FTO AUSTRALIA

Ok, my FTO started making funny 'scratching/vibration' noises that seem to be coming from my exhaust (though im not entirely sure) when i rev the engine. It doesn't happen all the time, but it stops as soon as I take my foot off the accelerator (even though the engine could still be revving at 3500rpm at 100kmh). I thought there was something wrong with my exhaust, but I showed my dad and he reckons its pinging, though im not convinced as it doesn't sound like its coming from the engine.

Any ideas? i had the car serviced accouple of weeks ago but I've never ever had it 'retuned' and i've had it for almost 2 years. If its pinging, how much will it cost to fix and does it damage the engine? i only ever use Optimax so I have no idea why its just started.

if it sounds like its from the exhaust it could be the (a) flex pipe

describe the sound a bit more, you say it sound slike the exhaust (which side of the exhaust engine or rear)
is it a ticking ?
could it be a frayed belt, i doubt its pinging, the fto has a fairly intelligent computer to stop ping

Ok, dad had a closer look and its coming from under the car in the exhaust. He reckons a 'baffler' or something (i think he means a screw or nut/bolt) has come undone and is vibrating around inside the exhaust pipe. Its just under the drivers side seat. It doesn't happen all the time, its like a scratching vibration, like its bouncing around.

MMm My guess would be the honeycomb in the cataltic converter is gone, I had this sound a while back and it ended up blocking my exhaust off.

Its definately not a frayed belt. The car only has 70k's on it and its in excellent condition.

If it is the honeycomb, is that real serious? I've done over 400k's since it started happening on saturday and everything seems fine.

Im going to get it looked at ASAP

If it's the cat and it's flown out in little pieces you probably just don't have a working cat. If it's like mine I kept driving it too until the poor thing suffocated.

^^

Does it change the note of the exhaust, cause mine as a very distinct sound, and it sounds the same as it always has.

It didn't change on mine other than the rattle which was hard to pinpoint. Bascially sounded like a piece of cork rattling around in the cat.

After the big hunk blocked the exhaust it ws very different as you can imagine.

I'd say go and get it checked out at an exhaust shop. Shouldn't cost much at all and will let you move on if it's something more serious.

Going to get it checked out over the weekend.

The rattle ain't coming from the rear of the exhaust, its right under the drivers seat, but it reverberates through the exhaust, thats why i first thought it was the exhaust.

right under the drivers seat sounds like the cat

While people are placing bets on things, I'll put a buck on it being the cat.