# Engine noise MX-5

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-mx-5/39097>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda, miata\
**Created:** [November 6, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-mx-5/39097 "2009-11-06T17:54:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tom.johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@tom.johnson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tom.johnson)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-mx-5/39097/1 "2009-11-06T17:54:03Z")

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2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata with 25000 miles. Mysterious engine noise in 4th gear only, and only when accelerating between 3000-4000 RPMs, most noticeable when accelerating up hill ? kind of a faint tapping or rattling, which my mechanic is unfortunately unable to hear. Does not disappear when I switch to Premium gas. Only significant modification is a Racing Beat dual exhaust muffler.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-mx-5/39097/2 "2009-11-06T18:18:15Z")

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A loose exhaust heat shield can cause a tapping/rattling noise under certain engine operating conditions.

Tester