Weird noises from my FR-S

[syn6]

I've had my 2013 FR-S since January and it has about 50,000 miles but now I've started to hear some weird noises and since I'm fairly new to this platform and the car scene in general I was wondering if anyone can point out if it's normal or not. For general info I live in Florida and this car is mostly stock except BC coilovers, an hps intake, and a trd exhaust. I had a 2017 brz last September for a month before I got t-boned so I know not to expect anything compared to that.

First is a now and then rattle when pushing off in first gear. It's sounds like the exhaust is rattling as if I didn't give it enough gas but I'm pretty sure 2k is enough.
Second is another whining noise coming from the wheels whenever I'm around 60mph or 80mph, even though I'm pretty sure it's just the tires being misaligned.
Third, a few times now when cold starting my car my engine makes a quiet but noticeable rattling sound that stops when I push in the clutch pedal. It goes away when I'm driving and it doesn't happen every cold start.
I think my final concern would be when shifting from 1st to second it seems more difficult and notchy than it was compared to my 17' brz and it also seems to grind sometimes when I downshift from 6th to 5th. I know this could be because I wasn't pushing the clutch all the way down so I tried several times ensuring it was all the way and it still made the same grind. (For the 6th to 5th change)

Any and all help would be extremely appreciated because I love this car and want to be able to take care of it without getting scammed.

[HKz]

sound from clutch and having trouble engaging gears could be sign of TOB being on the way out being that your twin is before toyobaru made the TOB grease change plus you're roughly at the mileage many folks (including me) have reported their TOBs failing.

[Ultramaroon]

Ask the previous owner if he changed the gear oil. Once the factory fluid is swapped for something off the shelf, the gears will start rattling from the firing pulses at low engine speed. Nothing wrong, just is what it is.

How much distance is there from the clutch pedal on the floor to the initial grab point? You should have about an inch minimum.

[syn6]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Ask the previous owner if he changed the gear oil. Once the factory fluid is swapped for something off the shelf, the gears will start rattling from the firing pulses at low engine speed. Nothing wrong, just is what it is.

How much distance is there from the clutch pedal on the floor to the initial grab point? You should have about an inch minimum.

I wish I could ask him but I got it from an auction so I have basically no info other than it was from Pennsylvania and a clean title with no accidents. My clutch definitely grabs more than an inch from the floor, give or take 3 inches.

[syn6]

Originally Posted by HKz

sound from clutch and having trouble engaging gears could be sign of TOB being on the way out being that your twin is before toyobaru made the TOB grease change plus you're roughly at the mileage many folks (including me) have reported their TOBs failing.

Any tips on how to replace it or should I just take it to someone that can do it properly.

[mazeroni]

Without taking things apart or hearing noises, any advise should be taken at your own risk!

I'm going to assume you only ever drove a 2017 BRZ and are not familiar with pre-2017 models.

Going from a 2017 to a 2013 is sort of like going from a Mercedes to a Buick.

- First is a now and then rattle when pushing off in first gear. It's sounds like the exhaust is rattling as if I didn't give it enough gas but I'm pretty sure 2k is enough.

It could be the exhaust. It could be the 2013 engine is a garbage disposal of a motor that sounds like it is a) trying to shake itself apart, and b) it is full of gravel. The 2017 engine received many improvements and I can attest to it sounding 1000x better. It could also be the TOB.

Originally Posted by syn6

Any tips on how to replace it or should I just take it to someone that can do it properly.

The part is like $15 but pulling the trans is $1k+. If you do this work, just replace the entire clutch. Total cost will be $1200~2,000 depending on where you go. If you have to ask if you can do it, then you can't and shouldn't attempt it!

- Second is another whining noise coming from the wheels whenever I'm around 60mph or 80mph, even though I'm pretty sure it's just the tires being misaligned.

Align the tires and see if anything changes. If not, maybe the wheel bearings are going bad. Sometimes my car makes random noises at highway speeds, so who knows.

- Third, a few times now when cold starting my car my engine makes a quiet but noticeable rattling sound that stops when I push in the clutch pedal. It goes away when I'm driving and it doesn't happen every cold start.

My clutch does this too and I've had the TOB and clutch work done. It your TOB is going bad, you will hear what you describe. Over time, it will get worse. When it is warm, whatever grease is left in the TOB will mask any issues. In the cold, you will hear it more. Over time, it will get worse and worse and worse. If you do nothing, eventually it may grenade the clutch and maybe the transmission.

- I think my final concern would be when shifting from 1st to second it seems more difficult and notchy than it was compared to my 17' brz and it also seems to grind sometimes when I downshift from 6th to 5th. I know this could be because I wasn't pushing the clutch all the way down so I tried several times ensuring it was all the way and it still made the same grind. (For the 6th to 5th change)

A lot of things were improved from 2013. My 2013 can be super notchy and rough. Other times it is butter. Also, whoever owned the car before you might have abused the transmission.

Sorry you had to go from a 2017 to a 2013. That sort of sucks. It isn't a bad car, but there are some issues, specifically with the TOB, that are a must to fix ASAP.

[Ultramaroon]

Oh, I missed the whining noise... Yeah right around 70-75 MPH... It's a characteristic resonance in the differential. Nothing to sweat. If the PO added stiffening inserts to the mounts, it would be loud. I installed a pair of Cusco collars to the front mounts on mine. Removed them right after my first road trip. Noise was unbearable. I discovered soon afterward that the lash I was trying to cure is in the outboard CV joints anyhow.

Look for a link to the service manuals in my sig line. Not my stuff but super helpful.

[syn6]

Originally Posted by mazeroni

Without taking things apart or hearing noises, any advise should be taken at your own risk!

I'm going to assume you only ever drove a 2017 BRZ and are not familiar with pre-2017 models.

Going from a 2017 to a 2013 is sort of like going from a Mercedes to a Buick.

- First is a now and then rattle when pushing off in first gear. It's sounds like the exhaust is rattling as if I didn't give it enough gas but I'm pretty sure 2k is enough.

It could be the exhaust. It could be the 2013 engine is a garbage disposal of a motor that sounds like it is a) trying to shake itself apart, and b) it is full of gravel. The 2017 engine received many improvements and I can attest to it sounding 1000x better. It could also be the TOB.



The part is like $15 but pulling the trans is $1k+. If you do this work, just replace the entire clutch. Total cost will be $1200~2,000 depending on where you go. If you have to ask if you can do it, then you can't and shouldn't attempt it!

- Second is another whining noise coming from the wheels whenever I'm around 60mph or 80mph, even though I'm pretty sure it's just the tires being misaligned.

Align the tires and see if anything changes. If not, maybe the wheel bearings are going bad. Sometimes my car makes random noises at highway speeds, so who knows.

- Third, a few times now when cold starting my car my engine makes a quiet but noticeable rattling sound that stops when I push in the clutch pedal. It goes away when I'm driving and it doesn't happen every cold start.

My clutch does this too and I've had the TOB and clutch work done. It your TOB is going bad, you will hear what you describe. Over time, it will get worse. When it is warm, whatever grease is left in the TOB will mask any issues. In the cold, you will hear it more. Over time, it will get worse and worse and worse. If you do nothing, eventually it may grenade the clutch and maybe the transmission.

- I think my final concern would be when shifting from 1st to second it seems more difficult and notchy than it was compared to my 17' brz and it also seems to grind sometimes when I downshift from 6th to 5th. I know this could be because I wasn't pushing the clutch all the way down so I tried several times ensuring it was all the way and it still made the same grind. (For the 6th to 5th change)

A lot of things were improved from 2013. My 2013 can be super notchy and rough. Other times it is butter. Also, whoever owned the car before you might have abused the transmission.

Sorry you had to go from a 2017 to a 2013. That sort of sucks. It isn't a bad car, but there are some issues, specifically with the TOB, that are a must to fix ASAP.

Got it thanks for all the help, means a lot to a newbie like myself. Hopefully, I wont have to do to much to it.

[syn6]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Oh, I missed the whining noise... Yeah right around 70-75 MPH... It's a characteristic resonance in the differential. Nothing to sweat. If the PO added stiffening inserts to the mounts, it would be loud. I installed a pair of Cusco collars to the front mounts on mine. Removed them right after my first road trip. Noise was unbearable. I discovered soon afterward that the lash I was trying to cure is in the outboard CV joints anyhow.

Look for a link to the service manuals in my sig line. Not my stuff but super helpful.

I'll make sure to look into it, I was planning on changing my diff fluid soon anyways. Thanks!