2005 1.6vvt engine noise

[GoldenWonder]

On my 2005 1.6 vvt I feel the engine is pretty noisy at 3000-3500rpm (which is aroun 70mph unfortunately). I don't think its just me as it seems boomier and noiser at that speed than my last two cars (a Ford fiesta 1.4 and a Focus 1.8 diesel!)

When I looked under the bonnet I noticed there was no soundproofing mat on the underside of the bonnet itself, even though the mouting holes etc were seemingly there.

I asked the Renault garage who told me that my model didn't come with soundproofing on the bonnet underside - only the diesels.

Has any other 1.6 owner noticed the noise, or have they got the soundproofing on their bonnet? I'm fast learning to take whatever the Renault garage says with a pinch of salt.

[pmoss]

afraid i cant help you with this but as I am due to pick up a 1.6 vvt at the weekend I would be interested in hearing if you find that this is the case and if the soundproofing can be easily retrofitted to cars without it?

edit - oh yeah, and I am trading up from a 1.4 fiesta as well - coincidence or what!

cheers,
Pete

[GoldenWonder]

Well its not a terrible noise - just noiser at that speed range than I would expect - the old 1.4 Fiesta was quite quiet at 70mph - good little car,would have kept it if a) I didn't need a bigger family car and b) I'd known more about Renaults

I guess a retrofit shouldn't be a problem - the mounting points seem to be there - after all, the bonnet will be the same no matter what engine is underneath. I just didn't fancy asking Renault for a price!

[pmoss]

yeah, know what you mean about for fiesta - mine is a mk6 and for a first car has been cracking - just getting high(ish) millage and a bit small for me now - time for something a bit bigger!

we already have a clio 3 in the family (had a clio 2 previously and having seen how well it performed when my gf was in a nasty RTA it gives you a lot of confidence in Renaults - for all there faults!)

p

[Hany Saad]

mine is a 1.6 vvt 2006 with no soundproofing mat but with no sound at all either.

[cactusbob]

My 06 225 has soundproofing fitted, still noisy with it on there but then that's the nature of the car

[Mick]

Hi there ,check your battery cover is correctly seated and not touching the bonnet. I had the same problem and found the clip bent over so that the cover would not seat correctly, I just opened up the clip more and the cover dropped thus avoiding the bonnet and the noise went away

[GoldenWonder]

Interesting idea about the battery cover - I'll have a look at that. Was the cover touching the bonnet underside or something to cause a noise at a particular engine speed?

The noise is really only a booming sort of noise between that rev range so I'm guessing its just an engine characteristic. Odd though that Renault wouldn't try to elimate it especially in a modern car at the motorway cruising speed.

I would live with the noise if I had the 225, at least you get some power with the noise!

[Mick]

Yep, it's a resonance around 3,000 - 3,250 rpm more obvious when decelerating down a incline and if the battery cover is rubbing on the underside of the bonnet in increases the volume of the resonance. The car is very quiet cruising above 70 mph or below 65mph in 5th gear.

[GoldenWonder]

Hmm, I've had a look at the battery cover and it all seems OK - no sign that it is touching the bonnet. It does seem as if its fitted securely with no contact marks.

It does seem noisier than I would expect - but with Renault saying the car is 'normal' I'm left with few options!

[jono35]

Hi GoldenWonder

I’ve also got the 16VVT and I find that at 70ish the engine and road noise is a lot higher than I am used to. I drove it to the south of France recently and quite frankly it is the last time I take the megane. Has anyone fitted the soundproofing to a petrol model? Would be interesting to know if its possible and the costs etc.

[IainMW]

Check underneath the car to see if any of the exhaust heatsheild has not been banged/damaged and is now pressing against the exhaust and body work.

It's probaly just a harmonic resonance that is a characteristic of the engine, my 1.5dCi goes through a similar thing at around 2500rpm (about 70mph in 5th) 150rpm more or less and it's not there

[GoldenWonder]

Yeah, its a bit offputting as the noise builds right at 70mph/around 3000rpm which is when you want a relaxed cruise!

It fades at bit at 80mph - and gets really quite annoylingly loud if you go up to 90.

Perhaps a 1.6 with 'only' 115bhp struggles with a fairly large car!

[pmoss]

just out of curiosity, does anybody happen to know if it is possible (and if so, what the part number is) to retrofit the diesel model's extra soundproofing to the 1.6?

cheers
pete

[scoop]

My 2004 make a lot of noise too when going over 70, but its just the nature of the 1.6 VVT engine. I grown used to it now. Saying that it is extremly quiet when ideling or travelling upto 60mph.