stuff Works

The connecting rod is part "N" on the diagram.

 

well **** i knew what that was.... whats teh matter wiht me...

haha thank you anyhow.

-P

 

I had a brief period of something similar. My car started making a mild taping noise from around 4000rpm to 5000, in second gear only. I remember doing a search for tapping in the forums, and I came across a few other people who had noticed very similar things.

One person asked their tech, and theirs turned out to be nothing more than a muffler baffle breaking in, or something like that. While the muffler was new, that particular frequency of vibration made the muffler emit a slight tapping noise.

I'm thinking that mine was similar, as it subsided four days after I first hear it, which was well over a month ago. It seems a strange prognosis, but could be...

 

Well, I will add a bit here since I have the same thing. Appears to be coming from the exhaust system, hence it is not very loud and only appears under acceleration above 3500-4000 rpm. No other odd mechanical noises are present under normal conditions and the car does not seem to be misfiring at all. It may just well be the baffle in the exhaust system as mentioned above. Will have the dealer check it out when I have the time. Any other input from others is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

 

>>(I love diagnosing noises :smile: )
>>
>>Couple of additional questions:
>>
>>- Does the noise exist when the car's not moving, or only when it's under way?
>>- If the latter, does it go away when you depress the clutch? (you don't say you have a CVT)
>>- If the former, is it louder outside the car or inside?
>>- Is the noise constant, or does it vary with RPM?
>>- Have you checked your oil to make sure you aren't running very low?
>>
>>
>>
>>_________________
>>
>>Bring Out the Scoops!

1. No, it only exists while underway.
2. Yes, it goes away when I depress the clutch and the rpm's drop. I don't have a CVT, it's a MCS. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.
3. It appears to be louder outside the car since I here it more w/ the windows rolled down and the sound bounces off the road and median.
4. Oil is a.o.k. I check it frequently.

The latter postings about an exhaust baffle is intriguing. I'm interested in what they find.

Thanks.

 

There saying " let us out"... Just blow it up!!

 

i have the same problem, any solution guy

 

I don't have the -S, but I believe that the supercharger has
a "bypass" valve in it to "turn-off" the supercharger boost until
something like 3000 RPM.

So I'm also in the pinging/knocking camp.

1) High RPMs
2) Under accelleration.
3) Boost starting to come on.

Equals pre-detonation (You'd better HOPE like hell not) or
pinging/knocking during combustion.

How about adding an octane booster for one part tank of gas?
That would give you extra information for your dealer.

 

could be the exhaust manifold has a crack.

 

Bought some octane booster today,i will let you know the result soon.

 

Okay, so I changed to Mobil as my friends recommended me and add this Outlaw octane booster. I think it only add up around 4 points, and cost around 5 dollar. There is a better brand such as NOS which will add up around 7 points. anyway, after driving couple miles, the tapping sound is gone. I also did change the NOLOGY wires to stock wires. So, for now, i think i will have to use the octane booster as a drug for my mini ;P. let me know guys if you have any other way.

 

Remind me if you have any mods to the car. I couldn't
rememeber what you said before.

Your MINI should not ping on the gas that is recommended.
If it does, something's not right.

Oh, MCS or MC? (Sorry, it's late, and I'm pooped, or I'd look it up.)

 

okay, i finally got a set of NGK iridium spark plugs IK22 and installed them. They works great, and the pinging is gone without adding any octane booster. I will keep on driving and see if the pinging sound is really gone. Ciao

 

Experiencing similar issue w/ my '04 MCS, 5k miles - symptom first noticed ~ 1.5K miles, i.e. just after break-in completed and under harder acceleration.

Tapping/ clatter sound can be heard under acceleration, from the passenger side, coming from the engine area. Much more pronounced when there is something for the sound to resonate off of. Dealer said they "couldn't replicate" - will have to press harder next time.

 

I thought all MINI coopers did this. It certainly seems to be common enough in the forums. I really wouldnt worry about it. Just another one of the long list of rattles/idiosyncraties the car has. As it only really happens in second gear under hard acceleration between 3k-4K revs I presume its not a major problem.

 

Ok,

I was good forum user and and did a search. My car is making this same noise under these same conditions. It sounds terrible, and in my limited understanding, is likely not good at all.
I was suspecting maybe a wheel bearing or something. I burn 94 octane only and have a shark/pulley. The shark is a reported to be a very mild tune with the emphasis on long term safety. It could be pinging, but it realy doesn't sound like it to me, and it realy shouldn't be, it's not even hot yet !!! Sounds more like a clattering or a rattling that I only hear with the windows down.

Do others hear this and find it normal ?

I will use the TiS do search on this noise.
If that doesn't help, I am taking my SA for a ride at my first service to eliminate the can't replicate factor. Can you hear it know ? Gooood.

 

I have it too. Started after the dealer replaced a failing belt tensioner at around 4k miles. At 13k miles now - it hasn't really gotten any louder, but it seems to come on sooner than it did at first. As described- loudest on pass. side, especially when there's a curb or wall to reflect the sound back.
I changed exhausts - no difference. I don't think it's pinging, either. It's quite rhythmic. Like a sewing machine or a card in spokes.
And of course, the dealer says "Unable to replicate".
Search this site & MINI2 for "ticking".
If anyone solves this, please share! Fear of this situation has my pulley upgrade on hold...

 

>>I have it too. Started after the dealer replaced a failing belt tensioner at around 4k miles. At 13k miles now - it hasn't really gotten any louder, but it seems to come on sooner than it did at first. As described- loudest on pass. side, especially when there's a curb or wall to reflect the sound back.
>>I changed exhausts - no difference. I don't think it's pinging, either. It's quite rhythmic. Like a sewing machine or a card in spokes.
>>And of course, the dealer says "Unable to replicate".
>>Search this site & MINI2 for "ticking".
>>If anyone solves this, please share! Fear of this situation has my pulley upgrade on hold...
>>

I've noticed this sound on my car for over 10K miles now. Nothing has happened. It is only under load, and louder when a curb or wall is near. I did switch to redline trans fluis, and it has gotten quieter. I'm not worried, as nothing negative has happened from this noise. I have had the tensioner replaced, as well as I am running a 15%. I will do some investigation to see if I can pin point it. I just have been lazy as nothing bad is happening because of it.

 

I have this "problem" also. Espescially under high RPM's (3000 to 5000) in second gear. I personally believe this is valve noise or lifters. Has anyone contacted MINI directly about this??? I am curious to see who will solve this mystery.