My wife was complaining about a strange noise coming from behind the dash. Last night, knowing she had recently lost a filament in the LF turn signal, I went and bought a bulb, and replaced it; I figured that perhaps the noise had something to do with the flasher relay or something.

I'm driving the car today, giving her the Miata. That noise is still there, and it's a weird one; hard to describe. Yeah, it's coming from "behind the dash" but deep enough that it's probably :confused: from the rear half of the engine compartment.

What's it sound like? Uh, er, like maybe a medium-soft (not hard metal-to-metal) mechanical sound, but not quite; or maybe a hydraulic bubbling sound, but not quite.

It occurs with all accessories off, no A/C, no radio, no heat/vent blower. Steering straight ahead. Stops when car is stopped, but remains making the noise when car is moving but coasting in neutral. When you hear it it'sfrequent but not rhythmical.

Any ideas? I'm concerned that it could be $$$ if it's a CV joint or half shaft slowly coming apart, or worse if it's the tranny. I'd have guessed that if it was the P/S pump or rack you'd only hear it when moving the steering wheel.

Or could it be in the suspension, see my shock top-nut topic.

Sometimes the speedometer cable does something similar. It went away in my car when I upgraded the stock motor mounts (torque positions). I have read before (a long time ago) that there is more slack in the motor mounts than there is in the cable.

Thanks for the feedback. Doesn't sound like that, but the noise is coming from roughly that area. Hmmm...

Originally posted by jacen99SE
Sometimes the speedometer cable does something similar. It went away in my car when I upgraded the stock motor mounts (torque positions). I have read before (a long time ago) that there is more slack in the motor mounts than there is in the cable.

how bout the wear tabs on your front brake pads?? or somethin in there...just a shoot from the hip shot//...

Originally posted by NX$paniard
how bout the wear tabs on your front brake pads?? or somethin in there...just a shoot from the hip shot//...

THanks. I think it's too intermittant for that. Oh well, we're putting it in the shop tonight and I hope they find whatever it is.

Update:

Of course, the car stopped making the noise and the mechanic "could not duplicate".:( Maybe the chipmunk moved out, I dunno.

I guess we'll just drive it until something falls off the car.

I have the EXACT same problem on my '98 200SX SE-R auto and it's driving me nuts. I've taken it to 2 mechanics and they both couldn't find it without "expensive diagnostic work" so they suggested that I turn up the radio (!)

I thought the speedometer on the SE-Rs are electric? In that case, could it still be the problem? Another thought I had was that it has something to do with the tachometer?

BTW, on my car, it seems to only make the noise after it's warmed up a bit. Like your car, it seems to happens whenever the car is moving (ie, no relation to acceleration, braking etc.)

Thanks for any help!

Sri