My engine is LOUD at highway speeds ( NOW WITH SOUND CLIPS)

[alias747]

I just recently got an APR stealth exhaust to replace my UUC VM3, as well as patched some major exhaust leaks I had on my test pipes. Needless to say my car is a TON quieter. Before it didn't surprise me that at highway speeds (75+ mph) my car was going to be loud with the UUC and leaks. But now that is all fixed I am surprised to hear that my car is still pretty dang loud at those speeds.

The funny thing is it doesn't come from my exhaust behind the car. It sounds like it is more coming from the passenger side floor, perhaps from the engine? What could possibly cause this noise? It's not a wheel bearing or anything like that becuase it is only present when my foot is on the accelerator and cruising.

Thanks for the help!

[AudiSportB5S4]

what kind of loud? high pitch sound or just motor sound lol

[alias747]

It's like a motor sound.. lol I guess that is the best that I can describe it!

[tike0rz]

So descriptive! Lol.

I have a similar sound on my drivers side, and I think its because I didn't put the sound deadening foam stuff back into the door after I fixed my window regulator. Ring a bell?

[alias747]

So descriptive! Lol.

I have a similar sound on my drivers side, and I think its because I didn't put the sound deadening foam stuff back into the door after I fixed my window regulator. Ring a bell?

I know it's a terrible description... haha But really thats what it is, sounds like a motor running, but just sounds too loud. So I don't know if that is caused by something bad or what. I never messed with the door, the previous owner may have, but I am a little confused why that would affect how loud the engine sounds inside the car.

I before when I had the exhaust leaks up in the front on the test pipes, I thought that was the culprit. I was thinking that possibly there was a leaky connection at the top of the downpipe on that side, right behind the turbo that was making the noise. But i just had my clutch done and the leaks fixed so it can't be that. Besides, i would think that if there was one there, it would be howling, even at idle.

[Rajan147]

downpipe may have worked a little loose, make sure the gasket between the turbo and dp is in good shape.

[alias747]

downpipe may have worked a little loose, make sure the gasket between the turbo and dp is in good shape.

That's a good point, but it was like this before the exhaust and clutch work and is the same still. It there was a bad gasket on there, I think they would have seen it. But I guess you never know.

To also help with the description, at like 55-65 it sounds fine, very quiet when cruising, its only when I start creeping up closer to 70 and up that is gets pretty loud. It's not unbearably loud, but it seems far too loud compared to what most cars sound inside on the highway.

[FrimmelNoJerz]

get the toddler thats strapped to your undercarriage off your car. that should solve it.

[my01s4]

i had a weird engine sound before i changed my ect temp sensor. i know it sounds strange but it would sound like what you are describing. i thought it was the heat shield moving at first but once i changed that ect sensor it made the engine almost silent besides my VM3. ya

[Rajan147]

That's a good point, but it was like this before the exhaust and clutch work and is the same still. It there was a bad gasket on there, I think they would have seen it. But I guess you never know.

To also help with the description, at like 55-65 it sounds fine, very quiet when cruising, its only when I start creeping up closer to 70 and up that is gets pretty loud. It's not unbearably loud, but it seems far too loud compared to what most cars sound inside on the highway.

Yeah, i guess the only way to find out is tear it apart. Also, you maybe getting used to the new exhaust and suffer from S4 paranoia, symptoms include, the feeling your shits gonna break or is broken every time you get behind the wheel and touch the gas pedal.

It would be nice if you could run something in your gas that would make the smoke green so you could trace it.

[AudiSportB5S4]

To also help with the description, at like 55-65 it sounds fine, very quiet when cruising, its only when I start creeping up closer to 70 and up that is gets pretty loud. It's not unbearably loud, but it seems far too loud compared to what most cars sound inside on the highway.

well i mean, if you got in my car then you'd probably say the same thing LOL. i mean thats a blanket statement... when you have a stage 3 car with a turboback, it WILL be louder on the inside of the car than MOST other cars lol

maybe if you can, get a video.

[alias747]

Yeah, i guess the only way to find out is tear it apart. Also, you maybe getting used to the new exhaust and suffer from S4 paranoia, symptoms include, the feeling your shits gonna break or is broken every time you get behind the wheel and touch the gas pedal.

It would be nice if you could run something in your gas that would make the smoke green so you could trace it.

Ha, a more true statement has never been said. I definitely have the S4 paranoia, I can't deny it. I am not scared that my turbos are going though, when they had the exhaust off last week I was able to wiggle the shafts on the hotsides and both of them seemed real solid. I do however have a boost leak somewhere that I can hear squeal before I go into boost, of course at first that got me nervous thinking I had a turbo going... Never ending circle of fear... lol

For some reason I really have a hard time believing it is the exhaust, I would think that I would be able to hear something when it was idling. Idk though.


Thanks for all the help guys!

[FrimmelNoJerz]

take a video. seriously.

[alias747]

take a video. seriously.

Yeah i will take a vid in a few days when I get the time. I'll update then. Thanks.

[alias747]

Ok I just took some sound files tonight. They are with my cell phone, so they aren't the best but you can still hear what I am talking about. Sorry they are pretty quiet too.

First I took a clip of what its like at 60, you cant hear the engine whine in the background at all. The clunking noise is because I was going on a very bumpy crappy road:

http://media.putfile.com/60-mph

Next I did one between 75 and 80 and you can really here how loud the engine noise is even over the wind noise (which is bad enough at these speeds):

http://media.putfile.com/75-80mph

Last is another with the cruise control on at 80 which you can again here the loud engine sound:

http://media.putfile.com/80-mph-cruise


So i hope that helps a little, we'll see i guess. Thanks guys!

[2k1audiS4]

I hear the clunking noise in the first vid but the last two just sounded like wind noise to me.

[gointoscott]

Yep, Sorry dude, cant hear any engine noise what so ever. Maybe I'm not listening close enough.

on flip side I dont hear the loud exhaust anymore

[AudiSportB5S4]

well yeah like the others cant hear anything. if i were you, try doing that speed where you hear the noise, 75-80 and put it in neutral, see if you hear it... i would say that could eliminate it being other things because if you STILL hear it its going to be wind and youre just insane! then get it back into 6th and if it comes back id just say its the engine man! what gear are you in doing those speeds? 75-80? 6th?

[alias747]

well yeah like the others cant hear anything. if i were you, try doing that speed where you hear the noise, 75-80 and put it in neutral, see if you hear it... i would say that could eliminate it being other things because if you STILL hear it its going to be wind and youre just insane! then get it back into 6th and if it comes back id just say its the engine man! what gear are you in doing those speeds? 75-80? 6th?

Lol from my original post:

It's not a wheel bearing or anything like that becuase it is only present when my foot is on the accelerator and cruising.

These were all taken in 6th.

I know its hard to hear much in those clips, but if you listen to the 60 clip and 75-80 clip there is definitely more engine noise in the background, you need to separate it from the wind noise. If you compare those you will hear it. The 60 is nice a quiet and the 75-80 will have a very present hum in the background from the engine.

So I know its the engine that is making the noise I just want to make it stop. It just seems far too loud to be normal. Idk, then again I might just have the S4 paranoia.

[gointoscott]

When you are going 70-80 one thing you can do is kind of like the one guy posted. Put it in nuetral and see if it goes away, or try reving the engine up and down while you are going about 80 and see if the noise gets louder or not. If it stays constant then you know its not the engine and its something with the drive train. If it does get louder with the engine rev's then its something with the engine.


Just a thought.


Ok never mind about my suggestion. He already answered it, um twice. Its early and Im not awake totally. thats my excuse