mpupeza Posted June 30, 2023 Share Posted June 30, 2023 Suddenly, our 2006 Pulse 450 with 71K km sounds very noisy when decelerating! Almost like a Jake Brake on a big rig. My local shop (Marc's Auto - Midland ON - usually pretty good on Smarts) hasn't come up with a fix. All muffler and joints appear good, no holes, and no OBD codes. Litres per 100km still around 4.4, temp OK after a thermostat replacement couple of months back. and nothing out of normal noted. Any ideas?? Mike - Penetang area .....> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooseLugNuts Posted July 1, 2023 Share Posted July 1, 2023 engine mounts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smart4two Posted July 1, 2023 Share Posted July 1, 2023 Could be Turbo making the noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted July 1, 2023 Share Posted July 1, 2023 Engine mounts for sure. I started our 2005 smart in the insurance yard in late 2012 after it had been rear ended at 60 km/h and massive vibration and noise was the result. Get those mounts changed ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpupeza Posted September 10, 2023 Author Share Posted September 10, 2023 OK Gang: We have it fixed! Simple really, but a LOT of wrong guesses and tries. I'l drag it out a bit by explaining the systematic eventual solution. The noise was as described and my local Auto Repair site , which has worked on a bunch of Smarts and was pretty good with them, usually, had a go at it. After getting some ideas from me from here and the internet, they hoisted it up and looked for loose nuts, bolts, motor mounts,etc. Nothing looked out of normal, so they ordered a used muffler ($125) and put that in. No improvement, but a mechanic installed a gear hose clamp and that seemed to help at first, then the noise was back. I made arrangements with the London Guru, as I wanted a complete testing and going over, with clutch adjust and lube, brakes checked, oil, etc anyway. It was 4 years since he saw it before. I drove to London and he had a look at it and, sure enough, the noise was there on decelleration, as usual. It suddenly went really bad and he found the hose clamp had completely fallen into a spot where it started to screech. We then looked at my old muffler (I had kept it and brought it along) and saw that the welded-on stainless steel strap had broken at the weld. I guess the mechanic didn't notice that and the used muffler didn't have one on it. He had then installed the plumbing hose clamp which probably only lasted the first few minutes and snapped at one of the screw slots. My Guru then found a proper type SS Strap Clamp about 1 1/2" wide and good and thick with a ratchet type tensioner (I believe) and placed that where it was supposed to go. He needed several wedges to properly tighten it and it seemed better after that, though he said it was still noisy. However, as I drove it later, it must have positioned itself a bit and was totally quiet. I went 300 km home after that and it's still good. All is well and my 2006 Smart with less than 72K km is, hopefully, good for a few more years. Mike .....> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 Excellent result....I weld up exhausts that have rusted out along the lower seam and also if asked dig deeper. Also have welded up that band after squeezing it tight. The exhaust usually rusts under that band resulting in it having to be removed and repaired then either welded back in place. I have even had to make up a new strap as the old one damaged too much. Glad Glenn resolved your issues, he is the GURU for a reason...as they say....he see's that what other's do not...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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